An Odessa man indicted in December on an aggravated assault charge is now being sued by the Ireland Elementary School father who claims he pulled him out of his vehicle and ran him over while they were waiting in line to pick up children.
Anthony P. Smith is seeking damages of $250,000 or less from Robert Steadham in Ector County Court-at-Law, according to the suit, which was filed Thursday.
Smith alleges he was in line at the elementary school to pick up his child when Steadham “began to shout profanities and make threats against Plaintiff. Defendant exited his vehicle and shattered a window on plaintiff’s vehicle. Defendant grabbed Plaintiff by his clothes and pulled Plaintiff out of his vehicle. Defendant proceeded to punch and kick Plaintiff while Plaintiff lay in the street. Defendant returned to his vehicle and ran over Plaintiff.”
The Odessa Police Department responded to the school and Smith told them he’d had to make a turn-around due to the long line. While trying to make the turn, he got in front of a Ford F-350 and Steadham, 42, got upset because he thought he was cutting in line.
Two other parents told officers they saw Steadham hit the man, the report stated.
An officer, who interviewed Smith while he was being treated by paramedics, wrote in his report the man’s right foot was swollen and bruised and he was bleeding from an open wound on his leg.
Steadham admitted to confronting the other man about cutting in line and breaking the window, but denied hitting him with his truck, the report stated.
Steadham was indicted Dec. 13 on a single charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison. He was booked into the Ector County jail Friday and released the same day after posting a $50,000 surety bond.
