Altercation Leads to Arrest of Brick Man, 19

An incident in the Maple Leaf Park development landed a 19-year-old Brick man in jail charged with assault.

Police responded to the area of Sawmill Road around midnight Sunday after a report that a woman had been assaulted. An initial search of the area didn't turn up any suspects or the victim, but an area resident told police the victim left the area in a vehicle, according to Brick Police Capt. John Rein.

At 2:20 a.m., the alleged victim, a 20-year-old local female resident, came to police headquarters to file a report, Rein said. The woman told Patrolman Kris DeMarco that she went to the area of Sawmill Road to pick up a friend, but the friend was not there. Instead, she encountered a "small group of people," Rein said, and a verbal dispute ensued.

During the dispute, a man identified as Minas Andamasaris, a Sawmill Road resident, punched the victim in the side of the head with a closed fist, knocking her briefly unconscious, police said.

Following the altercation, Rein said, Andamasaris left the area and a friend helped the victim get into a vehicle and leave.

After the report was filed, Patrolmen Marc Alexander and Mark Byers went to Andamasaris’ address on Sawmill Road and placed him under arrest. He was charged with one count of aggravated assault.

Andamasaris was being held in the Ocean County Jail on $15,000 cash bail set by Municipal Court Judge Robert Lepore.

The victim was treated at police headquarters for a complaint of pain to her temple by Brick Police EMS, but refused transport to the hospital.