MANASQUAN — A former star wrestler at Bergen Catholic High School was arrested Sunday on carjacking, assault and other charges following what witnesses described as an escapade in a stolen motorized beach cart and melees with at least five people, according to a press release from Manasquan's police chief.

Lukas D. Iorio, 20, of Ridgefield Park, faces a litany of charges and was being held at the Monmouth County jail in Freehold in lieu of $341,000 bail following the Sunday night incident. He was released from the jail on Monday.

Iorio was a Region 2 champion and two-time state qualifier at Bergen Catholic, where he was team captain, according to his biography at Gettysburg College, where he was on the wrestling team. He finished his senior season at Bergen Catholic in 2012 with a 31-8 record and eighth place at the New Jersey State tournament in the 182-pounds division.

Witnesses said Iorio approached the cart as it was being driven on the beach by a member of the Manasquan Beach Patrol about 8:30 p.m. and jumped feet first through the plastic windshield, landing on a front seat, the release from Police Chief Elliott Correia said.

Correia said he then assaulted both occupants of the cart, forcing them from the vehicle. Witnesses said Iorio drove the cart toward the inlet “at a high rate of speed while swerving at pedestrians,” the release said. He hit and injured a 49-year-old man who twice tried to avoid the cart, Correia said.

He eventually crashed the vehicle into a gazebo, but then ran to a nearby bicycle rack where he apparently tried to steal a bike, the release said. Iorio then punched another man who had apparently came to see if he was OK following the crash and also tried to calm him.

Iorio then fled into a backyard, entered a home through an unlocked door and came face-to-face with its occupants, one of whom, a 72-year-old resident, he repeatedly punched in the face and head, Correia said in the release.

Iorio was eventually subdued by other family members and the beach patrol.

The borough’s first aid squad treated five people for injuries. One of those was also taken to a local medical facility for further treatment, Correia said.

Iorio was charged with carjacking, burglary, resisting arrest, four counts of simple assault, one count of assault by auto and two counts of criminal mischief. He also was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving and leaving the scene the scene of an accident with personal injury.

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