Man Knocked Unconscious in Assault, Cops Say

A Roxbury man punched a Hopatcong resident in the face, causing broken bones, blood loss and head trauma after a reported altercation on a boat on Lake Hopatcong Sunday night, Hopatcong Police said.

Walter Orchard, 35, was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment after he was found at a Roxbury residence Monday following the alleged incident that police say took place on Maxim Drive Sunday night at about 7:30 p.m.

Police said Orchard was on a boat with five other people on Lake Hopatcong when he allegedly became hostile, insulted another passenger and became aggressive toward two male passengers.

Police said the driver of the boat dropped Orchard and his girlfriend off at a Byram Cove dock because he became so aggressive. 

Later, as the boat was being docked on Maxim Drive, police said Orchard punched a 35-year-old Hopatcong man in the face, causing his head to hit concrete stairs when he fell, knocking him unconscious.

Orchard then grabbed the driver of the boat and tried to throw him into the lake, according to police. Police said Orchard ran up the stairs and onto Maxim Drive after one of the boaters yelled they were calling the police.

Police said when they arrived they found the victim's head covered in blood and he was unconscious. When he awoke, they found he could not answer simple questions, police said. He was taken to Morristown Medical Center by the Hopatcong First Aid Squad. 

According to police, the boat passengers said they did not know why Orchard suddenly became aggressive. 

When officers tried to locate Orchard, he was eventually found on Monday at a Roxbury home, police said. He was arrested by Roxbury police, and was taken to headquarters for processing. Police said he was taken to the Sussex County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.