Former Freeport Council President — and current Tax Collector — Richard Fennell is facing an assault charge after, police say, he punched a man during a traffic incident.
Fennell, 57, had served on council since 2024 before resigning in January to take up the borough’s vacant tax collector position.
On March 16, state police arrived at the scene of a two-vehicle crash in Jefferson Township, Butler County.
The other man’s mother, who said she witnessed the altercation, told police Fennell punched her son in the face and kneed him in the ribs multiple times after the crash, according to a criminal complaint filed against Fennell.
Fennell confronted the man after the collision and shoved his chest into the other man’s chest, the complaint said. When the man pushed Fennell back, Fennell began to strike him, the complaint said.
The two later fell to the ground, and the man’s mother — who had been driving in a separate car — attempted to pull Fennell off the man, according to the complaint.
Police said the man had a “bloody and swollen” lip, an abrasion to his face, and bruising and swelling throughout his face and nose. Police also observed “redness and discoloration” around Fennell’s knuckles, according to the complaint.
The complaint does not say what caused the traffic collision.
Police observed paint from the man’s red truck on the front bumper of Fennell’s black Jeep and damage to the rear of the man’s truck, according to the complaint.
Fennell did not respond to a TribLive request for comment.
He is still awaiting a preliminary hearing and did not have an attorney listed in court records as of Wednesday afternoon.