By Jim Clark

Police responded to a call from a woman who said that she was being harassed and threatened by a neighbor last Thursday evening.

As officers arrived at the woman’s residence on Fellsway West they reportedly noticed a commotion on the street involving seven people and they immediately separated the individuals into smaller groups for questioning.

The woman who called the police reportedly said that she and her neighbor, Dwight Lancaster, 51, had been having confrontations in the past and that she had petitioned for a restraining order against him.

On this evening she said that she had been walking home on the sidewalk and she noticed Lancaster sitting in his car in his driveway. She claimed that he looked “directly” at her and began revving the engine, then backed up with the intent of striking her, police said.

The woman further stated that she had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck by the car and that when Lancaster exited his car a verbal argument ensued, according to police.

Lancaster reportedly went into his house as he continued cursing at the woman, according to her testimony.

The woman’s husband and son reportedly exited their house to assist her, and seconds later Lancaster was once again outside, allegedly brandishing an iron, and joined by his wife and another man, according to witness reports.

The argument resumed and at one point Lancaster allegedly charged at the woman, attempting to strike her with the iron, police said.

The woman’s son attempted to intervene, but Lancaster reportedly managed to kick her, according to witnesses on the scene.

Upon questioning, Lancaster reportedly told police that the woman herself had started screaming and yelling at him for no reason, and that she and her family went to his house, pounded on his door, harassing him, police said.

He also reportedly told police that “she thinks that just because she is taking me to court to get a restraining order against me that she can do that. I’m not gonna walk away from that”.  He also denied assaulting her with an iron, police said.

Based on witnesses’ testimony police placed Lancaster under arrest. He was charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (shod foot), and intimidation of a witness.