Armed With Hammers, Knife Duct-Taped To Hand, Men Planned Howell Assault, Police Say

A 9-1-1 call reporting a disturbance likely prevented what could have been a violent assault Monday night by two Howell men, one allegedly armed with two hammers, the other with a large knife duct-taped to his hand, Howell police said Thursday.

Anthony Ammoscato, 18, of Aldrich Drive, and Julian Lee, 20, of Plumstead Drive, both are being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Facility, Freehold Township, in lieu of bail on terroristic threats and weapons charges in the incident, Howell Sgt. Christian Antunez said Thursday.

Police were called about 9 p.m. Monday to Plumstead Drive after a concerned citizen called 9-1-1 to report a loud argument over a drug transaction among a group of men at the neighborhood gazebo there, Antunez said.

Patrolman Ryan Hurley arrived and found a group of 10 men in the street near the gazebo, and with the assistance of Patrolman Jason Baratta, Patrolman James Conaty Jr. and Patrolman Sean MacDonald learned that Ammoscato and Lee had confronted a 19-year-old Howell man over the unpaid transactions that involved mutual friends, Antunez said.

The dispute led to Lee and Ammoscato arming themselves in preparation for an assault on the man and possibly others present, Antunez said. Lee, wearing a glove, had bound a large kitchen knife to the gloved hand with black duct tape to create a firm grip, he said, while Ammoscato armed himself with two hammers.

Hurley’s quick response to the 9-1-1 call prevented what would have likely been an extremely violent assault, Antunez said.

When Hurley arrived on scene, Lee and Ammoscato discarded their weapons and attempted to deny involvement, but the investigation led to the discovery of the hammers, the knife still taped to the glove Lee had been wearing, as well as a baseball bat, he said.

Also located and seized at the scene was the suspected drug Phencyclidine (PCP), Antunez said.

There were no injuries reported.

Ammoscato is being held in lieu of $52,500 bail on charges of terroristic threats, physical menace, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon by prohibited persons and disorderly conduct, Antunez said.

Lee is being held in lieu of $22,500 bail on charges of terroristic threats, physical menace, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, unlawful possession of a weapon and disorderly conduct, he said.

The investigation is ongoing.