BURGIN — The man charged with assaulting Burgin Mayor George Hensley turned himself in at the Mercer County Courthouse, before paying a $500 bond to be released.

The warrant was issued by the Mercer District Court and Judge James Dotson on Wednesday for James Hurley, 56, of Pleasant Hill Drive in Harrodsburg, who turned himself in that afternoon. He was charged with fourth-degree assault and second-degree disorderly conduct. Both are misdemeanors.

The charges against Hurley stem from an altercation he had earlier Wednesday, around 8 a.m. outside the Burgin Depot restaurant. 

According to the citation, Hurley approached Mayor Hensley, 70, to ask what was said about him at the Burgin City Council meeting, held the night before on Tuesday.

“Mayor Hensley advised that he had no clue what he was talking about. At this point, James Hurley hauled off and hit Mayor Hensley in the face, causing him to become unconscious and injury to his right foot and ankle,” the citation said.

The citation also includes witness statements, who said Hurley said “he was going to take care of this,” when he saw Hensley pull into the restaurant’s parking lot. 

Witnesses also reported having to pull Hurley off of Hensley before he fled the scene.

According to the Harrodsburg Herald, this is not the first time an altercation has occurred between the two. In 2015, Hurley, who is a Burgin farmer, accused Hensley of illegally trespassing on his property and shutting off his water supply. 

Hurley is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. on May 14 in Mercer County District Court.