Police report two assault incidents at restaurant BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Two separate incidents at the same McDonald’s have led to the arrest of five township residents. On Friday, Middletown police arrested Michael Stevens, 44, on robbery, aggravated assault and theft charges, stemming from a Dec. 6 incident in which he allegedly stole the wallet of a customer while working at the McDonald’s on Route 36 in the Leonardo section of town. The victim noticed that her wallet was missing from the service counter and she informed the manager, who then asked employees if the wallet had been seen. Upon viewing a surveillance video and seeing that Stevens had swiped it, the store manager asked Stevens to wait outside until the police arrived, according to police. An acquaintance of the victim saw Stevens drop the wallet as he left and noticed that the money was gone, police said. After Stevens was asked where the money was, he reportedly pulled out a knife and threatened the manager and acquaintance and then fled on foot. When someone came to pick up Stevens’ paycheck on Friday, the manager called police to let them know about it. After his paycheck was refused, Stevens then called the restaurant and his call was traced to a supermarket on Route 36 near Atlantic Highlands, where Stevens was arrested without incident. His bail was set at $125,000 and he was detained at the Middletown Police Department headquarters pending a transfer to the Monmouth County Correctional Institute in Freehold, according to Detective Lt. Joseph Capriotti. On Saturday evening at about 9:30 p.m., three officers were dispatched to the same McDonald’s in response to a complaint of several disorderly and possibly intoxicated people. While trying to obtain information from the four individuals (three adults and one juvenile), Daniel Sarmento, 18, of Leonardo, reportedly went after Officer Larisa Doriety. She warned him to stay back and put her hand in front of her, but Sarmento pushed her arm away, according to police. She warned him again and this time he pushed her. Doriety and Officer Brian Dilworth had to physically subdue him as he struggled to break free. Sarmento was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, hindering apprehension and public intoxication. Michael Layton, 19, Samantha Rocco, 18, and a 16-year-old female, all of Middletown, were arrested and charged with obstructing the administration of law and public intoxication. Sarmento, Layton, and Rocco were all released on their own recognizance while the 16-year-old was released to the custody of a parent.