Man pleads innocent in assault case

The matter will be back before the court July 2.

staff report

LIBERTY — A township man charged with assaulting the manager of a Belmont Avenue steak house has told police the incident did not happen exactly as reported.

John Venable, 43, of Breeze Knoll Drive, pleaded innocent in Girard Municipal Court to misdemeanor charges of assault and menacing after the June 7 altercation at West Fork Steakhouse. He is due back in court July 2.

Scott Husk, 38, manager at the restaurant, told police Venable, a corrections officer with the state, went to the restaurant to discuss his daughter’s paycheck when a physical altercation between the two men took place. Husk said Venable threatened him and threw an ashtray full of cigarette butts into the restaurant lobby, then got into a physical fight with him.

Venable and Husk had to be separated by several employees and patrons at the restaurant.

Venable, in a recent police report, told officers he went to the restaurant after his daughter, an employee at the business, came home in tears saying the manager and his wife “had been verbally inconsiderate toward her.” He said the physical confrontation took place after Husk attempted to push him out of the front door of the restaurant. He also said he fell and struck his head on the door after being pushed, but did not strike Husk.