The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

December 5, 2009

UPDATE: Police likely won’t charge Pasquerilla after fight

By Patrick Cooley

BROOKFIELD — Brookfield police are looking into an altercation earlier this week between controversial school board member Joe Pasquerilla and a member of the local organization that tried to have him removed from office.

Pasquerilla, 7944 W. Lincoln St., allegedly punched Paul Yassall, of 7427 Warren Sharon Road, Monday in the parking lot of a township convenience store. Yassall is a member of Save Our Schools, a group of Brookfield parents and community members who tried to have Pasquerilla legally removed from the board.

Police said they received reports of a fight in the parking lot, but when they arrived, the people involved were gone.

Police said they questioned the owner of the store, but were unable to get much information from him because of a language barrier.

Police Chief Dan Faustino said Yassall went to the police station later that day and gave a statement.

“From what I’m seeing so far, there will probably not be a charge from us,” he said. However, Yassall can file assault charges against Pasquerilla in a private complaint and police would investigate, Faustino said.

Second-hand accounts said that the two men argued and Pasquerilla threw a punch.

Last year, Pasquerilla was found guilty in Trumbull County Eastern District Court of a single charge of assault after he slapped fellow school director Dr. Ronald Brennan during a closed door board meeting March 5, 2008.

Along with a $250 fine, a suspended jail sentence and other sanctions, Pasquerilla was ordered to take anger-management classes.

Pasquerilla received the most votes of any candidate when he ran for school board four years ago. As board president, he often clashed with the administration and other school board members, and he lost his seat in last month’s election.

He did not attend the Nov. 18 school board meeting.

Neither Yassall nor Pasquerilla returned messages seeking comment.

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