Officer Neal Auricchio
Dennis VeteriOne of the suspects accused in the severe beating of a Woodbridge police officer is scheduled to appear at his preliminary court hearing Jan. 31.
Eleven days after an off-duty Woodbridge police officer and his friend were severely beaten after a hockey game in Philadelphia, police have made an arrest.
Dennis Veteri, 32, of Glassboro, surrendered to the South Detective Division of the Philadelphia Police Department without incident on Jan. 12 after the department issued an arrest warrant for him. He was arraigned, and his bail was set at $100,000. Police said the defendant posted bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 31 for his preliminary hearing.
Veteri is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, conspiracy and recklessly endangering another person, police said.
The beating of Officer Neal Auricchio, 30, and his friend Mike Janocko outside Geno’s Steaks, located at 1200 S. Ninth St. in Philadelphia, hit the national news two weeks ago. Surveillance video of the beating was provided by Philadelphia police.
Auricchio and Janocko, both of Woodbridge, were in the city on Jan. 2 for the Winter Classic hockey event between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers held at Citizens Bank Park.
Around 7:15 p.m., according to Philadelphia police, Auricchio was seriously injured when three unknown males wearing Philadelphia Flyers jerseys assaulted the officer and Janocko, who were wearing New York Rangers jerseys.
After the incident, Auricchio was transported in a private vehicle to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick and treated for facial contusions, abrasions and lacerations requiring stitches, according to police.
Auricchio and Janocko have since retained Raymond Gill, of Gill & Chamas LLC, Woodbridge, to represent them in a civil matter not only against Veteri and the two other unknown suspects, but also against any alcohol-dispensing facility that may have served the suspects to the point of their alleged intoxication.
Gill spoke to reporters Jan. 13 to talk about the situation
“Neal Auricchio and Mike Janocko have been longtime friends,” he said. “They would like to express their deep appreciation to the Philadelphia Police Department for the quick apprehension.”
Gill said the Philadelphia police quickly obtained a search warrant after finding a credit card receipt in the amount of $225 on the street. The time stamp on the receipt was five minutes before the assault took place.
Gill said his representation of Auricchio and Janocko is civil in matter. However, the law firm will not be filing a civil lawsuit until after the criminal process runs its course, Gill stressed.
“We have a decorated U.S. Marine who during his first tour was shot in the calf and was awarded the Purple Heart for it; he had rehabbed [for the injury] and volunteered for a second tour,” he said.
Gill said Auricchio and Janocko, a local businessman, plan to file this civil suit in conjunction.
Gill said they will also look into the lack of security that was outside Geno’s Steaks.
The attorney said because of the assault, Auricchio has sustained a severe eye injury, a closed head injury, and will need facial surgery to stabilize broken bones behind his eye. Janocko also sustained a head injury and multiple orthopedic injuries.
“The extent and duration and permanency of these injuries remain unknown, but we pray for their full recovery,” he said.
Gill said that what is most telling about this problem, in his opinion, is the fact that in many major sporting venues, particularly the more modern ones, fans frequently see messages flashed on the JumboTron or big screen to send texts to a certain number to report intoxicated patrons and unruly patrons.
“This is something that is growing in nature,” he said. “Also, many of the more modern sports venues have their own jails and holding cells.”
Gill said that if something good can come from “this savage attack” on his clients, it is their hope that it will result in ways to stop fan rage.