County in Iowa to Pay $30K to Man Who Scuffled with Deputy

Officials in Iowa’s Black Hawk County have agreed to pay $30,000 to a man who scuffled with an off-duty sheriff’s deputy after a traffic dispute.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the county’s board of supervisors voted unanimously to pay the money and settle a case filed by Edward Felts. He claimed deputy Richard Hoffman hit and kicked him repeatedly during a February 2015 incident.

The encounter happened after the men nearly crashed while driving, prompting Felts to pull in front of Hoffman and stop. Both men got out of their vehicles, and after Felts head-butted Hoffman, the deputy took Felts to the ground.

A jury earlier found Felts guilty of assault.

Officials say the county’s insurance company defended the case because Hoffman is a deputy at all times and displayed his badge.