PARAMUS, NJ – A 29-year-old Hackensack man with a lengthy criminal history was arrested after allegedly repeatedly ramming his SUV into a Mercedes-Benz during a confrontation at Garden State Plaza Tuesday night, police said.

Daniel J. Leandry was arrested following the Oct. 20 incident at Westfield Garden State Plaza, according to Paramus Police Chief Robert M. Guidetti.

Officers were called to the mall's south parking lot near the former Best Buy store at approximately 9:01 p.m. following reports of a dispute between two drivers.

Police said the occupants of a white Mercedes-Benz had gotten into a verbal argument with a man driving a gray Ford Escape.

The confrontation escalated when the Ford driver allegedly slammed his SUV into the Mercedes multiple times before fleeing the scene.

Westfield security officers helped police locate the damaged Ford Escape in the parking lot of Chili's at 75 Route 17 South, but the driver was nowhere to be found.

Paramus Police Officer Joe Mastrofilipo later spotted a man matching the suspect's description walking along Fairfield Drive.

The man, identified as Leandry, was taken into custody and transported to Paramus Police Headquarters.

Leandry was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal mischief and simple assault. He also received several motor vehicle summonses, including driving with a suspended license.

Paramus EMS evaluated one of the Mercedes occupants, who declined further medical attention.

According to New Jersey court records cited by Daily Voice, Leandry has a criminal history stretching back more than a decade, including previous cases involving assault, robbery, theft, criminal mischief, harassment and alleged violations of domestic violence restraining orders.

In April, Leandry was arrested after allegedly threatening a family member with a large knife during an argument over cleaning the kitchen.

Court records also show a 2022 aggravated assault case in Clifton, 2016 cases in Garfield involving robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and cases in Hanover involving alleged domestic violence restraining order violations.

The outcomes of those earlier cases were not immediately clear.

The charges stemming from Tuesday's incident remain allegations.