Car Hits Tree; Then 'Stuff' Hits the Fan for Group in Fight

On April 22, police responded to a motor vehicle accident on Canaan Road and Light Street involving a car hitting a tree where dispatch advised the officer that a large fight was occurring in the street and that a car may have been stolen.

When police arrived, a male, Joseph Gombas, 19, of Franklin Avenue, told police that another male wearing a red shirt had just assaulted him and ran down the street toward Wiklund Avenue.

Gombas first said that he was driving his vehicle when someone ran in front of his vehicle, causing him to swerve and hit a tree. He then changed his story slightly by telling police that he was driving between 40-45 mph and then added that he lost control because the power steering had failed on the vehicle.

He also told police that someone told him that his axle was not in good shape and that he was just driving around the neighborhood to see if the car was running correctly.

Meanwhile, several witnesses who live in the neighborhood told police that the vehicle involved in the accident was traveling very fast when the operator lost control. All individuals requested anonymity.

A second officer reported that he spotted the person with the red shirt and was pursuing. Meanwhile, Jonathan Scanlan, 20, of Peters Lane, a passenger in the vehicle, told police that a man had approached him and began hitting him and Gombas for no reason.

The other male involved was identified as Anthony Vasquez, 19., of Wiklund Avenue. Scanlan added that there were other males involved but he could not identify them.

While speaking with police, Scanlan was also arguing with people in the crowd that had gathered. The argument concerned an incident that had happened last summer, police said.

Scanlan made repeated obscene gestures and swore at people in the crowd, police reported, and he continued to do so after the officer asked him to stop. He was then escorted by police to the patrol car.

A second officer then arrived with Vasquez in custody, who told the first police officer that he had approached Scanlan to ask him how he would pay for damage that Scanlan had caused to his car when Scanlan allegedly tried to break into it.

Scanlan alleged told Vasquez, “Get out of here. I don’t have time to deal with you right now.”

Vasquez then told police that the driver of the car (Gombas) allegedly came up from behind him and grabbed him as Scanlan began to charge at him trying to hit him.

Vasquez admitted that a fight ensued and that Gombas threw him down to the ground, although he was able to get up and fight off his attackers, he said.

Police then informed Scanlan that he was under arrest and during their search of him they found a white pill without a valid prescription bottle. The pill was kept for evidence.

Gombas was also arrested, searched and placed in the patrol car. Gombas was charged with reckless driving and breach of the peace and later released on $500 with a court date on May 4.

Scanlan was charged with breach of the peace and failure to keep narcotics in its original container with bond of $2,000 and court May 4.

Vasquez was charged with breach of the peace and interfering with a police officer and released on a promise to appear in court on May 4. 

Also in connection with the same incident, a father and his daughter appeared at headquarters to complain to police about a disturbance that allegedly occurred following the motor vehicle hitting the tree.

The woman was a passenger in the car and had exited the vehicle when she was approached by Dawn Mattioli, 43, of Wiklund Avenue. Mattioli allegedly began yelling at the woman because she was angry about a previous dispute between the two.

The woman then told police that Mattioli allegedly pushed her in an effort to entice the woman into a fight. The woman filled out a sworn statement to same.

Police then interviewed Mattioli, who admitted to getting into a verbal altercation but denied pushing her. She said she only went to the scene of the crash to see if anyone had been injured, but then began arguing when she said who was involved.

Mattioli was issued a misdemeanor summons for breach of the peace and released on a promise to appear in court on May 6.