Crime & Safety

Wawa Parking Lot Incident Leads to Arrest

Whiting man dragged fellow shopper, police say

An incident of presumed 'parking lot rage' near Ocean Acres landed a Whiting man under arrest over the weekend.

Police say Michael A. Farley, 66, of Whiting, was seen in the parking lot of the Wawa location at Route 72 West and Mermaid Drive opening and closing the driver's side door of his burgundy Lincoln taxicab and, in the process, hitting the side of a black Ford Ranger pickup truck. The alleged incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. Friday, police said.

The owner of the Ford, Manahawkin resident Thomas Sarno, 50, saw what was happening and reportedly confronted Farley through the passenger side door, said Patrolman Russell Griffin.

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Farley then shifted his vehicle into reverse, causing the passenger side door to knock Sarno to the ground, Griffin said. He was dragged approximately twenty feet through the parking lot before Farley stopped, shifted the vehicle into drive, and left the scene.

Farley was located on Saturday and "cooperatively responded to police headquarters," said Griffin, in a news release Monday.

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After reviewing statements from Farley, Sarno, and multiple witnesses, Farley was placed under arrest and charged with simple assault and criminal mischief, Griffin said. He was processed and released.

Sarno sustained a minor injury but refused transportation to the hospital, police said.


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