Man charged with assault by forklift on girlfriend

Springfield Police have arrested a man who they say lifted his girlfriend’s car with a forklift and dropped it while she was still inside.

Police Sergeant John Delaney said that Brian Hurley, 41, of Springfield, was arguing with his girlfriend after she had dropped him off at his workplace on Saturday morning. The two were reportedly arguing over financial issues, when Hurley slapped the woman across the face, got out of the car, and began kicking it.



Delaney says Hurley then got into a forklift, drove it toward her car, and picked it up while she was still inside. Using the forklift, he moved the car several feet away before putting it down and running away.

Officers found him hours later after receiving a report that he was banging on the door of his Dayton Street residence. Hurley has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (the forklift), assault and battery (open hand slap), and malicious damage to a motor vehicle.