New Hampshire

2 Men Facing Charges After Fight Over Snow Plowing in NH

Two men were arrested and charged following a fight over snow plowing in Pelham, New Hampshire on Wednesday.

Pelham police said they were called to Ballard Road around 4:15 p.m. for a report of a man attacking a motor vehicle with an axe.

Upon arrival, police made contact with Eric Chojnacki, 57, of Pelham, and Issam Mousa, 54, also of Pelham. The two neighbors don’t live next door to each other, rather across from each other in a cul-de-sac.

Officer Ryan Donovan responded to the scene and doesn’t believe Mousa put snow on Chojnacki’s property.

The snow markers are still in place.

“From what we could gather or what I could gather it didn’t show that it has escalated to that point in regards to the plowing,” said Officer Ryan Donovan.

Mousa says Chojnacki pounded on his truck window as he was plowing his driveway and in front of his mailbox.

“I recognized him as my neighbor so I thought something happened over there, thought he was here for help, he was in a state of craziness you know,” said Mousa. "I opened my door and he said, 'you put snow on my lawn.'”

Mousa says he then got out of his truck and asked Chojnacki where he put the snow. It was at that time Chojnacki became angrier, Mousa says.

The verbal argument quickly became physical.

“I had someone with an axe push me down," Mousa explained, "and I’m thinking if I’m down and he’s got an axe standing on top of me there’s a problem there what am I going to do not defend myself at that point?".

Mousa says he has lived near Chojnacki for about six to seven years and that they have never had any altercations or arguments in the past.

Chojnacki asked reporters to leave Thursday without commenting on the incident. He is charged with felony level criminal threatening with a deadly weapon.

Chojnacki was released on $2,500 personal recognizance bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 22.

Mousa is charged with misdemeanor simple assault. He was released on a summons and is scheduled to appear in court on March 5.

It's unclear if either man has an attorney.

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