HERMITAGE — John Kurilla, a frequent critic of Hermitage City Manager Gary P. Hinkson, has filed a complaint with the Mercer County District Attorney’s Office alleging that Hinkson assaulted him June 14 in Hinkson’s office.

The complaint previously was filed with Hermitage police, but apparently resulted in no charges.

“I am aware of the investigation,” Hinkson said Thursday. “I have denied the allegations, and I am confident that the truth will prevail when the investigation is complete.”

Kurilla, of Longview Road, frequently criticizes Hinkson and Police Chief Patrick B. McElhinny at commissioner meetings and in letters to the editor of The Herald over issues involving the southeastern part of the city, including police coverage and traffic safety. He accuses city officials of failing to care about citizens in his sector of the city.

Kurilla provided a copy of the complaint to The Herald Thursday. In it, he said he went to Hinkson’s office June 14, asked to speak to Hinkson and Hinkson invited him in. Kurilla said he asked Hinkson when he is going to enforce stop sign violations at Spangler Road and Longview.

Kurilla said motorists frequently run the stop sign on Spangler, and argued that police warnings are not having a deterrent effect. He said he wants police to issue citations.

According to Kurilla, Hinkson told him that he could not tell a policeman to do that without the police union filing a grievance against the city.

Kurilla said he reminded Hinkson of a Nov. 23, 2010, meeting with Hinkson and other city officials in which the same issue was discussed and Commissioner Duane J. Piccirilli told Kurilla that only warnings would be issued.

“When I told Hinkson this, he became agitated toward me,” Kurilla said. “I started to walk out of the office when I turned to Hinkson and told him that none of you live on that stretch of Longview and do not have to put up with what the residents have to put up with. I then told him that none of you give a damn about those residents.

“Hinkson then told me that nobody swears in his building and he immediately rose from his chair behind his desk and charged at me. As he approached me, he lunged at me putting his hand on my chest and pushed me back out of his office and slammed the door in my face.”

According to Kurilla, police Capt. Eric Jewell investigated his complaint and interviewed Hinkson; Assistant City Manager Gary M. Gulla, who was in Hinkson’s office; and Administrative Assistant Beth Lewis, whose desk is outside Hinkson’s office, and they all denied that the incident took place.

McElhinny did not return an e-mail seeking comment.

District Attorney Robert G. Kochems said Kurilla has met with one of his detectives.

“Despite Mr. Kurilla calling my office shortly after this meeting and alleging my detective was practicing law without a license for reviewing the elements or the lack of elements of the potential crimes he and Mr. Kurilla were discussing, the detective opened a file that is not yet completed,” Kochems said. “When the file is completed, the detective will submit the file to me for a final decision.”

Commissioner Chairman William J. Moder III said Kurilla provided to him a letter outlining the alleged June incident on Aug. 27 and second letter on city subjects.

“The city considers complaints of this nature seriously,” said Moder, a lawyer and assistant district attorney. “I immediately forwarded the letters to our solicitor, Thomas Kuster. I mailed to Mr. Kurilla a letter advising him that I had referred the matter to our solicitor for investigation.”