Two Men Fight at Manalapan Rec Center Game

Two men have filed citizen complaints against one another after becoming involved in a physical altercation during a children’s flag football game at the Manalapan Recreation Center on Friday, April 26.

Manalapan police were dispatched to the scene in regard to the reported assault, but did not sign complaints as the parties involved had conflicting stories and both claimed to be the victim, according to Captain Michael Fountain.

Manalapan resident Samuel Engel, 33, filed one charge against Nelson Rivera, 45, of Freehold, for simple assault. According to Manalapan Court Administrator Daniella Trancho, Engel said that Rivera punched him in the head and face, knocked him to the ground and kicked him in the head. Engel suffered a minor injury to his upper and bottom lips and later refused medical treatment, according to police.

Rivera also filed two charges against Engel for simple assault and harassment. Trancho said “Rivera is alleging that Engel committed an act of assault by chest bumping him in an angry and threatening manner.” In the harassment charge, Rivera reported that Engel threatened to assault him and “everybody else you know” while about one inch away from his face, according to Trancho.

Both criminal complaints are scheduled for an arraignment at Manalapan Municipal Court on Monday, May 20 when both Rivera and Engel would enter a plea.