Sandpoint, Idaho

http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/articles/2006/03/24/news/news02.txt

Man run over by car during dispute

By KEITH KINNAIRD

News editor

Suspect charged with felony battery

SANDPOINT -- A Sagle man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly running a

Sandpoint man over with his car during a dispute over loud music.

Matthew Steven Nuss is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon,

in this case an imported sports coupe. Judge Barbara Buchanan set Nuss's

bail at $50,000 on Wednesday and ordered a public defender to represent him

at further proceedings.

Nuss, 21, is accused of backing his Toyota Paseo over an 18-year-old man

during the dispute in the 1200 block of Oak Street, according to police

reports. One witness told Sandpoint Police she saw the victim get knocked

over and disappear beneath the Toyota.

The victim somehow managed to escape being gravely injured.

The man's left leg was run over and he had abrasions to his back and

shoulder after being dragged under the car for a few feet, one of the arrest

reports said.

Nuss reportedly told officers the collision was an accident and that he was

trying to drive away because the victim was wielding an aluminum baseball

bat.

The dispute began shortly before 3:30 p.m. The victim's girlfriend told

police Nuss has been driving slowly through the neighborhood, blaring music

from his car stereo.

The 16-year-old girl confronted Nuss about the loud music and an argument

ensued, reports said. The victim reportedly joined the argument and Nuss and

a passenger quickly exited the vehicle as challenges to fight were traded

between both sides of the dispute.

The victim, who told police he was unsure he could prevail in a

two-against-one fight, retreated into his home and retrieved a bat, one of

the reports said. Nuss and the passenger apparently returned to the Toyota

and the victim followed.

As Nuss drove away, the victim reportedly hurled the bat at the departing

car. The bat clanged off the pavement and struck the back of the car,

witnesses told police. Nuss, witnesses allege, stopped, shifted his car into

reverse, hit the accelerator and backed over the victim.

Nuss and the passenger contend the victim picked the bat up after he threw

it and advanced on the car.

Arrest reports indicate police pressed Nuss as to why he stopped after the

bat hit his car. Nuss answered that he stopped to inspect the damage and

went into reverse in order to get away from the victim, a report said.