KENNEDY TOWNSHIP, Pa.,None — A Kennedy Township man accused of getting into a fight with the police chief over an argument dealing with a parking space has been ordered to partake in anger management classes.
If Joe Vasalani successfully completes three months of the classes, his criminal mischief, harassment and disorderly conduct charges will be reduced to summary offenses as part of the plea agreement.
When the incident happened last week, Vasalani, 72, told Channel 11 News that the chief made the first move.
"I grabbed onto him. We went down to the ground until some help came," said Vasalani.
After talking to Vasalani, Channel 11's Renee Kaminski said it's hard to picture the low-key senior citizen scuffling with anyone, let alone Police Chief Anthony Bruni.
According to the criminal complaint, Vasalani shoved and jumped on top of Bruni, putting his forearm to the chief's throat before Bruni and the township manager got him under control.
"See the black and blue marks. See the swelling. The handcuffs on my hands made my hands turn purple," said Vasalani.
According to Kaminski, the incident began when Vasalani complained that his neighbor was creating a traffic hazard by parking in the middle of Starling Street because of snow.
Vasalani said packed snow had narrowed the road and traffic had to navigate around the SUV. He said his wife was nearly hit by traffic while checking their mailbox.
Police said officers investigated the situation and found there was no hazard, but Vasalani was unhappy with the officers' decision.
Vasalani told Channel 11 that it was the police chief who made the first move by bumping into him and calling him an "old man," but according to the criminal complaint, Bruni was told by Vasalani, "If I see you walking down the street without your badge, I will take care of you."
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