Police: Man assaulted with backhoe

HERMANTOWN, Minn., Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Police in Minnesota said a man struck an employee with a backhoe because he did not believe the worker was performing his duties properly.

Investigators said Michael Billman, co-owner of Billman's Home Center in Hermantown, Minn., was in the excavator at a construction site Wednesday and began arguing with an employee who was working in a trench, KQDS-TV, Duluth, Minn., reported.

"Mr. Billman was not believing that the victim was doing his job properly, basically," Hermantown Police Sgt. Mark Gunderson said.

Gunderson Billman swung the backhoe and struck the worker, who was taken to St. Mary's Hospital with several bruises but no broken bones.

Billman, who was charged with second-degree assault, told police he had only intended to "nudge" the worker with the backhoe to get his attention. Investigators said Billman admitted he believed his actions were stupid.