Gesture preceded confrontation, report says

ELYRIA — A near-collision and an obscene hand gesture escalated into a parking-lot fight outside a South Abbe Road auto-parts store, leaving an Elyria man facing a misdemeanor assault charge, according to police.

Adam Culler, 33, was charged with first-degree misdemeanor assault following the incident, which was reported at about 7:35 p.m. Aug. 27 outside O’Reilly Auto Parts in the 500 block of South Abbe Road.

The dispute began as Culler was backing a red Jeep out of a parking space while another driver entered the lot, according to an Elyria Police Department report. A witness told police Culler nearly struck the arriving vehicle.

The other driver sounded his horn, and a woman in the passenger seat raised her middle finger toward Culler, the report states.

Police said Culler parked behind the other vehicle, got out and began yelling at its occupants. He allegedly approached the vehicle and attempted to open a door before arguing with the driver, who recorded part of the confrontation.

The driver and passenger entered the store, and Culler followed them inside. Police said Culler slammed the store door against the driver as the man passed through the entrance.

After the men went back outside, the other driver photographed Culler and his Jeep. Culler allegedly approached the man and punched him in the face.

The man told police Culler struck him several times before he fought back. A witness who watched from inside the store reported seeing the same sequence of events, according to the report.

Police also reviewed nearby camera footage showing the two men entering the store and later fighting in the parking lot. Officers noted that the video quality was poor.

The other man had a bleeding nose but declined medical treatment.

Police later located Culler’s Jeep through an automated license plate reader near state Route 57 and North Ridge Road. Officers stopped the vehicle near 15th Street and West Avenue at about 9:24 p.m.

Culler had what appeared to be blood on his shirt and a small cut on his head, police said.

Culler told officers the other man struck him first with a tire rod, hit his vehicle’s window and threatened to kill him. Two witnesses denied that a weapon was involved.

Based on the man’s injuries and the witness accounts, police identified Culler as the primary aggressor and arrested him.

Culler was booked into the Lorain County Jail shortly after midnight Aug. 28. Jail records list a $1,000 bond and show that he was released at 1:55 a.m. after bond was posted.

The charge is an allegation. Culler is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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