Man Hospitalized After Wood Chipper Dispute Escalates

An argument over a wood chipper Sunday escalated into a fight that left one Rochester Hills man hospitalized with head injuries, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

Oakland County Sheriff's deputies responded Sunday to the 3100 block of Willet in Rochester Hills for a report of an assault that had just occurred. According to the Sheriff's office, two neighbors who are related by marriage had an argument over the wood chipper, leading to a shoving match between two men, a 61-year-old Rochester Hills man and his 36-year-old neighbor.

According to Sheriff's officials, the 61-year-old man tackled the 36-year-old man to the ground and punched him repeatedly in the face and head.

The 36-year-old man was hospitalized at Troy Beaumont Hospital with face and head trauma.

According to Sheriff's officials, the 61-year-old man then fled the scene with his 21-year-old son, also of Rochester Hills, who was believed to be the catalyst for the wood chipper dispute. Deputies were unable to locate the pair on Sunday. The investigation is ongoing.