Man beaten with bat after insults traded
BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

WOODBRIDGE - A 39-year-old Neptune man was arrested for striking another man with a bat outside the Reo Diner last week.

Police arrested and charged Scott Walsh with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and possession of drug paraphernalia at 9:42 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the intersection of Amboy and East Middlesex avenues.

Police observed Walsh beating a 23-year-old Avenel man with his hands, the police report said.

A bat with the carved words "Peace Maker" on it was lying on the sidewalk next to Walsh, police said.

Police observed a state Department of Corrections employee attempting to break up the fight, police said.

When the police officers separated the men, the victim told police that Walsh was beating him with the bat, the police report said.

The victim had a large bruise on his right elbow and he was complaining of a broken shoulder, the police report said.

Walsh told police that he left a music studio on School Street with his girlfriend when the victim walked past them, accusing them of being drug users and belittled Walsh using expletives, the police report said.

Words were exchanged, but the victim walked away toward Route 35, the police report said.

When Walsh and his girlfriend got up to Route 35, the victim was there and started shouting at them again.

Walsh exited his girlfriend's car with the bat and assaulted the victim.

Police also found a white powdery substance wrapped in toilet paper wrapping in Walsh's right pocket and a metal spoon in his right side pocket, the police report said.

Walsh was transported to headquarters and was held at $15,000 bail, the police report said.