Man Charged In Toms River Street Fight; Victim Still Hospitalized

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Scotch Plains man has been charged with aggravated assault in connection with a street fight that seriously injured a man on the 4th of July in Toms River, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said Wednesday.

Raziel Mancebo, 27, has been charged with aggravated assault and simple assault, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. He is accused of hitting Alan Stever and Jason Durante, both of Toms River, during the fight on Hazelwood Road that happened shortly after 9 p.m.

Stever, 56, was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, and he is listed in serious but stable condition, Billhimer said.

Billhimer said police were called to Hazelwood Road and Cattus Island Boulevard about 9:15 p.m. Investigators learned a black BMW was driving north on Hazelwood Road “at a high rate of speed” and when it stopped at the stop sign at Cattus Island Boulevard, Durante, 50, approached the car.

Durante and the driver of the BMW, later identified as Mancebo, exchanged words, and that led to a fight, Billhimer said. Mancebo also became involved in a fight with Stever, and punched him. Stever fell and hit his head on the pavement, Billhimer said.

Mancebo then got back into his car and drove off east on Cattus Island Boulevard, Billhimer said.

Investigators identified Mancebo as the driver, and he was charged Sunday. Billhimer said Mancebo turned himself in to the Ocean County Sheriff’s office Wednesday. He was processed in Toms River and is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Prosecutor Billhimer said the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, Patrol Division and Detective Bureau, Scotch Plains Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit collaborated in the investigation.

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