Until this week, what happened behind the closed doors of the Cal Ripken League clubhouse on May 1 was up to speculation. But after Bob DeChiaro, president of the league, filed charges against 1st Ward council candidate Tom Cotter two weeks ago, it will be up to a court to decide if Cotter assaulted DeChiaro or the other way around.
The court hearing is scheduled for June 8 in Bayonne Municipal Court.
After four days of attempting to reconcile with Cotter, DeChiaro said he finally filed charges, alleging that Cotter assaulted him in the clubhouse on May 1, breaking a $300 pair of sunglasses. Cotter, who is running in a June 15 runoff election for the 1st Ward seat on the City Council, has filed counter charges against DeChiaro, also alleging assault.
“Tom is saying I bumped him and I didn’t. I’m the one who got attacked.” — Bob DeChiaro
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During the conversation, DeChiaro says candidate Thomas Cotter entered the office and allegedly said to DeChiaro, “If you do anything to my nephew, you m… f….,” and then allegedly grabbed DeChiaro by the head with his two hands and forced his head backwards into a desk, causing his head to strike the desk and knocking his glasses off. Cotter then allegedly stated, “You’ll see what happens,” and left the office.
DeChiaro declined medical attention and was advised to go to court to sign a complaint for the alleged assault and for breaking his glasses, valued at $300.
Countercharges made
Cotter, however, in a statement made to the police two days after the incident, said he had confronted DeChiaro, but had not struck him. In turn, Cotter said DeChiaro “got out of his chair in an irate state, at which time he began to shove them and push Cotter and the woman out of the office, using his hands and chest.” After Cotter and the woman were pushed out of the office, Cotter said DeChiaro followed them out and began to provoke Cotter into a physical altercation by stating, “Come on and hit me, future councilman.”
DeChiaro, however, claimed what he said was, “Come hit me again where there are witnesses who can see you, Mr. Councilman.”
Cotter – on the advice of his attorney – corroborated his statements to the police, but would not be quoted directly for this story.
Both Cotter, in his statement, and DeChiaro said the incident was motivated when Cotter came to the clubhouse and saw his nephew crying.
The boy told Cotter that he was being thrown out of the league.
DeChiaro said witnesses outside saw Cotter getting angry as a result of this. DeChiaro said he was inside the clubhouse talking over the situation calmly with the boy’s mother when Cotter allegedly busted in, then attacked him, pushing his head back against the desk and crushing the glasses in the process.
“I was talking to the boy’s mother when Cotter came in,” DeChiaro said. “He didn’t like something I said to her and then he came at me, pointing his finger in my face. Then he [allegedly] held my head back against the desk. I didn’t fight back. It wasn’t clear whether his sister-in-law pulled him off or not. But I admit I went to the door with him and yelled outside. Perhaps I shouldn’t have done that. But then I called the police and I told Tom I was doing that. He just took off. If he didn’t do anything wrong, why did he take off like that?”
Several witnesses saw the argument in the parking lot outside the clubhouse. Later, DeChiaro spoke with parents and others who were watching an ongoing game and apologized for the disruption.
“I didn’t call back the press because I wanted to give him [Cotter] a chance to make this go away,” DeChiaro said. “I met with the board and we decided that if he (Cotter) admitted he had become physical and said he was sorry, he and his son would be allowed back – nothing more would happen.”
DeChiaro, however, said after a 40 minute conversation with Cotter, he did not get the admission he wanted.
“I filed charges to protect myself,” he said. “Tom is saying I bumped him and I didn’t. I’m the one who got attacked. This is about my reputation and the reputation of the league.”