Big Bend village official charged with battery after alleged fight over parking space

By: Stephanie Rodriguez Facebook | Twitter

Posted: Sep 20, 2024 4:33 PM CDT

NOW: Big Bend village official charged with battery after alleged fight over parking space

WAUKESHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) — A Big Bend village official appeared in court on Friday, for the first time since being arrested for allegedly punching a man in the face over a parking space.

Big Bend Department of Public Works Superintendent Eric Pedersen is charged with misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct for allegedly punching a resident three times on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

Court documents detail the incident that happened outside of Pedersen's DPW office. According to the criminal complaint, the 62-year-old punched a man in Big Bend Park in front of the village chief of police. Pedersen is accused of striking the victim over their use of a handicapped parking space.

The victim told police he told Pedersen his permit was valid and showed it to him. The two then fought over the placard before the victim got out of his car and Pedersen allegedly hit him three times.

Pedersen told police he feared for his safety and was defending himself.

In court on Friday, Pedersen was given a signature bond under the condition he does not contact the victim or possess any dangerous weapons. Pedersen objected to the condition of the weapons because he has another job that requires him to be around guns.

"I work at a place where I am a firearms specialist, also," he said.

He questioned the court commissioner's decision, asking him, "What do I tell my employer now?"

"I don't know what to tell your employer, that's not my responsibility," Waukesha County Court Commissioner David Herring responded. "What I am saying to you, is this complaint seemingly indicates that somebody gets so frustrated that they can't control their emotions and gets into a fistfight and punches somebody in the face. So, do you think that it's appropriate then for a court official to allow that same individual to hold firearms?"

Pedersen is not currently serving as the DPW superintendent as he was put on administrative leave after the incident. He will be back in court in October.