Crime & Safety
Road Rage Incident Leads to 2 Arrests
Men charged with disorderly conduct after police said one hit another after tailgating.
What began as a road rage incident ended with two men in handcuffs Wednesday as Hopatcong police are urging the public to report aggression on the road instead of taking matters into their own hands.
Vaughn Lessig, 57, and Mark Brennan, 51, were both charged with disorderly conduct for mutual fighting after the scuffle just after 6 p.m., according to Lt. Thomas Kmetz.
Police were called to Modick Park for two men fighting. Once on the scene, they pulled Lessig and Brennan apart and Lessig told officers that Brennan had been tailgating him while driving on Lakeside Boulevard, Kmetz said.
Lessig turned on to Nariticong Avenue and allegedly yelled or made a gesture to Brennan. Brennan then also turned on to Nariticong and the men got out of their cars.
Lessig hit Brennan, thinking he had a weapon with him, Kmetz said.
Officers broke up the fight, with help from motorists, and both men were issued summonses and released.
"If someone is tailgating you pull over and let them pass. Or, If you have a passenger they can take a picture of the vehicle with their cell phone to show the judge how close they were," he said. "Get their license plate number. Go make a complaint with the police department in the jurisdiction you were in."
For questions on this report, email ariana.cohn-sheehan@patch.com.
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