Dispute leads to assault-with-a-backhoe charges

PALMER — A Wasilla man who allegedly drove a backhoe through his neighbor’s gate and into a car is facing assault charges.

David Conover, 60, was charged with trespassing, assault and criminal mischief May 15.

According to an affidavit Alaska State Trooper Randel McPherron filed in the case against him, the backhoe incident was reported at 4 p.m., May 14 at a home on Fireweed Lane.

“Harold F. Rudolph Sr. (reported) that an enraged old man had driven a backhoe onto the property … and deliberately crashed the backhoe into Rudolph’s car,” McPherron wrote.

The trooper wrote that Conover had been involved in a “long-running dispute” with his neighbors, Seth and Stacie Siver, over a barbed-wire fence that ran between their respective properties “and other issues.”

Earlier that day as Rudolph worked on a car in the Sivers’ yard, Conover yelled at him to move tires and other large items piled up near the fence, McPherron wrote. Conover claimed the items had “damaged the fence and could potentially cause his cows to escape.”

Rudolph said he couldn’t do that since it wasn’t his land. McPherron wrote that this answer upset Conover.

“He climbed into his backhoe. He drove it onto Fireweed Lane and up to the entrance to Siver’s property, which was blocked by a closed gate made of steel pipes. Conover drove his backhoe through the gate, forcing it open. He drove the backhoe at a high rate of speed toward Rudolph,” according to the trooper.

Rudolph ran out of the way, but Conover stopped and started yelling at him some more, asking again that he move the items.

“When Rudolph refused, Conover backed up his backhoe and deliberately crashed into the rear of Rudolph’s parked passenger car, a 1999 Chevrolet Camaro,” McPherron wrote.

The Camaro was pushed into a pile of tires. Damage to the car exceeded $500, according to the trooper.

“After damaging Rudolph’s Camaro, Conover drove his back hoe up to the fence. He picked up several of the items piled near the fence and moved them away from the fence. Conover then drove his backhoe back to his property.”

McPherron said he interviewed Conover, who admitted to being upset and to moving the things away from the fence with his backhoe, but denied damaging the Camaro.

The assault charge Conover faces requires only that Rudolph was placed in fear of injury, which he told troopers he was. The Sivers told troopers they’d warned Conover to stay off their property, hence the trespassing charge. The criminal mischief charge relates to damage to the Camaro.

Jail records show Conover was jailed, but has since bailed out.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.