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NJ man charged after incident involving motorized beach cart and 'melees with at least 5 people'

Lukas Iorio was a former star wrestler at Bergen Catholic High School.

By Evan Bleier
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MANASQUAN, N.J., May 29 (UPI) -- A former star high school wrestler has been pinned with a number of charges including carjacking, burglary and driving under the influence after an alleged crime spree involving a stolen motorized beach cart and "melees with at least five people."

Lukas Iorio, a title-winning wrestler at Bergen Catholic High School, allegedly stole a beach cart from a member of the Manasquan Beach Patrol after he "kicked out the plastic windshield and landed in the front seat of the cart."

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Manasquan Police Chief Elliott Correia said that Iorio took control of the vehicle and then drove it "at a high rate of speed while swerving at pedestrians," striking and injuring a 49-year-old man who tried to get out of the way not once, but twice.

After crashing the cart into a gazebo, Iorio allegedly tried to steal a bike and took a swing at a man who came over to see if he was hurt. He then ran into a nearby home and encountered a 72-year-old man who he repeatedly punched in the face.

When Iorio was finally taken into custody after being subdued by "several family members and the two members of the Beach Patrol," he was charged with resisting arrest, four counts of simple assault, one count of assault by auto, two counts of criminal mischief, reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury, in addition to the charges listed above.

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Five people were treated for injuries after the incident.

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