By:Roger Alvarado
Farm Road resident Joel Mesa Ruiz, 27, was charged Monday with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and resisting arrest after he allegedly tried to stab his neighbor early Sunday, police said.
The incident occurred at about 4:40 a.m. Sunday, when Mr. Ruiz and fellow Farm Road resident Oracio Castro, 25, started yelling and banging on the door of their second-floor neighbor’s apartment in an effort to get him to come out, police said.
"This had been a minor ongoing dispute over the last several days between the three men," Lt. Paul Kaminsky said Tuesday. "They were trying to break into and enter his residence."
The argument was over some sort of noise disturbance, Lt. Kaminsky said.
Police say the victim summoned them to 56 Farm Road while bracing his door to prevent the two men from gaining entry.
When the victim looked through his door’s mail slot Mr. Ruiz allegedly plunged a steak knife into the slot, Lt. Kaminsky said.
"That just missed the victim’s thigh," Lt. Kaminsky said.
When police arrived both men went to Mr. Ruiz’s apartment.
"A short scuffle ensued and both were arrested," Lt. Kaminsky said.
One of the two officers suffered a minor injury, police said.
The steak knife was located at the scene, Lt. Kaminsky said.
According to Lt. Kaminksy, one of men accused suffered a cut from the knife.
In addition to the charges filed against Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Castro was charged with resisting arrest, police said.
Both men were transported to the Somerset County Jail and arraigned Monday in Superior Court. Mr. Ruiz’s bail was set at 10 percent of $10,000 and Mr. Castro’s was set at 10 percent of $2,500. Both have yet to post bail.
