A Schuylkill County woman and a Berks County man face assault charges after a neighborhood dispute over a rock flung by a lawnmower escalated into a chaotic altercation involving a hurled bucket of urine, another bucket of liquid, a mop, and homophobic slurs, police say.
Ruthie McMullen, 57, of Orwigsburg, and Ian Tran, 37, of Reading, were charged following the June 14 incident at a residence on E. Mifflin St. in Orwigsburg.
According to police, the complainant, Malik Hogan, told police the incident began when Tran was mowing McMullen’s grass and the mower flung a rock into Hogan’s kitchen window. When Hogan told Tran to pick up the rock, a verbal dispute ensued during which Tran allegedly called Hogan a “(BLEEPING) f****t.”
The confrontation escalated when McMullen approached Hogan aggressively on his porch, leading him to splash her with a bucket of water or oil to deter her advance, police say. As Hogan and his boyfriend, Noah Forker, attempted to retreat inside and close the door, McMullen and Tran allegedly tried to force it open.
During the struggle, McMullen picked up a bucket of what Hogan admitted was his urine from the porch and splashed him with it, with most of the pee landing on his kitchen floor, police say. Hogan also alleged Tran struck him in the right side of the head with a mop. The altercation ultimately led to the back door being broken completely off its hinges, and McMullen stepping foot inside Hogan’s apartment.
McMullen provided police with a conflicting account. She said that when the rock hit the window, Hogan demanded they come pick up their “(BLEEPING) rock”. She denied approaching him in a physically menacing way and claimed the physical fight only began after Hogan threw oil on her. She admitted stepping inside the house but claimed the door broke because Hogan slammed it. Police say McMullen’s shirt was wet and she had blood on her face from what she claimed was a punch by Hogan.
Tran admitted to using the slur during the initial argument but denied getting physical, telling police he was only in the middle trying to separate them after Hogan threw the liquid at McMullen.
Hogan, who had no visible injuries but drove himself to the hospital for evaluation, is currently facing charges stemming from a separate recent incident involving Forker. The two men were both jailed earlier this month following an all-day argument over alleged infidelity and who would sleep with their pet cat that turned physical. Hogan was charged with simple assault and harassment in that case, while Forker faces a felony aggravated assault charge and related offenses. Both have since posted bail in that case and await preliminary hearings on Aug. 11.
McMullen and Tran each face misdemeanor counts of simple assault and criminal mischief, along with summary counts of harassment. McMullen is additionally charged with summary criminal trespass. Preliminary hearings for both are scheduled for Aug. 18 before Magisterial District Judge Casimir Kosciolek.
READ MORE:
Fight Over Who Would Sleep with the Cat, Infidelity Lands Schuylkill County Men in Jail, Police Say
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