NJ Superintendent Punched Woman In Head, Fights Man, Cops Say

LODI, NJ — Lodi Schools Superintendent Douglas Petty was accused of punching a woman in the head, and then proceeding to argue and fight with a bystander in Seaside Heights over the weekend, Detective Steve Korman said.

Petty, 46, of Cedar Knolls, was arrested on a simple assault charge and transported to the Ocean County Jail, Korman said. The alleged offense against the woman, who was described as an "intimate partner," involved domestic violence, according to a preliminary incident report.

"Dr. Petty is aware of the charge," attorney Raymond Raya, who is representing Petty, said. "I filed an appearance with the court and pleaded 'not guilty' to the charge. We look forward to vigorously defending (Petty) on this matter."

Petty, police allege, was seen by Officer Timothy Farrell hitting the woman and then engaging in an argument and a physical fight with a man standing by. He was observed at 1:22 a.m. Sunday after the officer heard a man yelling at or near the intersection of Sumner Avenue and the Boulevard, Korman said.

Another officer, Erik Hershey, said, when he arrived, that he had seen Petty on top of a man on the sidewalk, as Farrell tried to place handcuffs on Petty, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Hershey then arrested Petty and transported him for processing, the affidavit said.

Further comment will be reserved until after court proceedings are finished, "which we believe will be done expeditiously," attorney Raya said.