HOWELL— A resident of Howell was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a weapon following an incident on June 28.
Police said that at 6:50 p.m., officers were dispatched to the Winding Brook Trailer Park, Route 547, to respond to a report of an assault involving a weapon. The victim told the officers that his neighbor, John Collins, 51, struck him in the head with a hammer.
According to a police press release, Collins was arguing with another man when the victim attempted to calm Collins down. That is when Collins allegedly hit him with a hammer. Police said several witnesses at the scene provided the same account of the incident.
Prior to the officers’ arrival, Collins fled on foot into the woods, Sgt. Eileen Dodd said in the press release.
Patrolman Nicholas Bondarew and his K-9 partner, Jago, located Collins during a search of the nearby woods.
Collins was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and tampering with evidence. His bail was set at $25,000 with no option to post 10 percent. He was placed in the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township.
The victim sustained an injury to his left ear. He was treated at the scene by Howell EMS and was transported to Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood, Dodd said.