A Newark man was charged with felony assault after police said a 70-year-old neighbor was beaten on Siegrist Street, leaving him with significant facial injuries.
The Village of Newark Police Department first responded to the 300 block of Siegrist Street at about 5:45 p.m. June 1 for a harassment complaint. Police said the victim, Johnny White, reported that an unknown man had threatened him while using racial slurs.
Police returned to the same block at about 4:48 p.m. June 23 for a disturbance and found White with significant facial injuries, according to the source material.
Investigators said White and Brandon M. Watt, 39, of Siegrist Street, knew each other because they lived in the same neighborhood. Watt allegedly struck White from behind as White was retreating to the side yard of his residence, then struck him several more times with a closed fist.
Police said White suffered significant swelling to his face, a fractured orbital bone, a fractured nose and a fractured lower jaw. A 2-by-4 with blood splatter was collected as evidence, according to the source material.
After White was no longer sedated and could be interviewed, police said they determined Watt was the same suspect from the June 1 harassment complaint. After consulting with the Wayne County District Attorney's Office, police charged Watt on June 25 with two counts of second-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. Police said Watt's daughter was with him at the time of the assault.
White's family told News10NBC that he remained hospitalized at Strong Memorial Hospital in stable condition Thursday. Newark police said they had spoken with two witnesses, reviewed video evidence and interviewed Watt as part of the investigation.
Watt was taken to the Wayne County Jail for CAP Court arraignment and remanded to jail. Newark Police Chief Austin Gonzalez said the Wayne County Sheriff's Office assisted the department in the investigation.
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