WAUKESHA — The superintendent of the Village of Big Bend’s Department of Public Works is accused of punching someone in the face while arguing over a handicap placard in Big Bend Village Park. Eric Pedersen, 62, was charged with misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct in SMÌìµØÂÛ̳ County Circuit Court on Friday. If convicted, he faces over nine months in prison.
On Friday, Pedersen appeared in court and pleaded not guilty. A $1,000 signature bond was set but was adjusted down to $500. According to online court records, Pedersen is to not have contact with the victim and not possess any dangerous weapons/firearms.
His next hearing is on Oct. 18.
On Thursday afternoon Scott Sosnowski, acting chief of the Big Bend Police Department, received a phone call from Pedersen asking him to come by the DPW Garage. Sosnowski arrived and noticed Pedersen standing outside the driver’s side door of the victim’s truck which was backed in a disabled parking space. The sole occupant of the truck was the victim. The truck was parked directly across from the DPW garage, according to the criminal complaint.
The victim and Pedersen appeared to be yelling at each other and struggling over control of the open driver’s side door of the truck. As Sosnowski was leaving his patrol vehicle, the victim exited his truck and was standing in front of Pedersen. As Sosnowski approached the men, he witnessed Pedersen allegedly punched the victim in the face with his right fist, his left fist and then punched the victim again with his right fist. Sosnowski stepped between them to prevent further contact and requested additional units. At the time the victim and Pedersen were allegedly still yelling and cursing at each other, the criminal complaint says.
A police officer spoke to the victim who had a laceration to his lower lip. The victim said he drove to the park to eat his lunch, and backed into a handicapped parking stall near the DPW garage and village dumpster. He noticed some DPW employees doing maintenance work at the park and proceeded to eat. Right away Pedersen came out of the DPW garage with a cell phone and walked up to his truck and took a photo of the victim’s license plate, the complaint said.
Pedersen allegedly confronted the victim and asked if he had a handicap placard which he answered yes. Pedersen was told it was on the dashboard of the victim’s truck.
Pedersen allegedly attempted to reach inside the victim’s truck to take the placard. The victim said the placard was valid and attempted to take the placard back. During the argument over the placard, Pedersen allegedly broke the driver’s side sun visor on his truck. The victim said he was inside his vehicle and Pedersen was at the driver’s side window, which was rolled down when the altercation started, the complaint said.
The victim told police as he attempted to open his door to get Pedersen to step away, he struggled to get the door open. Once the victim was outside, he stood near the door with arms at his side and the verbal altercation continued. The victim said he didn’t make any threatening statements or hand gestures.
Pedersen allegedly assumed a fighting posture and struck the victim in the face. Video surveillance was retrieved from the DPW garage and the incident occurred exactly how the victim described it, the complaint said.
