Caught on camera: Man run down in the middle of open air market

SEATTLE (KOMO) — Law enforcement authorities have released video of a road rage incident last month at Pike Place Market that turned into a near brawl in which two people were hit by a car, three different people argued, the vehicle ran into a restaurant seating table area before another man was seen wielding a hammer to damage the car.

54-year-old Timothy Davis Stephenson has now been charged with two counts of assault in the road rage incident.

Seattle police have said the incident happened Sunday, April 17 at the market's entrance evolved from a dispute between a 32-year-old man and a 45-year-old man.

Video shows one of the vehicles ramming the rear of a Toyota SUV that was trying to drive off after the altercation.

Police said the younger man was driving a Toyota SUV and turning into the market when he began arguing with a 45-year-old man who was inside a van.

Police told KOMO News that the older man at some point threw a water at the SUV, prompting both men to leave their vehicles to argue face to face.

Court documents show the argument ended when the younger man drove away, but soon Stephenson got involved.

Police said Stephenson followed the younger man and bumped his vehicle, escalating the argument into a dangerous situation for dozens of people.

With both cars stopped, police say Stephenson got out of his car and threw a hammer through the back window of 32-year-old Adam Bachelier’s car.

Police say Bachelier grabbed the hammer and hit back at Stephenson’s windshield until Stephenson backed his vehicle up and slammed into the victim.

Police say Stephenson also hit another woman, who witnesses say works nearby.

KOMO News spoke with Bachelier about the road rage incident.

“For no reason, he could have killed somebody,” said Bachelier. “It was a very scary moment. A lot of friends were there, a lot more people could have gotten hurt.”

Stephenson has a long criminal history from California, Alaska, Washington, and Colorado that includes assault, stalking and criminal impersonation.

Jail records show he was released to electronic home detention on a $10,000 bail— as his trial is pending.

Bachelier is now left with neck and back pain after the incident. He said he wished it didn’t get out of control so quickly.

“My goal was to leave. At the end of everything when I saw where it escalated, my goal was to leave. I wasn’t trying to get into a physical confrontation at any point with anybody,” added Bachelier.

He’s also called for limited traffic through Pike Place Market and more safety.

“I don’t know why he decided to but I’m not happy that he did, I’m just glad that it wasn’t anything more than it was because he was apparently ready to hurt somebody,” said Bachelier.