LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP, NJ (Warren County) – Four adults have been charged following an altercation at a youth wrestling tournament last month at Phillipsburg High School, according to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office.
On Sunday, Jan. 28 the Lopatcong Township Police Department responded to Phillipsburg High School regarding an altercation which involved approximately 20 people attending a youth wrestling tournament, authorities said.
The investigation revealed a verbal dispute had erupted between Dayne M. Takach, 49, of Montague Township and Ralph E. Dielo, 48, of Stewartsville which led to an ensuing physical altercation between Nicholas R. Cassidy, 24, of Bloomsbury and Dayne M. Takach, officials said.
Upon the completion of a wrestling match Mr. Takach allegedly approached the youth wrestler from Phillipsburg who had just won the match and touched or patted him on the head and made a statement to him to the effect; “Now you can go (off) to High School.” Upon observing the incident and over hearing the statement, Dileo allegedly exchanged words with Mr. Takach and Mr. Takach then began to walk away from the area of the initial confrontation, the prosecutor’s office said.
While Mr. Takach was walking away from the area an additional comment or comments were addressed to him which resulted in him walking back towards the area of the original confrontation. As Mr. Takach was in the process of returning to this area he was confronted by Cassidy, who had no involvement in the original confrontation, authorities said.
Cassidy then engaged Mr. Takach in a confrontation by allegedly pushing him. At that point, the confrontation between Cassidy and Mr. Takach escalated resulting in numerous other bystanders becoming involved in an attempt to separate the parties at which time Mr. Takach and others ended up on the floor, officials said.
Jennifer D. Takach, 47, of Montague Township then approached the individuals on the floor and allegedly kicked an individual in what appears to be his head and/or neck area, the prosecutor’s office said.
Based on witness statements at that time and the on the scene investigation, Jennifer Takach was arrested on site and she was charged with aggravated assault, authorities said.
As part of a continuing investigation, numerous videos of the incident were reviewed along with additional witnesses and participants being interviewed, officials said.
Upon completion of the investigation, Dielo was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct. Takach and Cassidy were each charged with two counts of disorderly conduct and harassment, the prosecutor’s office said.
