Police charge 2 men after road rage fracas

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NAUGATUCK — Police arrested two men May 1 after they allegedly displayed weapons during a road rage incident.

Officers responded to the area of 10 Olive St. at 2:17 p.m. for a report of a man who displayed a gun during an altercation. Police said Joseph Samaha, 32, pulled a 20 gauge shotgun after Patrick Occhini, 38, waved a hammer.

The dispute stemmed from a near-miss accident in which police said Steven Hayden, 31, almost struck Sean Sears, 21, with his vehicle.

Hayden and Sears got out of their vehicles in an “aggressive manner” and were challenging each other to fight, Deputy Police Chief C. Colin McAllister said.

During the argument, Occhini, who is Hayden’s friend, ran from Cherry Street with the hammer, police said. The argument escalated, police said, and Samaha got a shotgun.

Police ended the disagreement and seized the shotgun. During an investigation, Samaha, who is Sears’ friend, lied to officers about the shotgun and hid it in a shed at 10 Olive St., where he lives, according to police.

No injuries were reported. Occhino was charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree threatening.

Samaha was charged with tampering with physical evidence, interfering with an officer, disorderly conduct and first-degree threatening.

They are scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on June 23.

Sears and Hayden received infractions for causing a public disturbance.