Man Beaten, Gun Pulled In Neighbors' Dispute Over Leaf Blower

MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ) - Authorities say a man was beaten and a gun was pulled in a dispute over leaves blown onto a neighbor's lawn.

It happened Thursday, Nov. 5, outside a mobile home in the 46000 block of Chatsworth in Macomb Township.

According to Macomb County Sheriff's officials, deputies arrived to find a 52-year-old man lying on the grass, bleeding from his ear.

Investigators learned that injured man had been using a leaf blower to blow leaves off his property when his neighbor became upset that the leaves were blowing onto his property.The neighbor, identified as 57-year-old Jerry Thomas Ficht, allegedly began to scream at the victim, then attacked — punching him in the head until he fell to the ground.

That's when, sheriff's officials say, the victim's 68-year-old girlfriend came out of the house with a gun, pointed it at Ficht and ordered him to stop or she'd shoot. Ficht complied and 911 was called.

The victim was taken by EMS to a local hospital for treatment.

Ficht was arrested and brought to the Macomb County Jail. He was arraigned in the 41A District Court  via video Friday on a charge of assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder — a ten-year felony.

He remained jailed Monday on a $10,000 cash or surety bond pending his next court appearance set for Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Sheriff's officials said the woman who pulled the gun is licensed to carry a concealed weapon and the handgun was legally registered to her.