Parking dispute leads to court date

Hanby
Hanby

A $2,500 bond was issued Friday for an El Dorado man who appeared in Union County District Court following an arrest in which he is accused of threatening a man with a knife and threatening to return with a gun during an argument about a parking space.

A first appearance hearing was held for Michael T. Hanby, 66, of the 500 block of Meadow Lane, on a felony charge of aggravated assault.

At 12:29 p.m. Thursday, El Dorado police were called to First Financial Bank, 318 Griffith, where they spoke with the 43-year-old victim, Emmanuel Moore, in the parking lot.

Moore told officers that a man, later identified as Hanby, walked past his vehicle and called him a profane name because Moore “was taking up two parking spaces.”

Noting that his driver’s door was ajar at the time, Moore said he remained inside his vehicle and told Hanby that he could read his lips and he had heard what Hanby said.

He said Hanby then angrily walked toward his vehicle, reached inside his pants pocket and produced a 2.5-inch pocketknife.

Moore said Hanby then stood between him and the driver’s side door and said, “What are you going to do about it?” before walking away.

Thinking he had his firearm with him, Moore responded to Hanby by saying, “You are lucky I just saved your life,” according to a police report.

Moore said Hanby then walked back to Moore’s vehicle and told him to “wait here” and that he would return with a gun.

Hanby then drove away, Moore said.

Police said Hanby returned to the scene while they were speaking with Moore and Hanby appeared “angry and agitated.”

Officers detained Hanby and while frisking him for weapons, they recovered the pocketknife described by Moore from his right rear pants pocket.

Hanby admitted calling Moore a profane name, arguing with him, pulling out the knife and approaching Moore with it but he did not say that he had threatened Moore with the knife, police said.

Hanby remained in the Union County Jail Friday evening in lieu of bond.

Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].

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