According to police, on Saturday, April 24, at 4:28 a.m., the Wayne Police Department was notified by Saint Joseph’s Wayne Hospital that a 23-year-old man walked into the emergency room with multiple stab wounds.
Police say Wayne Officers responded to the hospital and began an investigation.
According to police, the man stabbing victim, identified as Mr. Asante Cugliari, stated that he and Mr. Joseph Derissio, 23, of Wayne were at the home of a woman, with whom they are both acquainted, on Cecilia Drive.
Police said Mr. Cugliar stated that an argument related to drug use occurred and became heated in which Mr. Derissio stabbed him when the dispute turned physical.
According to police, Mr. Cugliari stated that he fled the house and was driven to the hospital by the previously mentioned woman.
Mr. Derissio’s location was unknown, according to police.
Officers responded to the home on Cecilia Drive and cleared it looking for Mr. Derissio.
In doing so, police observed blood and other apparent signs of a struggle and secured the house as a crime scene. Police say a bloody knife was recovered in the home.
A perimeter was established and a search of the area was conducted as it was believed that Mr. Derissio was on foot. He was located in the secure Wayne DPW yard and was taken into custody.
Police say Mr. Derissio was in possession of illegal drugs at the time he was arrested.
Mr. Derissio claimed that he was attacked with a knife by Mr. Cugliari. However, Mr. Derissio’s only injuries were from strikes and bites.
Police said Mr. Cugliariadmitted initially produced a knife as a threat but claimed that he never approached Mr. Derissio with the knife.
Police said Mr. Cugliari claimed that he placed the knife down and that Mr. Derissio then picked it up and attacked him. Mr. Cugliari had multiple stab wounds to his leg, face and abdomen, which required surgery to repair.
Mr. Derissio was charged with Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance and Criminal Trespass.
He was charged on a complaint warrant and placed in Passaic County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Mr. Cugliari was charged with Possession of a Weapon and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose on a complaint summons in accordance with bail reform guidelines and was released.
The charges against both subjects are merely accusations and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.