HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. — A man from Wharton Borough is facing assault and weapons charges after allegedly striking another individual in the head with a metal baseball bat during an altercation outside a Hackettstown barbershop, police announced Wednesday.
The incident occurred on Friday, May 23, at approximately 8:40 p.m., when Hackettstown Police responded to a 911 call reporting an assault at High Class Barber Shop, located at 212 Main Street. The caller told dispatchers he had been struck in the head with a baseball bat.
When officers arrived, they found the victim suffering from a laceration to the back of the head. Medical aid was rendered at the scene, and the victim was transported by Hackettstown First Aid & Rescue Squad to Hackettstown Medical Center for further treatment.
Investigators determined that a verbal dispute had taken place in the alley next to the business prior to the assault. During the confrontation, the victim was hit in the head with the bat.
Wharton man arrested following investigation
Police identified 30-year-old Miguel J. Ovalle-Matos as the individual responsible for the assault. He was subsequently charged with third-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon resulting in bodily injury and third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Ovalle-Matos was lodged in the Warren County Correctional Facility and is being held pending a court appearance.
Authorities emphasize that all charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
