Middletown Man Charged With Assault By Auto After Driving Drunk, Leaving Scene of Crash

A Middletown man has been charged with multiple offenses after driving drunk and leaving the scene of an accident he caused, according to court records and police.

Phillip M. Roenbeck, 22, was charged with assault by auto on October 10, after driving recklessly and crashing his vehicle into another car at approximately 12:40 a.m. on Millbrook Place, according to Middletown Detective Lieutenant Stephen Dollinger.

A female victim in the other vehicle, listed as “S.B.” on court records, was injured, and transported to Riverview Medical Center by the Middletown First Aid Squad, according to Dollinger. Details about the victim and the nature of her injuries were unavailable at this time, Dollinger said.

Roenbeck was found and arrested a short time later by Middletown police, and charged with driving while intoxicated, 3rd degree, and leaving the scene of an accident, also 3rd degree.

Roenbeck was taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Institute in lieu of $50,000 bail, no 10% option as per Judge Richard Thompson. His first court appearance was scheduled for October 27.

An arrest is not a conviction, and every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.