Pennsville man in critical condition following altercation with neighbor

PENNSVILLE, N.J. (WPVI) -- A 53-year-old South Jersey man is in critical condition Tuesday after he went into cardiac arrest following an altercation with his neighbor.

Now, police are trying to figure out what exactly happened, as members of a community point fingers at each other.

Police were initially called to the scene with reports of a man out in the middle of the street in cardiac arrest. Eventually officers learned the man was trying to find a yard sale item before having the heart attack.

"We know that it began with a yard sale on Saturday," said Pennsville Police Chief Allen Cummings. "

Cummings said the 53-year-old and a 48-year-old woman could not locate the item from the sale, a piece of Welding Equipment that was supposed to be stored in this shed on Highland Avenue.

He said for some reason, the pair then went two blocks to where Mike Ventura and his 16-year-old son live.

"They accuse them of taking the generator for the welder," said Cummings.

Ventura told Action News the two barged into his yard and kicked their way into his shed, looking for the equipment.

"It was not here," said Ventura.

Police said the two then returned to Highland Avenue.

"I gave it about a half an hour, and I was a little concerned because I was accused of it," said Ventura. "I know the lady, so me and my son and my friend rode over there and asked them if they had found it. And they did... in their shed"

Police said the two had found that the generator for the welder had been moved, but it is still at the residence.

Ventura said the 53-year-old apologized, but then got agitated and tried to throw a punch.

"He missed me, I moved, and I kind of stumbled," said Ventura. "He went right for my son, grabbed his hoodie and pulled it over his head and started uppercutting him, about five or six times."

He said the fight stopped and the situation calmed down but then minutes later the 53-year-old man collapses.

Now, it is up to police to sort out the actual chain of events and decide if charges need to be filed.

"We need to find out who the accused is and who is the aggressor is," said Cummings. "Obviously we have a victim, but that victim could be the aggressor."

Police said they have multiple conflicting statements regarding the incident.

"We are trying to sort out a puzzle here," Cummings added.

The 53-year-old man remains in critical condition in an intensive care unit as of Wednesday.

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