Man accused of beating Humboldt County woman with chair

A 46-year-old Humboldt County man was arrested Tuesday evening on assault charges that included allegedly striking a 52-year-old woman with a folding chair, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies said the woman reported that her neighbor in the southwestern Humboldt County town of Whitehorn, Gerard Majella Honzik, entered her yard in the 1100 block of Gopherville Road at about 8 a.m. Tuesday and without warning repeatedly struck her with the chair in the head and upper body, officials said.

Honzik is also accused of vandalizing the woman’s pickup truck, breaking its windshield and a mirror. He is also suspected of badly beating a male at the same residence. Sheriff’s officials said he declined to seek prosecution and did not cooperate with the investigation. The woman received medical treatment for her injuries.

No information about what motivated the attack was available Wednesday evening.

Deputies arrested Honzik at his home without incident on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and vandalism. Honzik also had an outstanding warrant from Mendocino County for an assault charge. He was booked into the Mendocino County Jail and his bail was set at $30,000.

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @renofish.