Police arrest South Jersey man for Winter Classic assault on New York Rangers fans

On Thursday night, it was reported that Philadelphia police had an arrest warrant out for a man they believed "threw the first punch" in the assault on two New York Rangers fans outside of Geno's Steaks on Jan. 2, the date of the NHL Winter Classic.

That man is Dennis Veteri, 32, of Glassboro, N.J., who turned himself in to police on Thursday and was arraigned at about 2 a.m. on Friday morning with bail set at $100,000.

He made bail; his preliminary hearing on the matter is Jan. 31.

Via MyFoxPhilly.com, here is the police press conference on the arrest:

Arrest Made In Rangers Fan Attack: MyFoxPHILLY.com

Veteri has previously been arrested for aggravated assault and drug possession. Police said based on the video of the incident (see it here), he started and was the aggressor in the fight. Veteri's been charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault. Police are also looking out for other men that were involved in the fight.

The attack left Neal Auricchio, a Woodbridge, N.J., police officer, unconscious and needing stitches around his eye. The Newark Star-Ledger reported that Auricchio "will undergo surgery to repair a bone beneath his eye that was damaged in the attack."

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