Jonas Ovaska
POLAND TWP. — It wasn’t egg on his face, but egg on his car that landed a Poland Township teenager in jail after police said he threw eggs at another person’s vehicle earlier this month.
Jonas Ovaska, 18, of Audubon Lane, was arrested Thursday and charged with a second-degree misdemeanor count of criminal damaging.
According to Struthers Municipal Court records, Poland Township police officers responded to a complaint on Van Drive on June 10. Three people told officers they were standing outside when Ovaska drove past, threw eggs at a vehicle, and drove away.
The vehicle owner and two witnesses told police they went to Ovaska’s home shortly after the incident to ask for his vehicle insurance information because of damage caused by the eggs. Ovaska’s parents told the group to leave the property, according to a police complaint.
When police officers arrived at Ovaska’s home to investigate, Ovaska denied throwing eggs at the car. However, officers noted that the hood of Ovaska’s vehicle was still warm to the touch. Police also reported finding a slightly cooked egg splattered across the front hood of his car.
The Struthers Law Director’s Office filed the formal criminal charge on Thursday, and a warrant was issued for Ovaska’s arrest.
Ovaska was booked into the Mahoning County Jail on Thursday and was released Friday on his own promise to appear at a later court date. His case remains pending in Struthers Municipal Court before Judge James Melone.
The incident highlights the property damage that common kitchen eggs can cause to automotive finishes. According to the Davis Body Shop of Paso Robles, California, eggs can cause nearly irreversible damage if not treated immediately.
Automotive experts from the repair facility note that egg whites contain roughly 15 percent protein and have historically been used to formulate waterproof glue. When left to dry, the white creates an intense bond with the vehicle’s surface that can require wet-sanding and a complete repaint to fix.
Furthermore, egg yolks contain fatty acids that can chemically eat through a clear coat finish and permanently stain paint, a process accelerated when the metal is heated by sunlight. The physical impact also poses a threat, as the sharp shards of a shattering calcium carbonate eggshell easily scratch the clear coat or gouge the underlying paint.
Industry professionals recommend that vehicle owners act quickly to minimize finish degradation if a car is egged. Experts suggest spraying the affected area with distilled white vinegar or placing a vinegar-soaked towel over the spot to gently loosen the material. Specialized automotive clay kits or automotive adhesive removers can also help lift the hardened residue before it permanently destroys the chemical bonds of the paint resin.