Man Arrested for DePetro Assault on Staples Avenue

WARWICK, RI — Warwick Police have charged Mark Perkins, 62, of 29 Staples Ave. with assault, larceny, vandalism and disorderly conduct for attacking talkshow host John DePetro in front of his house Wednesday night.

DePetro and Diane “Ladybug” Sullivan had been recording in front of Perkins’ home Wednesday at about 7 p.m. but were on public property, according to a Warwick Police statement on their investigation.

The address has been the recent focus of a missing person investigation into the disappearance of Charlotte Lester. DePetro had also been arrested at the location on Tuesday for trespassing, WPRI.com reported.

According to police, a review of live-streamed video of the attack, DePetro and Sullivan were asking Perkins questions, who was in his front yard wearing an orange ski mask. Perkins, who seemed agitated by DePetro and his actions, played loud music from a radio on his front lawn and then retrieved a lawnmower, which he then started and pushed toward DePetro, concluding the live-stream.

DePetro alleges he was repeatedly punched and kicked by Perkins, who he said stated he would kill him. DePetro also said Perkins took his cell phone, according to police. He also said his recording equipment was damaged during the attack. He said he was injured and sought treatment on his own, according to police.

Sullivan told police the lawnmower struck her foot but did not injure her and she has not pressed charges.

Perkins denied knowing where DePetro’s phone was. Warwick Police obtained a search warrant for Perkins’s property and found DePetro’s phone, as well as the ski mask Perkins was wearing at the time of the attack.

Perkins was scheduled to be arraigned in Third District Court this morning.