Facebook Dispute Leads to Assault, Weapon Charges in Mansfield

Police say a man brought multiple weapons to an Oakland Street home early Monday morning as part of a dispute that started on Facebook.

Christopher Kerkhoff of North Attleboro was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct, two counts of improper storage of a firearm, two counts of possession/carrying a loaded rifle or shotgun on a way malicious destruction of property, and possession of a dangerous weapon (double edge knife) according to Mansfield police.

At around 3:27 a.m, police received a 911 call from Oakland Street reporting a physical altercation between two men. While officers were en route, the caller told a dispatcher that one of the men had a gun. The dispatchers could also hear screaming in the background about a gun.

When officers arrived on scene, they witnessed a pickup truck driving across the front lawn of the home with no headlights on, according to reports. Police ordered the driver, later identified as Kerkhoff, out of the truck at gunpoint.

Police found a loaded .22 cal. handgun with the safety in the ‘off’ position, 19 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, as well as a folding knife on him, reports indicate. A search of his truck revealed an unsecured and loaded 12 gauge shotgun, a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle as well as several boxes of ammunition, police say. They also reportedly found and seized a double edged knife.

Kerkhoff was scheduled to be arraigned in Attleboro District Court Monday morning.

Photo Credit: Mansfield Police Department