Dispute over alleged romantic affair turns violent

Pulsipher

Dispute over alleged romantic affair turns violent

Fight involved a knife, baseball bat, car ramming, death threats.

By Allison Scarbrough

NEWFIELD TOWNSHIP — A 56-year-old Hesperia man faces a felony of assault with intent to murder following a violent encounter with a 64-year-old Hesperia man over an alleged love triangle. 

Joseph Owen Pulsipher, of 9430 E. Filmore Rd., remains lodged in the Oceana County Jail on a $250,000/cash/surety bond.

“The suspect was making allegations of an affair,” said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast.

The assault occurred April 1 at around 1:20 p.m. in the 6500 block of East M 20 in Newfield Township.

“Deputies were dispatched to the residence, and the resident there said that a second gentleman pulled into the driveway and began an altercation that turned into a felonious assault with death threats,” said Sheriff Mast. 

“The suspect donned a knife. The victim defended himself by striking him several times during the altercation. After the physical altercation, the suspect got up from the ground; got into his van; and rammed the victim’s pickup truck. He rammed several times, and the victim had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck by the suspect’s vehicle on multiple occasions. The victim said he then proceeded to grab a baseball bat to defend himself. He did use the bat to break out the window of the van as the suspect was attempting to run him over.”

Both the suspect’s and the victim’s vehicles were damaged, and both men received medical treatment, said the sheriff. 

The suspect was treated at Trinity Health Shelby Hospital before being lodged in jail. The victim began complaining of chest pains and was evaluated by EMS at the scene and then transported for further treatment. 

Pulsipher is scheduled to appear in Oceana County’s 79th District Court for a probable cause hearing Tuesday, April 18, at 1 p.m.

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