31-year-old charged after allegedly throwing man to ground in deadly Waltham road rage incident
A 31-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter after an alleged road rage incident turned deadly in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said it happened on May 27 just before 9 a.m. in the entryway of a gas station on Weston Street. The victim, 23-year-old Nicholas Dagostino, told police that he was attempting to take a left into the gas station but 31-year-old Timothy Scalisi of Waltham was blocking the entryway with his car.
Ryan said that an argument ensued between Dagostino and Scalisi before things became physical. Dagostino got out of his car and allegedly pulled his fist back as if to hit someone, according to Scalisi's attorney Arthur Kelly.
Scalisi then allegedly picked Dagostino up and "violently brought him to the ground." Prosecutor for the Middlesex District Attorney, Mary O'Neill, said that Scalisi was a high school and college wrestler and was trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
"He used that experience to lift another person off the ground and throw him, not onto padded floors or a padded wall or padded mats that he would be used to in training but to throw him onto the pavement," O'Neill said.
"He didn't punch him; he didn't kick him," Kelly said. "I think it was more of an accident than anything intentional whatsoever."
Scalisi then fled in his car. Investigators do not believe Scalisi and Dagostino knew each other.
Dagostino was taken to a nearby hospital with blurry vision, nausea, vomiting, and a headache. He had suffered a brain bleed and a small fracture on his head from the fight. He later died at Lahey Burlington Medical Center on May 29.
Police said they were able to identify and locate Scalisi using surveillance footage and Flock cameras. He was arrested and charged with manslaughter as well as assault and battery causing serious bodily injury. He was arraigned in Waltham District Court on Monday and released on $10,000 bail. He was ordered to stay away from the Dagostino family as well.
"There wasn't a dangerous weapon involved. I think he's been overcharged in this case," Kelly said outside the courthouse.
He will return to court on July 2.
Ryan said there was heavy traffic at the time of the incident and is asking anyone who may have seen something to contact the police. They are looking for any dashcam video or information that could help them piece together what led to the assault. Anyone with information is asked to call Waltham detectives at 718-343-3550 or email them at tips@police.waltham.ma.us.
