PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, NJ (Morris County) – Parsippany police are actively investigating a large disturbance that occurred Saturday night.
On July 20, at 10:59 p.m., officers responded to a report of a large physical disturbance in the roadway outside of a Roosevelt Avenue residence, police said.
Upon the officers’ arrival, numerous individuals scattered and began running through the yards of surrounding residences, police said.
A 17-year-old was allegedly assaulted by one of the unidentified individuals who fled the scene prior to police arrival, resulting in a non-life-threatening injury to his head. The juvenile was transported to the Morristown Medical Center, police said.
While checking the area for the fleeing individuals, a handgun magazine containing 8 bullets was located on the ground in front of one of the Roosevelt residence. It is undetermined at this time if a handgun was used or displayed during the altercation, The magazine with ammunition was secured as evidence, police said.
While the initial investigation was ongoing, officers observed a large group of individuals outside the 7-Eleven convenience store located at 31 North Beverwyck Road. Several males were detained in the parking lot to determine if they were involved in the Roosevelt Avenue disturbance, police said.
While officers were speaking to the males, a white pickup truck entered the parking lot and the driver, who was later identified as Damon G. Soto, 44, from Parsippany-Troy Hills and father of one of the involved juveniles, exited his vehicle and allegedly struck one of the adult males in the face, police said.
Soto was immediately taken into custody by officers on scene. He was charged with simple assault and released pending a court appearance, police said.
The incident is currently under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call the Parsippany Police Department’s Investigative Branch at 973-263-4300.
