Trial of Sunset Hills Mayor; Witness: "Mayor 'attacked the bicycle rider' then 'floored it and took off'

Missouri media is reporting on the ongoing trial of Sunset Hills Mayor Mark Furrer, who is accused of hitting cyclist Randy Murdick with his car, then driving off. The testimony shows how certain witnesses were that Furrer had attacked Murdick deliberately, and also how angry they were at what they perceived as a deliberate attack.

The Lake Expo has a summary of the testimony of witnesses who saw the incident:

Cyclists rally in support of cyclist Randy Murdick, who was struck by Sunset Hills Mayor Mark Furrer

Freeman was the first witnessed called Tuesday morning. Questioned by assistant prosecutor Al Key, Freeman said he was behind the car and cyclist, all headed westbound, and saw the car and the cyclist rolling alongside each other, "within six inches."

"The driver was leaning over talking to the cyclist," Freeman testified. "When the conversation concluded, the driver of the red convertible attacked the bicycle rider with the automobile in an abrupt maneuver ... He thrust the car into the cyclist (who) went up into the air and came down onto the automobile and fell onto the concrete."

Later Freeman said the driver "gunned it, floored it and took off."

Furrer is charged with second-degree assault and property damage, both felonies. If convicted of either, he would forfeit office.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the testimony of another witness:

A second witness, approaching from the opposite direction, also saw the driver and the cyclist yell at each other.

“I was nervous for the guy on the bike,” Randy Spaethe said. “They were evidently hollering, and the red Mercedes turned into the cyclist and knocked him off the bike.” 

The Call has more details about Spaethe's testimony:

Cyclist Randy Murdick testified that hwas threatened, then struck by Sunset Hills Mayor Mark Furrer. Furrer then fled the scene.

"Why were you so angry?" Key asked during re-examination.

"I just saw an intentional accident — it wasn't even an accident, it was an intentional hit," Spaethe replied.

In the police report, more than one Sunset Hills officer vouched for the veracity of Randy Spaethe and said they had known him for years. Key noted that Randy Spaethe met the officers through his former job as the service manager of Sunset Ford, where he serviced the city's police fleet.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has more details about the testimony of the investigating officer:

The officer said Murdick told him the car swerved and hit him. The car drove off but quickly returned to the scene. 

Under questioning from assistant prosecutor Al Key, Senior said it made him uncomfortable to have the mayor involved in the incident.  He said his supervisors instructed him to consider the case an accident. But pressed by Key on what he thought it really was, Senior replied, "If I were the supervisor on the scene, I would conduct an investigation and complete a report for an assault."

Sunset Hills police soon handed the case over to St. Louis County police for an investigation that resulted in the charges.

Defense attorney Dan Bruntrager pressed Senior on whether Murdick admitted rolling through the stop sign, a point of dispute. Bruntrager noted that Murdick said in an audio statement that he had "slowed down." Bruntrager asked, "He didn't tell you he stopped, did he?" Senior said that was correct.

Murdick told the jury Tuesday that during the incident the mayor, whom he did not then know, repeatedly told him to "Get off my (expletive) roads."

The cyclist said he had several injuries, including bruises and a torn Achilles tendon, and that his $12,000 racing bicycle was badly damaged. He has filed a civil suit against Furrer.

Last year, MoBikeFed presented a petition signed by over 400 people from the Sunset Hills area and around Missouri, asking Sunset Hills to take the appropriate action in regard to the Mayor and also to take positive steps to become a more bicycle friendly city.

Cyclists rally in support of Murdick

We appreciate and support the work of St. Louis County police and prosecutors to bring appropriate charges in this case and prosecute the case vigorously.

We also applaud the positive steps of the Sunset Hills Police, who made a wise decision in turning over investigation of the case to the County police, and to Sunset Hills officials and staff other than the Mayor, who have been extraordinarily supportive of cycling in the community in the aftermath of this unfortunate event.

More on the Mark Furrer situation in MoBikeFed News here and here.

Making Missouri streets safer for people who bicycle and walk is one of the top priorities of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri.

Your ongoing membership and generous financial support helps turn our Vision into reality!