Leavittsburg man charged with New Year’s Day vehicular assault

Staff report

WARREN

Thomas A. Catalde Jr., 27, of Ruth Avenue in Leavittsburg was arraigned on a felony charge of aggravated vehicular assault Friday after a 21-year-old Leavittsburg man said Catalde ran into him with his car at 1:01 a.m. New Year’s Day in Leavittsburg.

A not-guilty plea was entered for Catalde in Warren Municipal Court. He pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of endangering children and driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Bond was set at $25,000.

Warren Township police said the 21-year-old told them Catalde hit him with his car in front of a house in the 300 block of Homeview Avenue, causing injuries to his leg and back.

The victim’s girlfriend said she, her boyfriend and Catalde were at the Homewood address celebrating New Year’s when Catalde drove at her boyfriend after a verbal altercation that began in the house and moved into the street.

After hitting her boyfriend, Catalde drove to another house on Homewood and pulled his car into a garage. His 7-year-old daughter was in the car with him, the woman said.

Police acquired a search warrant to break into the garage and found Catalde and the child. Catalde said he did not remember hitting the other man but admitted to drinking and arguing with him.