HOWELL — An incident captured on surveillance cameras at a Walmart department store led to the arrest of a Howell man who now faces multiple criminal charges.
According to Howell police Detective Sgt. Eileen Dodd, two males, ages 18 and 16, from Jackson, were shopping at Walmart on Route 9 when they were assaulted by two men following a brief conversation at about 2:15 p.m. March 3.
Dodd said the 18-year-old man sustained a broken jaw and the 16-year-old was uninjured. A cell phone belonging to one of the individuals from Jackson was stolen during the scuffle.
Officers on the scene were able to identify Nicholas D’Ambrosio, 21, of Howell, as one of the alleged assailants. The officers were able to identify D’Ambrosio’s vehicle, but could not locate him at the time, according to Dodd.
D’Ambrosio’s vehicle information was entered into the Howell Police Department’s automatic license-plate-reader system to alert officers to stop the vehicle for investigation.
Dodd reported that Sgt. Joseph Markulic spotted the suspect vehicle after driving past it on March 6, but could not locate the vehicle after turning his own vehicle around to begin a pursuit. Police alerted additional units and set up a perimeter around the area.
The suspect vehicle was subsequently found parked on River Road. The male driver, 17, was transported to police headquarters for questioning and was issued summonses for reckless driving, failure to maintain a lane and improper parking.
While the driver and his mother were at police headquarters, D’Ambrosio responded to the building, police reported.
Officers approached D’Ambrosio, who police said became disorderly, and he was verbally placed under arrest. While D’Ambrosio was being taken into custody, he tried to fight with police officers, Dodd said. The 17-year-old male and his mother, Marie Dannunzio, 46, of Howell, became involved in the altercation, she said. Dannunzio was not taken into custody at the scene, but she was subsequently issued a summons alleging disorderly conduct.
D’Ambrosio was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, aggravated assault on a police officer, robbery by force and aggravated assault. He was transported to the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, in lieu of $27,500 bail with no 10 percent option.
A case has been opened by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Juvenile Central, charging the 17-year-old male with obstruction and disorderly conduct, according to Dodd.
The initial robbery and aggravated assault investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Nancy Carroll at 732-938-4575, ext. 2884.
— Thomas Castles