A Lakewood police officer has been charged with aggravated assault after punching another player in the face during a fight at a men’s softball game earlier this month, a charging document states.

Patrick Carney, 50, is charged with aggravated assault/attempt to cause significant bodily injury, a criminal complaint from the Berkeley Police Department says.

The victim was at bat at during a game at Veterans Park in Berkeley Township on June 1 when he hit a ball that struck Carney, who was pitching, the criminal complaint states. Players on both teams began arguing at first base before the disagreement escalated into a physical confrontation with players from both teams shoving each other, according to the complaint.


At some point during the fracas, Carney punched the other man on the right side of his face, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

The victim was treated at the field, went for a CT scan the next day and had surgery on June 15 to repair a fracture in his face, according to the charging document.