Fighting Morristown Men Give Conflicting Accounts of Altercation, Report Says

Two Morristown men were arrested after getting into a fight inside a bar, resulting in one needing medical attention, according to police.

Morristown police officer Christopher Little responded to Speedwell Avenue just before 10 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26 for a report of an altercation, according to a police report. When Little arrived, he found Santos Rodriguez, 27, and Manuel Rodriguez, 31, yelling and pointing at each other in the street, the report said.

The men were detained and gave officers conflicting stories, according to the report. Santos Rodriguez told police that while he was inside the Metro Shop, Manuel Rodriguez approached him, took his beer and punched him for no reason, the report said.

At that point, Santos Rodriguez said, he followed Manuel Rodriguez outside and admitted starting a fight, according to the report.

Manuel Rodriguez told police he simply left the business and was followed by Santos Rodriguez for unknown reasons, the report said. Manuel Rodriguez said he was then struck in the back by Santos Rodriguez, and then in the face, according to the report. The report says Manuel Rodriguez then began to fight back.

There were no witnesses to support either claim, the report said.

Santos Rodriguez suffered a few scratches on his head and small abrasions on his left hand, and denied medical attention, the report said. Manuel Rodriguez, who was bleeding from his nose and had a small laceration on the back of his head, was taken by ambulance to Morristown Medical Center.

Both men were charged with simple assault and given court dates.

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