Man faces several charges after allegedly threatening neighbors with hedge trimmers, lighting motorcycle on fire
St. Joseph County jail SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A South Bend man is facing a wide range of charges after allegedly threatening neighbors with hedge trimmers while attempting to get inside their house before lighting the neighbors' motorcycle on fire.
The suspect, Ronald Hancz, In the first incident, Hancz is charged with Attempted Residential Entry, a Level 6 Felony, Battery, a Misdemeanor, Disorderly Conduct, a Misdemeanor, Criminal Vandalism, a Misdemeanor, Public Intoxication, a Misdemeanor, and two counts of Arson, as Level 4 Felonies.
On Aug. 5, South Bend police were responded to the 1300 block of Riding Mall Court for a report of a man, Hancz, attempting to force himself inside a house with a gun.
Upon arrival, officers found Hancz wielding a large pair of electric hedge trimmers. Police say officers had to yell at Hancz multiple times to drop the trimmers.
The homeowner told police that Hancz followed him into the house earlier, with Hancz stating he needed to use the bathroom.
Hancz allegedly proceeded to go into the owner's roommate's bedroom and screamed the name "Jessie," to which the roommate responded no one there is named that.
Hancz then allegedly lunged onto the roommate, striking him several times with his fist.
The roommate fought back and chased Hancz out into the front yard before locking the front door. That's when the homeowner said Hancz attempted to break into the home.
Officers arrested Hancz, and while being detained, he stated that the homeowner had been letting people stay there that he didn't like and went to confront them.
Hancz told police those people beat him up, so he went home, grabbed the hedge trimmers, and came back to the neighbors' house to "scare them."
After being arrested for this incident, police say Hancz was released from custody and immediately returned to the neighbors' house with a steak knife in his pocket.
The report states Hancz threatened to kill everyone inside before lighting the homeowner's motorcycle on fire near the house.
He was then arrested on Arson charges.
Hancz told police the homeowner was the man who recently beat him. He stated the homeowner beat him with a pipe wrench, causing broken bones. Hancz added that he only wanted the burn the motorcycle, not the house.
Police also learned Hancz has several charges pending out of Dane County, Wisconsin, which include Disorderly Conduct, Bail Jumping, and his third OWI.
Hancz also has previous convictions of Domestic Battery, Invasion of Privacy, Resisting Law Enforcement, and Refusal to Identify Self.
Police say Hancz is also on pre-trial release pending Battery charges after allegedly assaulting two women in a bar. In another pending Battery case, police say Hancz allegedly went to hang out with a woman and ended up punching her in the face so hard, she fell and was almost knocked out.
Authorities say Hancz is a flight risk, due to him flying out of Wisconsin to avoid sentencing for his cases there.