Kruse, driving a 2000 Toyota Corolla, revved his engine as O\u2019Neill slowly made his way across the road. The two men began yelling at each other, and Kruse veered briefly toward O\u2019Neill and accelerated before pulling into the post office parking lot, according to the affidavit, which included descriptions of video surveillance that captured the incident.<\/p>\n
Kruse parked at the post office, and both men continued their verbal exchange.<\/p>\n
Kruse eventually went into the post office. When he exited, he said it appeared as if O\u2019Neill had left the area. Kruse got into his vehicle and then saw O\u2019Neill approach from the passenger side. O\u2019Neill allegedly punched Kruse\u2019s front passenger window, causing it to shatter. Police later confirmed the passenger-side window had been shattered.<\/p>\n
Kruse told police that O\u2019Neill screamed profanities and threatened to kill him. O\u2019Neill was walking away, and Kruse pursued him in his vehicle, according to the affidavit.<\/p>\n
He told police he planned to \u201ctap\u201d O\u2019Neill. He also said O\u2019Neill jumped onto his windshield.<\/p>\n
But police said video surveillance shows a different set of events.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill can be seen walking north away from the post office into a crosswalk on Eighth Street. As O\u2019Neill enters the crosswalk, Kruse pulls out of the post office parking lot at a \u201chigh rate of speed\u201d and turns right toward O\u2019Neill.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill jumps back on the curb as the Toyota veers toward him, narrowly missing him and the curb, according to the affidavit.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill then re-enters the crosswalk, and the Toyota does a U-turn and drives directly toward O\u2019Neill. O\u2019Neill began running but was hit and thrown onto the hood and windshield of the Toyota, shattering the windshield, according to the affidavit.<\/p>\n\n
At the point of impact, the Toyota was traveling westbound in the eastbound lane of Eighth Street, according to police. The car then veers back into the westbound lane and continues driving toward Camino del Rio.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill can be seen standing up on the sidewalk. Meanwhile, the Toyota turned around again at the Transit Center and drove back toward O\u2019Neill. Kruse stops near the crosswalk, but eventually drives forward and turns north onto Narrow Gauge Avenue, according to police.<\/p>\n
Several people reported the incident to the 911 dispatch center, including a description of Kruse\u2019s license plate number.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill made his way to the Speedway gas station at 901 Camino del Rio, where police contacted him.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill didn\u2019t want to speak with officers at first, but he eventually gave a statement.<\/p>\n
He was later arrested in connection with two prior warrants, according to the affidavit. He was also issued a summons for criminal mischief for breaking Kruse\u2019s window and disorderly conduct for the initial dispute with Kruse.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, police went to Kruse\u2019s home, where they found a Toyota with a broken passenger window and a smashed in front windshield.<\/p>\n
Kruse told police he acted in self-defense, saying O\u2019Neill threatened to kill him. But he also said when O\u2019Neill broke his window, it made him \u201csnap.\u201d<\/p>\n
Police said Kruse \u201cmade two, clear, deliberate attempts\u201d to run over O\u2019Neill. The investigating officer described it as a road-rage incident.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill was walking away from the post office, giving Kruse an opportunity to drive away and contact law enforcement, police said. But instead, Kruse aimed his vehicle at O\u2019Neill and struck him before driving away, according to the affidavit.<\/p>\n
Kruse was being held Friday at the La Plata County Jail on $25,000.<\/p>\n