Posted at 9:47 a.m. EST Sunday, December 30, 2001

Police: driver slammed woman who wouldn't give up parking space

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OCALA, Fla. -- (AP) -- A driver vying for a handicapped parking space slammed into a 77-year-old woman Saturday because she refused to cede the empty spot, police said.

Norma Lombardo told police she had been standing in the parking space outside a Wal-Mart to reserve it for her husband when Richard Stengal, 57, drove up.

``He turned to me and said, 'Lady, if you don't move, I'm going to run over you,''' Lombardo said, adding she told Stengal she was holding the spot for her husband.

``And then he just hit me,'' she said. ``I don't understand why he did that to me.''

Lombardo said the impact knocked her backward and left her bruised. She suffered minor injuries to her left leg. Paramedics were called to the scene, but she was not taken to the hospital.

Stengal was charged with aggravated battery on the elderly, a first-degree felony, said Ocala Police Department Lt. Carmen Sirolli.

He was released from the Marion County Jail Saturday evening on $10,000 bond, according to jail officials.

An off-duty police officer witnessed the incident, which also was captured on Wal-Mart security cameras.

Sirolli said the footage shows Stengal attempted to turn into the parking spot, accelerated and struck Lombardo.

It did not appear Stengal had a handicapped tag in his vehicle, police said.

[I wonder if the Lombardo's had a sticker...]

-- Anonymous, December 30, 2001