LONG BRANCH — A city man is facing charges of assaulting another man with a machete at a gathering in a city apartment last week.
On Nov. 13 at approximately 1 p.m., Long Branch police responded to a Union Avenue residence and learned that a man was assaulted and was suffering from a severe laceration to his right arm, according to police reports.
Omar Castello, 47, Broadway, was arrested and is being charged with alleged aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Witnesses at the scene during the assault told officers that they were at the location for a small gathering of subjects who each contributed toward the food and beverages, according to reports.
Castello did not contribute and was told to leave, according to the reports from witnesses.
Castello left, then returned with a machete and assaulted the victim, police said. The victim was treated for his injuries at Monmouth Medical Center and released later that day.
Castello was transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold, and bail was set at $50,000.
— Christine Varno

