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The first driver told police one of the men “made an abrupt turn” with a Honda Accord, possibly hitting his GMC Yukon, but kept going around 8:30 a.m. yesterday.
So he said he chased them.
When they reached the lot on Commerce Boulevard, Police Chief Thomas Nielsen said, the Yukon driver said both men got out with box cutters, so he grabbed the bat.
Jose Ortiz (above, left) and Dalbenny Rodriguez (right), in turn, told police that they retrieved the weapons from the Honda’s trunk to defend themselves when they saw the other driver with the baseball bat.
A surveillance camera from a nearby building showed Ortiz and Rodriguez getting out of the car and grabbing the box cutters before the other man pulled up, Nielsen said.
“Reid exited the vehicle appearing to be yelling at Ortiz and Rodriguez, and then walked to the back of his vehicle and retrieved a bat,” the chief said.
Three witnesses were also located, he said.
As a result, Ortiz and Rodriguez and were arrested and charged with two counts each of illegal weapons possession of providing false information to police.
They were releaed on summonses ordering them to appear Aug. 1 in Municipal Court.
No charges were filed against the other driver, Nielsen said.
Carlstadt police were backed up by their colleagues from Moonachie and Wood-Ridge, the chief said.
MUGSHOTS: Courtesy CARLSTADT PD
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