Man charged with assault

The victim was bitten and doused in gasoline.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — What started as a police investigation into a stolen lawn mower has landed one man in the Mahoning County jail on charges of felonious assault and receiving stolen property.

William Kerensky, 24, of North Evanston Avenue is being held on a $110,000 bond and ordered to have no contact with the man he is accused of assaulting.

According to police, officers were sent to First Street in reference to a stolen lawn mower. But they were flagged down by a man pushing a lawn mower who said he had been assaulted by Kerensky, who had stolen the property.

The man told police he had been informed that his lawn mower was being pushed down the road by Kerensky, so he went to retrieve the item. The man said Kerensky poured gasoline over him and bit him in the chest.

The man said he was trying to put the lawn mower in his car and Kerensky came back with a knife and tried to cut him. The man said he tried to leave the area, but Kerensky took the knife and slashed his rear tire.

Police said Kerensky told officers he saw the lawn mower abandoned and was trying to take it home.