A 25-year-old Island Park village code enforcement officer was allegedly run over by a driver on Thursday afternoon, all because of a parking ticket. The incident, which occurred around 3:20 p.m. on Long Beach Road, has left the community in disbelief.

Police say the driver was 37-year-old Matthew Sullivan, of Island Park. Witnesses say the officer was thrown over the hood of Sullivan’s car when he was struck. The officer, who was not publicly identified, suffered an ankle injury and was hospitalized briefly before being released to recover at home.

Local residents, including those who frequent nearby businesses, expressed their shock and concern for the officer’s well-being.

“We know who he is. He’s a good guy. Hope everything is OK, and it’s a tough job,” said Charles Natalello at Jack’s Pizzeria.

Village Mayor Michael McGinty confirmed that the incident took place across from Village Hall. He said Sullivan was double-parked when the code enforcement officer was writing the ticket.

Sullivan was arrested and charged with assault on an officer. He appeared in court today. His attorney, Luis Rodriguez, declined to make a statement beyond saying, “We’ll be addressing everything once we have discovery. Once we have something we’ll be able to speak. This is the beginning, so he’s in good spirits.”

Sullivan pleaded not guilty to the charges, and he was released without bail.