ELYRIA, Ohio — A Lorain County grand jury has returned an indictment against the city of Lorain's assistant fire chief in connection with an alleged assault that took place last month.
Matthew Homolya faces felony charges of aggravated burglary and animal cruelty as well as lesser charges of assault and failure to confine a dog on a premises. The accusations stem from an incident that took place back on March 9, when Ring doorbell camera footage captured Homolya beating up one of his neighbors in Brownhelm Township.
Homolya can be seen slamming the man against his car before wrestling him to the ground, and police claimed to have noticed red marks on the victim's face and neck. The altercation apparently arose when Homolya's dog wandered into the neighbor's yard and was attacked by the neighbor's two German shepherds, leading Homolya to call the neighbor and allegedly threaten to kill his pets. When the neighbor went outside to talk with Homolya, the assistant chief purportedly attacked him.
Homolya has been on administrative leave from the fire department since the incident in question and is currently free on bond. The 45-year-old potentially faces more than a decade in prison, if convicted.
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