Madigan neurosurgeon sentenced in road rage attack
TACOMA, Wash. -- A neurosurgeon accused of beating a driver with a metal thermos bottle in a road-rage incident has been sentenced.
Dennis J. Geyer, 38, has been sentenced to 90 days in jail, 30 of which was suspended in lieu of community service. Geyer, a Gig Harbor resident, works at Madigan Army Medical Center.
Last month, a jury found Geyer guilty of third-degree felony assault in the beating a 60-year-old man. The victim told investigators he had accidentally cut off a small car on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
The victim said the small car followed him to the intersection of East Bay Dr. NW and Wollochet Dr. NW, where its driver confronted him, according to the statement of probable cause.
The man tried to apologize; however, Geyer "became incensed and tried to pull (the victim) from the car," the document said. Once the victim was out of his car, detectives said Geyer "punched (the victim) and hit (the victim) in the face with a thermos."
With the victim lying on the road, Geyer sped off in his car, a witness told investigators.
The victim sustained several facial lacerations and a chip to his front teeth. Near the victim, Pierce County deputies found a 13-inch metal thermos bottle with several dents, the document said.
When questioned by detectives at his home, Geyer acknowledged to having been involved in a fight. Geyer told investigators he "hit the man one time," and when the man fell, he "panicked and fled the scene."
Geyer later added he was upset after treating a 14-year-old kayaker who was critically injured on American Lake.
Geyer has been charged by the state Department of Health with unprofessional conduct in relation to the road rage incident.
During the trial, Geyer's attorney argued the doctor was acting in self defense.
Dennis J. Geyer, 38, has been sentenced to 90 days in jail, 30 of which was suspended in lieu of community service. Geyer, a Gig Harbor resident, works at Madigan Army Medical Center.
Last month, a jury found Geyer guilty of third-degree felony assault in the beating a 60-year-old man. The victim told investigators he had accidentally cut off a small car on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
The victim said the small car followed him to the intersection of East Bay Dr. NW and Wollochet Dr. NW, where its driver confronted him, according to the statement of probable cause.
The man tried to apologize; however, Geyer "became incensed and tried to pull (the victim) from the car," the document said. Once the victim was out of his car, detectives said Geyer "punched (the victim) and hit (the victim) in the face with a thermos."
With the victim lying on the road, Geyer sped off in his car, a witness told investigators.
The victim sustained several facial lacerations and a chip to his front teeth. Near the victim, Pierce County deputies found a 13-inch metal thermos bottle with several dents, the document said.
When questioned by detectives at his home, Geyer acknowledged to having been involved in a fight. Geyer told investigators he "hit the man one time," and when the man fell, he "panicked and fled the scene."
Geyer later added he was upset after treating a 14-year-old kayaker who was critically injured on American Lake.
Geyer has been charged by the state Department of Health with unprofessional conduct in relation to the road rage incident.
During the trial, Geyer's attorney argued the doctor was acting in self defense.