Police charge Linesville man with running over tent with tractor

Allegedly, throwing a bucket full of water at someone sleeping in a tent and then running over the tent with a large tractor landed a Linesville man in hot water with the Pennsylvania State Police.

Arthur W. Cervi Jr., 69, of Maples Road, faces a preliminary hearing later this month on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, engaging in a fight and a summary count of harassment for the incident.

The charges stem from a Sept. 24 property dispute incident at Holeshot Raceway in Conneaut Township between Cervi and another man, according to the criminal complaint filed by police.

According to the arrest affidavit, a witness told police that Cervi got into an argument with the man. The witness saw Cervi grab a bucket of water from Holeshot Raceway, cross the street and throw the bucket of water at the man who was sleeping in a tent on the property.

Cervi then returned to the speedway, got on a large tractor, crossed the road and ran over the tent where the man was previously sleeping, the affidavit said. Cervi and the man continued the argument until Cervi left the scene, the affidavit said.

The witness was able to provide video footage of the incident.

In an interview with police, the man said he had been staying on land adjacent to the track for approximately 18 weeks. The man told police that Cervi was upset because the man was working with the track’s new owners, the affidavit said.

The man said he was not injured in the incident.

In an interview with police, Cervi said he was having problems with people staying on his property without permission. Cervi told police he attempted to evict all of the individuals but was unsuccessful.

Cervi admitted to police that he became enraged by the situation, threw a bucket of water at the man and then drove a tractor over the tent where the man was staying, the affidavit said.

Cervi was arraigned on the charges Sept. 24 before Magisterial District Judge Lincoln Zilhaver and released on non-monetary bail.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Oct. 21 before Magisterial District Judge Adam Stallard in Linesville.