Crime & Safety
Man Charged With Assaulting Seaside Heights Lifeguards While Being Rescued
Two men rescued, one charged with underage possession and consumption of alcohol, assault and disorderly conduct
by Patricia A. Miller
Seaside Heights police have charged a 20-year-old Plainfield man with assaulting two lifeguards who were trying to save him, Detective Steven Korman said.
The incident happened at 6:38 p.m. on Saturday at the Webster Avenue beach, when the lifeguards saw two men being swept out to sea by a rip current.
When the guards reached the men, the first was calm and cooperative. But when they started to rescue Ivan Rivera, he turned around and punched both lifeguards in their faces, Korman said.
It's not unusual for panic-stricken victims to flail and inadvertently strike those who are coming to help them. But that was not the case with Rivera, Korman said.
"This was clearly a factor of intoxication," he said.
After Rivera was brought to safety, Seaside Heights police charged him with disorderly conduct, two counts of simple assault and underage possession and consumption of alcohol, Korman said.
Rivera's bail was set at $1,000, with no ten percent option, he said.
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