By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

Kennett Square resident Saul Bernal-Castenada was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of simple assault, reckless endangering, possession of an instrument of crime and brandishing a prohibited offensive weapon, stemming from his assault of a 22-year-old man on Aug. 23. The incident occurred at about 11 a.m. in the 200 block of Ellicott Road in Avondale.

The victim, whose name was not released, told authorities that Bernal-Castenada had cut him with a folding knife and beaten him with a stick, despite the victim attempting to wrestle Bernal-Castenada.  During the melee, the victim sustained a cut on his left arm and cuts to fingers on his right hand. The victim told authorities that the fight ended when Bernal-Castenada's wife intervened.  The victim was later treated for injuries at a medical facility in Delaware, where he received 13 sutures on his left arm and five on a finger.

New Garden Police detective and officers located Bernal-Castenada at his residence in Kennett Square borough, where he was taken into custody without incident. According to Bernal-Castenada, the altercation was a result of the victim having an affair with Bernal-Castenada's wife. 

The incident began when the victim's wife picked him up from work and took him to the Ellicott Road location, an abandoned mushroom property, to discuss a business deal with Bernal-Castenada, who was accompanied by his wife. Bernal-Castenada was arraigned before Magistrate District Judge Chester Darlington and incarcerated in Chester County Prison in lieu of $10,000 cash bail.

New Garden Township police are continuing to investigate this incident, and said that anyone who may have witnessed the fight should contact the department at 610-268-3171, or its anonymous tip line at 610-268-2907, ext. 222.