Man charged with assault at Pier Village
BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH - A Sea Bright man is facing charges for assaulting a woman with a piece of concrete while she was working at a boutique in Pier Village.

Police arrested and charged George Dipierro, 52, with criminal attempt homicide, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to police reports.

On Oct. 25 at approximately 12:15 p.m., Dipierro allegedly walked into a Pier Village store and looked around for a while and then left. The accused returned to the store approximately one hour later, according to reports.

The victim told police that she asked the man if he needed help shopping and he didn't respond, but produced a piece of broken concrete and hit her in the head with it, according to reports.

The victim fell to the ground and Dipierro allegedly jumped on top of her and began to repeatedly punch her in the face, according to reports, which state that the accused allegedly placed his hand over the victim's mouth and nose in an attempt to suffocate her.

For five minutes, the 30-year-old victim fought with Dipierro and bit his hand and scratched his face, according to reports. As a female patron entered the store, she observed the assault and ran from the store and yelled to a man parking his car for assistance.

Dipierro ran from the store and was apprehended several blocks from the scene. The victim positively identified Dipierro as the man who attacked her and he also exhibited injuries consistent with the struggle at the time of the arrest, according to police reports.

The victim was treated at Monmouth Medical Center on Second Avenue and released later that day. The incident is still under investigation by the Long Branch Police Department regarding a motive.

Bail was set at $50,000 with no 10 percent option for Dipierro, according to reports.