SALEM — The 60-year-old owner of a pizza shop was beaten, slammed into his delivery vehicle and thrown into the ground yesterday when he arrived to deliver food to a man on Laurent Road, police said.
Francis Riggieri, who owns the small pizza and sandwich shop Fran & Diane's Kitchen on Lafayette Street, was bleeding heavily, had cuts under his left eye and nose, and had scrapes on the back of his head when police arrived just after the alleged attack yesterday at 4:14 p.m.
Timothy Gokey Jr., 28, of 9 Laurent Road, Salem, was arrested and charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person 60 or older and single counts of assault and battery on an elderly person and malicious destruction of property.
There was no answer when Riggieri knocked on Gokey's door around 4 p.m. to deliver the food Gokey had ordered, according to a police report. After hearing no response, Riggieri then tried to open the front door, believing that Gokey's residence was a dual family apartment and that it would lead to a common hallway. At that point, Gokey came busting out of the door, yelling, "Why are you trying to open my door? I told you to hold on," according to police.
Riggieri then retreated down the front steps toward the street, but Gokey followed him and attacked, police said.
Gokey first punched Riggieri in the face, then slammed him into his delivery vehicle hard enough to cause a dent to the rear quarter panel, police said. Gokey then allegedly slammed Riggieri to the ground.
Two witnesses of the alleged assault said they saw Gokey, without a shirt, on top of Riggieri. Gokey then got up and went back on his porch, but it took Riggieri a few minutes to get up, as he was dazed, the witnesses told police.
An ambulance arrived, but Riggieri declined to go to the hospital, police said.
When questioned by police, Gokey said, "I am sick of delivery people opening my door!" according to the report.
Gokey told police that it was Riggieri who had attacked him — a claim Riggieri denied.
Gokey said he was defending himself, and that the older man threw him to the ground, according to the police report.
Gokey was later released after posting $2,500 bail, police said.
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