Am I Obligated To Pay This Lawyer?

Location: NJ

A few months ago, I was charged with simple assault and went to jail for 24-36 hours. Next day I was released with a few other people there. At that time, apparently someone at my work called this lawyer to help me at the jail. He showed up to the court(in the jail, pre-releasing) and told me he is here to help me from my work. I wasn't aware of who he was or even of if I needed a lawyer since everyone else there including me already heard our pre-release was already determined and nobody else had a lawyer that time. I was the only one with this lawyer.

And we were all released and he told me to call him to make an appointment. Until this time, I still did not hear anything about fee or sign anything. Only called him to ask him who he is and he told me to come see him in the office, and I visited his office but could not see him so we had a call about my case.

And on the phone he asked me if I want to pursue with him then I need to retain him with $10,000. And I decided to go someone else with $2500. And I also heard that nobody and the one who recommended at work signed anything either.

Later, he called me that I need to pay him $2500 for his help. I was asking him for invoice, and he said professional help as well as the telephone call with me and him showing up to the court. But the thing is, I was never informed about any of this, I did not even have a phone so I did not know anyone would show up or even want anyone to show up to the releasing court, and he never informed me that I was going to have to pay for that phone call after he told me to come to his office, which I would not have done if I had known this was charged. After I decided to proceed with the other lawyer and let this lawyer know about this, he called me next morning at 7:30am, and I documented the conversation, it was followings.

• Told me I should pay him for work he did to get me out of jail
• Asked him what he did exactly to get me out to which he answered “my 37 years experience and trust from people”
• Told me he would have to question my work if I don’t pay
• Asked him if there was any formal contract/agreement which he did not answer.
• Repeatedly asked me “Are you saying I shouldn’t be compensated for my work? I dropped everything for you so I can get you out of jail”
• Said he would send me an itemized bill later in the afternoon -> I did not get this

So I formally sent an email after this

[I am writing to request clarification regarding the legal services you provided. Specifically, I would like to confirm whether there was any formal agreement or contract in place for your representation, either with me or the individual at my workplace who may have been involved in recommending or arranging for your services. As I mentioned previously, I never formally retained your services, nor did I sign any engagement letter or formal contract. To my knowledge, your involvement stemmed from a recommendation at my workplace, and I was not made aware of any financial obligation or agreement at that time.]

But after this mail, this lawyer contacted my work and my work informed me of this. I asked him and his office why they had to contact my work when they know my personal contact number, which they did not answer, and I still did not get any reply for the email above. And a few months passed. And now I got another email as a reminder to pay that money as well as late fee $150 with still no answers to above.

Is there any legal obligation that I have to pay this money? the case was dismissed in the first hearing and since then I've been back to work and there have been no issues otherwise. So far I have contacted other laywers when I was getting free consultation but they told me in this case he had no legal base to make me pay but now that I get this constant reminder I am not sure how to proceed.

Thank you so much.