A Crestwood Village man faces assault and weapon possession charges after police allege that he chased down and attacked two Seaside Heights residents on his street over the weekend.
police were dispatched to a Milford Avenue residence at about 10 p.m. Sunday and found Phillip Merritt, 38, and Amanda Rahn, 28, both of Seaside Heights, standing on the porch. Both had "minor injuries and claimed to have been attacked with a crowbar by a male," said Capt. Lisa Parker in a statement.
The pair identified their attacker as 58-year-old Gary Watson, who was inside the home. Officers entered and interviewed Watson, who Parker said "displayed multiple facial lacerations."
Police investigated further and found that Watson and Merritt were in a fight earlier that evening; when Merritt and Rahn left the home, Watson took a crowbar from the garage and chased the pair down Milford Avenue, according to the captain.
"Watson caught up with the two individuals and assault them with the weapon," Parker said. "During this altercation, both Merritt and Rahn were struck with the crowbar and sustained minor injuries."
Patrolman Charles Gatnarek charged Watson with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon, Parker said.
Watson was taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River with his bail set at $5,000 with no 10 percent option, according to Parker.
All three were treated by Quality Medical Transport personnel and refused any further medical care, Parker said.
