Two arrested after fight injured Lehigh wrestler, police say
Men accused of hitting college senior with history of eye trouble.
By Manuel Gamiz Jr.
Of The Morning Call
Two 20-year-old men were arrested Friday for allegedly fighting with two Lehigh University wrestlers on May 11 in south Bethlehem, leaving one with nerve damage to his right eye, police said.
Bethlehem police said Joe Creazzo, of 1612 Mitman Road, Forks Township, and Jared Casciole, of 102 S. 22nd St., Wilson, were arrested Friday night for assaulting Jonathan Trenge, 23, a senior at Lehigh who was recently named to the 2005 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team.
Police said Creazzo, Casciole and Brad Piperata, 19, went to Trenge’s home at 526 Montclair Ave. about midnight May 11 and forced open the front door.
They were asked several times by Trenge and his roommate Matt Ciasulli, 21, who also wrestles at Lehigh, to leave, and they eventually did, police said. Witnesses told police that Creazzo was upset with Ciasulli about a woman they both had dated, police said.
About 30 minutes later the three men returned, and Creazzo and Casciole went upstairs where Trenge and Ciasulli were, police said.
Trenge managed to get them to leave and was walking them down the stairs when Casciole punched him in the side of the head, police said. Trenge got Casciole in a headlock, but then Creazzo began punching Trenge in the head so he would release Casciole, police said.
Trenge let go of the headlock, but Casciole punched him one last time in the head before the men fled outside, police said. As he left, Creazzo threw beer bottles and a bar stool at the house, police said.
Police said Trenge went to the hospital with a bruised eye and nerve damage that caused his right pupil not to dilate.
Trenge has a history of eye problems, and Creazzo and Casciole were aware of that, police said. Police said Trenge had a separated and reattached right retina and a punch to his face could damage his eyes further.
During his collegiate wrestling career, which ended this year, doctors advised Trenge to stop wrestling or risk blindness. Instead, Trenge wrestled with protective headgear and goggles and became the school’s all-time leader in victories with 133, according to Lehigh’s Web site.
Police said they did not charge Piperata because he wasn’t involved in the fight.
Creazzo and Casciole were arraigned by District Judge Sandra Zemgulis on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and burglary. Creazzo also is charged his harassment.
Both were sent to Northampton County Prison under $10,000 bail.
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