A judge has ordered a safety evaluation for a man who is accused of throwing acid on his neighbor's face in Elyria.
Judge Gary Bennett ordered David Soucek to undergo an evaluation to determine if he's at risk to harm himself or others during a Wednesday court hearing in John A. Howard Elyria Municipal Court. Soucek, 55, appeared in court via video.
Elyria fire officials responded to a mobile home park on New York Avenue about 5 p.m. Tuesday and found a 41-year-old man who had severe burns on his face.
The man told police that a week ago his neighbor, Soucek, 55, accused him of attempting to steal his bicycle. The man denied Soucek's accusations and during the confrontation, Soucek threatened him with a handgun, authorities said.
On Tuesday, Soucek approached the man and quickly pulled a jar with liquid in it from his coat before throwing it at him. The liquid hit the right side of the man's face and he immediately went back to his home to call 911.
The man was taken to University Hospital Elyria Campus and later taken to Cleveland Metro Health System's Burn Unit.
Witnesses confirmed the report with police and advised them that Soucek had a high-powered rifle with a scope inside his home. Soucek, who was hiding in his home, refused to come out and Elyria police's special response team was called. They fired pepper balls into Soucek's home before calling their MRAP armored vehicle and robot. Once both were deployed, Soucek surrendered.
Soucek is charged with felonious assault and was taken to the Lorain County Jail where he was being held.
