WATERVILLE ( AP) — Police say the uncle of a missing Maine toddler has been charged with assaulting another family member.
Authorities say Lance DiPietro and Justin DiPietro were driving on Monday when they saw Justin Linnell walking.
Justin DiPietro is the father of 1-year-old Ayla Reynolds, who has been missing since Dec. 17. Linnell is the father of Ayla’s cousin, who lives in the same house from which the little girl disappeared.
Police say Lance DiPietro confronted Linnell and the two were involved in a scuffle during which Linnell was knocked to the ground and kicked in the head.
Police say Lance DiPietro told Linnell to stop “saying stuff about my family.”
Linnell tells the Morning Sentinel the incident was unprovoked.
Justin DiPietro was not charged.
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