Madison Man Charged with Aggravated Assault on Local Teen

A 13-year-old Madison boy was allegedly assaulted by a man wielding a field hockey stick on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

According to Madison Police, the teen and a group of friends were walking home on Green Avenue Tuesday and one of the youths may have allegedly thrown a snowball at a home on Green Avenue, breaking a wreath hanging on a door. The group of youths ran down Garfield Avenue as a result.

While on Garfield Avenue, the group noticed a car driving toward them and Joseph Sales, 55, of Madison, exited the vehicle and confronted the group about the alleged snowball, police said. The youths reportedly fled from Sales, who followed on foot.

Sales allegedly chased down the 13 year old, who slipped and fell while running, and confronted him, yelling and striking him four to five times in the leg with a field hockey stick, according to police.

After arriving home, the 13 year old told his mother of the incident and the two reported the incident at the Madison Police Department. The teen suffered bruising and swelling to his right leg, police said.

Madison Police investigated the incident and Sales was brought into custody. He was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, and unlawful possession of a weapon, police said. He was released on his own recognize pending his appearance in Morris County Superior Court.