Truck Driver Charged In Assault Incident At Picket Line

A North Carolina truck driver faces assault charges, following an altercation on a picket line Wednesday afternoon at the New Bedford Business Park. 

Dartmouth Police charged 54 year old Karl Franklin Starnes with attacking a striking employee at A-F-C Cable. 

Police say there was a heated exchange between Starnes and the picketer, and then the truck driver attacked the picketer with a knife. 

Starnes is charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon, and was scheduled to appear in New Bedford District Court. 

No word on the condition of the victim.  Dartmouth Police were assigned to the picket line on Thursday.