Heated Parking Spot Dispute Turns Violent, Linden Man Charged

LINDEN, NJ — A Linden man has been charged following a heated dispute over a parking spot that took place last week.

David M. Beardsley, 60, of Linden, was charged with disorderly persons offenses including simple assault, disorderly conduct, and criminal mischief, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Linden Police Chief David Hart jointly announced Friday.

On July 22 at about 8:30 a.m., a 70-year-old Carteret woman said Beardsley called her names, poked her in the face with his finger, closed her car door on her leg, and threw her cell phone following a dispute over a parking spot on East Henry Street, authorities said.

The following day, the woman went to Linden Police Headquarters and said Beardsley had also yelled racial slurs during the incident, authorities said.

Based on this new information, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office was notified and a bias incident investigation was started, in accordance with Attorney General Guidelines.

A comprehensive, week-long investigation was conducted by the Linden Police Department before the charges were authorized by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office. Detectives served Beardsley with a summons detailing the charges on Thursday afternoon.

"The decision to file criminal charges is only made after a careful review of all the facts available," said Chief David Hart. "This was a thorough investigation, and I am confident that the evidence supports these charges."

The case is scheduled to be heard in Linden Municipal Court on Monday, Aug. 17.

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