A member of Freeport Borough Council, who also serves as a tax collector, is accused of punching a man following a two-vehicle crash in Jefferson Township, according to state police.

Richard Bruce Fennell, 57, of Freeport, was charged Wednesday, April 1, with misdemeanor simple assault in relation to the March 16 crash.

Police said after Fennell’s Jeep and another man’s pickup truck were involved in a two-vehicle crash along Route 356, Fennell confronted and assaulted the other man. The crash was reported at about 4 p.m. near 808 North Pike Road.

According to the affidavit, Fennell shoved his chest into the man’s chest and when the man then pushed Fennell back, Fennell punched him in the face multiple times.

Police said they observed redness around Fennell’s knuckles and wet marks around both knees. The assaulted man had a bloody, swollen lip, bruising and discoloration on his face and on a finger.

Police said Fennell also grabbed the man’s shirt and kneed him three times in the ribs.

The two men then fell to the ground where Fennell held the assaulted man, police said.

According to police, a woman tried but was unable to pull Fennell off the man.

The man went to Butler Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Police reported seeing paint from the man’s pickup truck on the front bumper of Fennell’s Jeep. The affidavit did not indicate what caused the collision.

Fennell is listed as “Rick Fennell” on the Freeport website.

His preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.