Crime & Safety

Road Rage Leads to Choking Incident, Cops Say

One motorist passes another on Schooley's Mountain, confrontation ensues at Dunkin' Donuts.

A Cedar Grove man allegedly choked a person after a road rage incident on Schooley’s Mountain Road, Hackettstown Police said.

Rocco Malanga, 29, was a passenger inside a vehicle heading northbound on Schooley’s Mountain Road last Thursday around 7 p.m. when a motorist from Independence Township passed him, Det. Darren Tynan said.

The vehicle Malanga was in then followed the motorist to the Hackettstown Dunkin’ Donuts, Tynan said. Malanga approached the other driver, whose name is not being released, and confronted the individual about the driving incident, Tynan said.

Find out what's happening in Verona-Cedar Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Malanga then knocked the coffee cup the other person was holding to the ground, and allegedly choked and shoved the victim, Tynan said.

The victim suffered redness to his neck and complained of pain, Tynan said. Malanga was charged with simple assault.

Find out what's happening in Verona-Cedar Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For questions about this post, please email jason.koestenblatt@patch.com.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.