Pictured left, Old Bridge Councilwoman Lucille Panos and Old Bridge Councilwoman Mary Sohor(NJ.com file photos)
OLD BRIDGE — A township councilwoman allegedly slammed a door on a fellow councilwoman at a meeting last week, causing injuries serious enough that she was treated at a hospital, according to police.
Councilwoman Mary Sohor recently filed assault charges against Councilwoman Lucille Panos for allegedly slamming the door on her while walking out of the council chambers in the township municipal complex, according to Capt. Steven Daroci, of the Old Bridge Police Department.
This is the second time a councilwoman has filed assault charges against Panos, according to police.
Sohor went to the hospital for pain and numbness in her arm, police said.
Sohor declined to comment on the matter.
Panos said the allegations were false, calling them “ridiculous” and the result of a “political rampage.” However, she said she would not comment on any specifics because she had yet to see the complaint that was filed.
Daroci said the police department had no further plans to pursue the matter. He added that a court date over the incident had yet to be scheduled but would likely be handled outside the township.
“It is their word against each other’s,” Daroci said. “There is nothing further we can do.”
Daroci noted that video surveillance footage from inside the municipal complex had captured the incident but that it was too “hard to tell whether the door actually hit” Sohor.
Councilwoman Debbie Walker, who, according to police, was present during the alleged incident, also filed charges against Panos last week. She alleged Panos had assaulted her in a separate incident while at a public function at Old Bridge High School’s Grade 9 Center this past summer, Daroci said.
According to police, Walker alleges that in July last year, Panos walked up to her, “grabbed her shoulders and pushed her backward,” further harming an already injured leg.
Though Walker had filed a police complaint shortly after the alleged incident last year, the state allows for assault charges to be filed within two years of a complaint, Daroci said.
Walker declined to comment, saying she had not been authorized to speak on the matter.
Councilwoman Anita Greenberg, who, according to police, was also present during the incident, could not be reached for comment.
Mayor Owen Henry did not return a telephone call seeking comment.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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