Police: Man Slashed With Machete During Fight With Neighbor Over Grass Clippings
ROSTRAVER (KDKA) -- A Westmoreland County man is facing serious charges after police say he slashed his neighbor with a machete during a fight over grass clippings.
The scuffle happened Sunday afternoon along Skyline Drive in Rostraver Township while both men were doing yard work.
"We were dispatched to 231 Skyline Drive in reference to an assault and we received a report the victim was cut by a machete," Rostraver Township Police Chief Gregory Resetar said.
According to the criminal complaint, the fight started when the victim, 66-year-old Carey Delmar, went to dump some grass clippings on farm property that bordered his residence.
The suspect, 66-year-old Victor Gregorini, confronted Delmar about dumping the clippings "close to his back property line." But Delmar told Gregorini that the property was not his and continued to dump the grass, the criminal complaint said.
Police say the two then continued arguing.
The criminal complaint reports both men are accused of throwing grass at each other. Delmar told police that Gregorini threw some grass at him with a shovel; while Gregorini accuses Delmar of throwing grass, blowing it at him with his tractor and knocking him over with a bushel full of clippings.
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According to the criminal complaint, Delmar told police that Gregorini then swung a machete at him as the scuffle continued. The victim raised his forearm to protect himself and suffered a "substantial laceration," which required medical attention at the hospital.
"There was a physical altercation and Mr. Delmar received a substantial laceration to his left forearm," Chief Resetar said. "In addition to the laceration, the force was so substantial that he sustained a fracture to the small bone in his arm."
Gregorini told police he "feared for his life" and was acting in self-defense. Police say he also told them he didn't have the strength to fight because of a medical condition. He said as he was falling after being knocked over, the machete struck Delmar.
Delmar was treated at the scene and then taken to a local hospital for additional medical treatment.
Gregorini is facing charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. He was taken to the Westmorland County Jail, where he posted $10,000 bond.
Meanwhile, Delmar was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct.
