Attempted Murder Indictment in Medieval Weapon Beating Case

Police say an electric company worker was severely beaten with a mace-like weapon

On Thursday the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced that a grand jury had indicted a Hammonton, N.J. man of attempted murder charges for the alleged beating an Atlantic City Electric power worker with a reproduction of a medieval weapon.

According to investigators, Matthew Pinto III, 53, was severely beaten with a mace-type weapon as he attempted to disconnect the power of a tattoo artist.

According to prosecutors, Pinto was working outside a home on the White Horse Pike on Feb. 8 to disconnect the power of a 37-year-old man who owed more than $1,200 to A.C. Electric when that man, Roberto Vazquez, allegedly went after him with the weapon.

Vazquez, who owns White Horse Ink tattoo parlor, allegedly hit Pinto multiple times over the head until he was unconscious with what prosecutors describe as weapon with "a 16-inch wooden handle with two, spiked metal spheres attached to one end of the handle by chains."

Vazquez had allegedly hooked back up his power illegally when Pinto came to shut it off again.

“The only words that were mentioned were you are not shutting my power off or something to that effect” said Sgt. Edward Slimm of the Hammonton police department at the time of the attack.

Pinto regained consciousness to allegedly find himself in Vazquez's home being told not to go to police, prosecutors said.

Pinto ignored the alleged threat and drove himself to the police station where he was found disoriented sitting on the stoop outside.

“He was bleeding profusely from the head and hands” said Sgt. Slimm.

Pinto got about a dozen stitches to his head and was later released from the hospital.

Police arrested Vazquez in his home back in February. On Wednesday a county grand jury indicted Vazquez for attempted murder, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice, hindering apprehension, theft of services and weapons offenses, according to county prosecutor Theodore Housel.

Vazquez remains in prison on $100,000 bail.


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