Berryville man charged after fight involving handgun

An officer arrived on the scene to find a shirtless man lying on the steps of an apartment. The victim, identified as Jesse Kurczek, of Berryville, had numerous cuts, scratches, swelling and bleeding to his face and head, according to an Affidavit of Warrant issued by the Carroll County Circuit Court.

Kurczek told police that a man, identified as Justin Bernard Aquino, 33, of Berryville, had attacked him with a 9mm handgun, police said.

During the scuffle, a tenant of the apartment complex heard banging on her door and opened it; the two men were fighting and when the door opened Kurzcek attempted to get inside away from the attacker, the affidavit said. The tenant was able to push both men outside, close the door and contact authorities.

Upon the arrival of the officer, he attempted to make contact with Aquino at his apartment, but Aquino did not answer the door. The officer could see a man, believed to be Aquino, through the window and called for assistance.

Police also made contact with the apartment owner to gain access to the apartment. When assistance arrived and the officers were preparing to enter the apartment, Aquino opened the door.

As a protective sweep was made through the apartment, a 9mm handgun was witnessed on a table. A search warrant was obtained from Berryville District Judge Jackson and a fully loaded semi-automatic pistol and drug paraphernalia were seized, the affidavit said.

Aquino was arrested and has been charged with first-degree battery, aggravated assault, possession of a controlled substance, simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm and terroristic threatening.

"We are interpreting evidence to see if any other charges will be filed," Officer Crawford said. "Charges will depend on what the evidence tells us."

Aquino was being held late Monday on $7,500 bond at the Carroll County Detention Center.