Two Fall River Men Charged in Gas Station Fight

FALL RIVER — Two Fall River men have been charged after a fight at a city gas station on Friday evening in which an elderly couple was assaulted.

Fall River police said that at around 7 p.m. Friday, an officer responded to a report that an elderly couple had been assaulted at the New World Gas Station at 340 Milliken Blvd.

He arrived to find a 68-year-old city woman who told him she and her husband had been assaulted at the gas station.

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Police said the woman told the officer that her husband, 66-year-old Jose Andrade, asked the woman in the car ahead of them to move forward to allow them to pump gas.

But 39-year-old Roderick Dixon of Fall River approached and began arguing with Andrade, police said.

According to the woman's story, the argument became physical when Dixon punched Andrade in the face and pushed her to the ground.

But police said a review of surveillance footage showed that Andrade first started the physical altercation by hitting Dixon twice in the face.

Witnesses reported that Dixon also kicked Andrade in the head while he was on the ground, according to police.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Andrade were taken to St. Anne's Hospital for evaluation.

While police were investigating the incident, Dixon came to Fall River police headquarters to report the incident, confirming that he had been involved in the gas station fight.

Police said he admitted to retaliating after Andrade struck him twice in the face.

Dixon was arrested and is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a person over 60, and assault and battery on a person over 60 with injury.

Andrade is also facing criminal charges for assault and battery, according to police.