A New Hope man is charged with assault after he allegedly used a tire iron to strike a man who confronted him for illegally parking in a disability spot. Stephen Todey, 24, was charged with third-degree assault in January.
The incident occurred in Brooklyn Park. According to a criminal complaint, Brooklyn Center police responded to a Walgreens after an assault was reported. Upon arrival, officers talked with a man who was covered in blood and had multiple facial injuries to his face.
The man told police he’d been at a nearby veterans’ club with his girlfriend, who has multiple sclerosis. They then went to Walgreens and tried to park in a disability-signed spot but instead found a vehicle parked there without the required placard.
The victim told police he got out of the vehicle and confronted the driver of the parked vehicle, who was later identified as Todey. The two started arguing. Todey then grabbed a tire iron from his vehicle and struck the victim with it. Todey also punched, kicked and stomped on the victim.
The victim was taken to a hospital and diagnosed with a nasal bone fracture and a traumatic brain injury that caused him to temporarily lose consciousness. He has other contusions and minor injuries, the complaint states.
Police reviewed surveillance video, which corroborated the victim’s statements, and later tracked Todey down. He has made his first court appearance.
Source: KSTP-TV
