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Barry B. Tate came banging on his downstairs neighbor's apartment door at 26th Street and JFK Boulevard, shouting for the 36-year-old victim to stop burning his food around 7:40 p.m., Bayonne Police Capt. Eric Amato said.
Tate went back to his apartment after his neighbor said he wasn't cooking anything, but returned a short while later with the same complaint.
That's when Tate ripped the neighbor's door off the hinges, and the neighbor deployed a burst of pepper spray in self defense, Amato said.
Tate retreated back to his apartment, where officers found him trying to unlock the door, police said.
The on-scene investigation confirmed that Tate had damaged his neighbor's door, Amato said. He was taken into custody and charged with criminal mischief.
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