A 36-year-old Fort McCoy man was arrested on an aggravated battery charge after a pickup truck he was driving allegedly struck another man during a dispute over landscaping services.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a local residence on Friday, July 17, in reference to someone being struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival, paramedics were observed loading the victim, who was wearing a neck brace, onto a stretcher and into an ambulance, according to the arrest report.
Witnesses told deputies that the victim and the suspect, identified as Erik Michael Scanlon, were involved in an ongoing civil dispute regarding compensation for landscaping work. One of the witnesses alleged that Scanlon was driving a Chevrolet Avalanche westbound on a dirt driveway when he turned the truck onto the lawn and headed directly toward the victim.
According to the report, the victim made “large physical gestures” while yelling for the truck to stop. However, witnesses reported hearing the truck’s engine rev before it struck the victim, with one bystander stating that the impact from the collision propelled the victim into the air.
Scanlon then allegedly drove away from the incident location before returning a short time later, where he was met by law enforcement.
During an interview, Scanlon claimed that he was hauling loads of tree branches when the victim jumped in front of his truck to stop him, adding that the victim might have “bounced off the fender,” according to the report.
Scanlon allegedly told deputies that he was traveling at speeds of around 10 miles per hour during the incident. A deputy noted in the report that Scanlon further claimed he did not stop his vehicle after the collision because he was “afraid the victim would pull him out of the [truck]” and “beat his [expletive].”
Fresh tire tracks were observed at the incident location, which corroborated the statements provided by the witnesses. According to the report, investigators deemed Scanlon’s claim that he feared being assaulted by a man he had allegedly just struck with a moving vehicle to be illogical.
Scanlon was arrested, booked into Marion County Jail, and released the following day after posting bond. He is being charged with one felony count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
On Tuesday, August 18, Scanlon is scheduled to appear in a Marion County courtroom at 9 a.m., according to jail records.