Three suspects, accused of assaulting, threatening to shoot 20-year-old at Somerset park

Police have three in custody after an alleged violent incident at a local park.

According to Somerset Police, on Monday, just before 7:00 p.m., a 20-year-old male contacted the Somerset Police Department to report he had been attacked and then threatened with a firearm while at the Pierce Beach Park located on Simbron Drive. The male stated he was physically assaulted by three unknown males and then threatened with a firearm before he was able to break free and leave the area so that he could contact the police.

Officers immediately responded to Pierce Beach to investigate. Officer Brenan Cardoza interviewed the victim and learned he had ridden his motorcycle to the Pierce Beach Park to meet someone when the assault occurred unexpectedly. The victim told the officer he was seated on his street bike when three unknown, shirtless males walked over from a nearby gathering and suddenly grabbed his arms and began pushing and pulling him in an attempt to get him off the bike. The victim told the three males he did not want any problems nor did he want to fight with them. The suspects began making threats that they would shoot him with a gun and then one of the males began reaching inside a backpack. The victim, believing the male was retrieving a gun from within the backpack, exercised good judgement and fled the scene on his bike. Once he was far enough away from the area, he called the police to report the crime.

While Officer Cardoza interviewed the victim, Detectives Donald Cormier and James Cardella responded directly to the beach and began searching for the three suspects with the backpack. They located an unattended backpack off to the side of the playground area. Because this backpack had features specifically described by the victim, the Detectives seized it and immediately noted it contained a heavy object inside. Upon opening the backpack, they found an airsoft pellet pistol which was designed to look and feel identical to a Glock 19X semiautomatic 9MM pistol.

Detectives Cormier and Cardella met with Officer Cardoza who brought the victim to the park to assist in identifying the male suspects. The three suspects were still at the beach and were positively identified by the victim.

The three suspects were determined to be juveniles (one 17-year-old and two 16-year-olds). All three are being charged at the Juvenile Court for Assault & Battery. One suspect will face an additional charge of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (firearm). Because the three suspects are considered juveniles, their names and information were not released.

The Evening Shift Commander, Lieutenant Adam DaRosa, commended the three officers for their proactive investigation and teamwork which brought a swift resolution to the incident.