Man Accused Of Charging At RI Radio Host John DePetro With Lawnmower

WARWICK, RI — A Warwick man was arrested Wednesday after police said he charged at 99.9 FM radio host John Depetro with a lawnmower, assaulted him and stole his cell phone.

Mark Perkins, 62, was charged with assault with intent to commit specified felonies, larceny, vandalism and disorderly conduct.

Around 7 p.m., police were called to a home on Staples Avenue, which had been the focus of a missing person case surrounding Charlotte Lester, 44, of Warwick. DePetro and Diane “Ladybug” Sullivan had been streaming a Facebook Live episode of DePetro’s show on the street across from the home.

Based on victim and witness statements and the livestreamed video itself, police said DePetro directed a line of questions at the home's owner, Perkins, who was in the front yard of the address wearing an orange ski mask over his head.

Police said Perkins appeared agitated by DePetro's presence and livestream, so Perkins placed a radio at the edge of his lawn playing loud music. Perkins then grabbed a lawnmower, started its engine and aggressively pushed it towards DePetro, at which point the livestream video abruptly ends, according to police.

DePetro told officers Perkins repeatedly punched and kicked him and said he would "kill him," according to police. Police said Perkins then took DePetro's cell phone and went inside his home after damaging the radio host's recording equipment.

DePetro told police he suffered injuries and later sought medical treatment. Sullivan told officers the lawnmower struck her foot, however she was not injured and did not wish to press charges.

Police said Perkins declined knowledge of the whereabouts of DePetro's phone. Officers then got a search warrant and seized the damaged phone and the orange ski mask, police said.

Perkins was scheduled to be arraigned at 3rd District Court in Warwick Thursday.

The incident came the day after DePetro was arrested and charged with trespassing at the same home.