Newton man charged with aggravated assault for fight after Jets game

The Associated Press NEWTON — A fight after the Jets-Chiefs game Sunday at MetLife Stadium left a man in the hospital and a Newton resident charged with aggravated assault. State police have upgraded charges against a New Jersey man accused of beating a fan in the parking lot after the Jets beat the Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium Sunday. Thirty-five-year-old Merle Lee of Newton is free on bond, charged with aggravated assault. State Police Sgt. Brian Polite says Lee was initially charged with simple assault. However, charges were upgraded after 23-year-old James Mohr's condition worsened. Polite says the Queens, N.Y., resident got into a brief scuffle with some guys and the skirmish broke up on its own. Polite says Lee then "came out of the blue and punched Mohr in the face." Polite says the incident "was not a Jets-Chiefs melee." He says witnesses told troopers there was no indication they were Kansas City fans. Mohr is out of intensive care. In a statement, a Jets team spokesman offered this: "We have reached out to James to wish him a speedy and full recovery. Our organization works hard to provide fans with a safe and secure environment and there is no place for this type of behavior. We are working with the stadium and New Jersey State Police to be certain that any and all perpetrators are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Head coach Rex Ryan said he just found out about the news this morning, and plans to offer support when the victim is feeling better. "I know (executive vice president of business operations) Matt Higgins has reached out and I'll reach out once the young man is feeling better," Ryan said. "I'll say this about our organization, I'm sure we'll do something special for him when he is ready for that."