NJ Security Guard Assaulted Homeless Man Accused Of Shoplifting

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A jury found a Rutherford man guilty of several charges after he assaulted a homeless man while working as a security guard in Newark several years ago, prosecutors announced Thursday.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the assault took place in March 2020 at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Thomas Street in Newark.

Here’s what happened, prosecutors said:

“Frederick Parisi, 57, of Rutherford – a security guard at the Family Dollar store at 131 Clinton Avenue – chased a homeless man suspected of shoplifting in a police car, struck him with the vehicle and then sprayed him in the face with pepper spray. The victim, Hector Rodriguez, sustained life-threatening injuries.”

Parisi was arrested with two fake identification cards, authorities said: one claiming he was a police officer in Passaic, and the other a national concealed carry permit.

Parisi is currently serving a 16-year sentence in the state of Georgia for impersonating a law enforcement officer and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was extradited to New Jersey to stand trial.

On Wednesday, an Essex County jury found Parisi guilty of nine counts, including second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree endangering an injured victim and impersonating a police officer.

Parisi is scheduled for sentencing in April. He faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, prosecutors said.

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