LONDON -- A dispute over a stove between two brothers has resulted in criminal charges in Grey County.

Ontario Provincial Police say a family member called a mediator on Sunday night to talk to two brothers on a farm in Southgate, south of Owen Sound. The brothers were having a dispute over the operation of the household appliance.

However, the family member and mediator were unable to stop the argument before it turned violent. One of the brothers became violent and hit the other one before ripping a phone out of the wall.

“A mediator was going to talk about that stove with the two of them, but things kind of went off the rails,” said Grey County OPP Const. Steven Starr.

A number of punches were thrown, weapons were displayed and some property was damaged before police were called.

One of the brothers, a 23-year-old from Melancthon Township, has been charged with assault, assault with a weapon, two counts of mischief and breaking and entering. He’s to appear in Owen Sound court on Feb. 18.

Kate Dubinski is a Free Press reporter

For the latest local coverage, read The London Free Press on the web or in print.