Road rage incident leads to arrests

A man angered by a confused driver on Route 70 wound up later beating him with a painting tool in an early morning road rage incident, police said.

Police arrested and charged Joseph Pechillo, 57, of Toms River, with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon Nov. 2 at 6:34 a.m. in the Shamrock Deli parking lot on Route 88.

Gary Braine, 49, of Brick, told police Pechillo, who was traveling behind Braine on Route 70 near Route 88, began honking his horn repeatedly as Braine was trying to get his bearings in what he said was an unfamiliar area to him, police said.

Pechillo then pulled up alongside Braine and raised his middle finger, police said.

Braine told police that when he pulled into the Shamrock Deli to get directions, Pechillo pulled in after him.

Police said Pechillo got out of his car, approached Braine's vehicle and began screaming obscenities at him. Pechillo then broke off Braine's side mirror.

Braine exited his car and Pechillo punched him in the chest, police said. Braine then decked Pechillo in the face. Pechillo responded by retrieving an aluminum painting pole from his car and proceeded to attack Braine with it, striking him in the face and body, police said.

Pechillo returned the pole back to his car and entered the deli, where police found him and placed him under arrest.

Although Pechillo corroborated Braine's story, Pechillo alleges that Braine punched him first after Braine exited his vehicle.

Braine was also arrested after police discovered five outstanding warrants in four different towns for his arrest including Brick, Sayreville, Woodbridge and Budd Lake.