67-year-old man rams car, pulls knife over parking space dispute, Horry County police say
A dispute over a parking spot led a man to ram a car and pull a knife, according to a police report.
Horry County police went to the 600 block of S.C. 90 around 12:15 p.m. Friday for a reported assault.
There are several businesses in that area. The victim told police she was parked and standing in the door to her vehicle, talking to a friend. That is when Peter Earl Daroja, 67, approached.
Daroja told the two they needed to move as he wanted the parking spot, according to a police report. The victims noted there were several other spots and they would be done in a moment.
It was then, Daroja drove his vehicle and hit the victim’s car, which caused the door to shut on her, the report states.
Daroja got out of his car and pulled up his shirt, showing the victim’s friend what appeared to be a knife, the report states. Daroja grabbed the handle, which caused the friend to back up with his hands up.
A witness pumping gas said he saw Daroja “raising hell” and then hit the car, according to the report. The witness told Daroja he needed to calm down, at which point the suspect took out the knife and threatened the victim.
Daroja told officers he needed to get in the parking spot that the victim occupied. He claimed he tried to park in the next spot and accidentally hit the victim’s vehicle, according to the report. Daroja also said the victims started to shout at him.
Police arrested and charged Daroja with three counts of first-degree assault and battery. He was booked into J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Friday and freed after posting $7,500 bond.
