Crime & Safety

Two Manalapan Teens Charged In Connection to Baseball Bat Attack

The teens are alleged to have beaten the victim during the course of stealing a cell phone.

Four local teens are facing charges they beat a Howell resident with wooden and aluminum baseball bats, sending him to the hospital. 

The victim was taken to CentraState Medical Center for bruising, redness and swelling to his abdomen, back and face in the attack, which occurred at his house on Tuesday. 

Police have arrested Christopher J. Favale, 19 of Sugarloaf Place in Manalapan; Michael T. Leone, 18 of Tulip Lane in Freehold Twp, a 16 year old male from Freehold Twp and a 17 year old male from Manalapan in the attack. 

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All four were charged with first degree armed robbery, third degree aggravated assault and third degree possession of weapons for unlawful purposes. 

The teens are alleged to have beaten the victim during the course of stealing a cell phone, according to the official criminal complaint.  

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According to Howell Police Sgt. Eileen Dodd, police received multiple 911 call shortly before 7 p.m. reporting a group of teens with weapons -- reported as bats and a knife -- were gathered at a home on Georgia Tavern Road and threatening a resident.

When police arrived, the suspects had fled on foot. But police quickly located four young men, two with 2 baseball bats. A knife was not located. 

According to investigation at the scene, the four young men went the home intending to confront a male resident. When he came out of the house, he was attacked. The four suspects punched, kicked and assaulted the victim with two baseball bats before fleeing the scene. 

Favale and Leone are being held at the county jail on $60,000 bail each. The 16-year old Freehold Twp. male and the 17-year old Manalapan male are being held at the Middlesex County Youth Detention Facility. 

The arresting Officer was Ptl. Jesse Moore. He was assisted by Ptl. Dave Levine, Ptl. Mike Popek and Sgt. Christian Antunez. 


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