Incident leaves 1 man hurt, another in prison
BUFFALO TWP — A dispute over a woman might have been the motive for a beating Monday evening at Jack's Trailer Park that left one man behind bars and another in need of hospital treatment, authorities said.
The defendant, Michael R. John, 26, of Buffalo Township, was arrested for the alleged assault around 6:30 p.m., but not before he allegedly resisted troopers' attempts to take him into custody.
District Judge Bill O'Donnell arraigned John on a felony charge of aggravated assault, misdemeanor charges of simple assault, criminal mischief and resisting arrest and summary charges of harassment and disorderly conduct.
He was placed in the Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail following arraignment.
Police said they were called to Butler Memorial Hospital, where they found the 24-year-old victim, a Pittsburgh resident, being treated for head injuries. A trooper described the injuries as “severe facial swelling.”
His right eye was swollen shut, police said, and he was wearing a neck brace. He complained of severe pain to his head, neck and back.
The man recounted that he had been driving on North Boyd Road in the trailer park when he saw John peddling up to him on a bicycle. John lives at the trailer park.
The victim admitted that he and the defendant “do not like each other,” according to Trooper Donald Kotuby's affidavit, “because he used to 'hang out' with John's current girlfriend.”
The defendant allegedly punched the victim in the face and the two men tussled in the car. The victim said John got on top of him and repeatedly punched and bit him.
The altercation continued out the front passenger door, police said.
The victim told police that he “grabbed a knife and pointed it at John,” according to the affidavit, “to protect himself.” He said he was able to drive away.
He traveled as far as Route 356 in Summit Township before he had to stop due to his injuries, court documents said. He was subsequently taken to the hospital.
Troopers found John at his home at the trailer park. But when they tried to arrest him, police said, he pulled his hands and arms away. He eventually was handcuffed and taken to the barracks in Butler Township.
According to his account, police said, John admitted punching the other man in the face “due to (the victim) making verbal threats to him over the past several months,” and for what he believed was the victim's prior relationship with his girlfriend.
John also acknowledged that he went after the other man in the vehicle, police said. He claimed the victim bit him and pointed a knife at him.
Police said they recovered a fixed-blade knife and a pocket knife from the victim's car.
