Hartly man charged following roadway altercation

Dennis Piasio

HARTLY, Del. – A Smyrna man was arrested Thursday afternoon, after police say he brandished a gun at two men in Hartly.

Around 12:16 p.m., Delaware State Police troopers responded to Arthursville Road, near Main Street, for a report of aggravated menacing. When troopers arrived, they were told that two men had been traveling northbound, leaving a construction site. Police say a blue car was driving the wrong way toward them, and stopped in front of their vehicle.

The driver of the blue car, identified as 35-year-old Dennis Piasio, then exited the vehicle, according to police. Piasio opened the victim’s driver side door, say police, and pushed the driver against the seat, while grabbing the passenger and pointing a gun at him. The driver was able to push Piasio away from the vhicle and leave the scene, say police. The victims were not hurt.

Police say the victims and Piasio are acquaintances. Piasio turned himself in at Troop 3, and was charged with possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, two counts of aggravated menacing, and two counts of second degree reckless endangering. He was released after posting a $74,000 bond.