Oconto County supervisor charged in road-rage incident

OCONTO — An Oconto County Board supervisor has been charged with allegedly pointing a gun at a man during a road-rage incident.

During his initial appearance in Oconto County Circuit Court on Nov. 25, David W. Parmentier, 68, Suring, was released on a $10,000 signature bond on a felony charge of second-degree reckless endangerment in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred June 27.

According to the criminal complaint, Parmentier yelled and gestured at a driver who passed him and a slow-moving tractor, and the other man stopped and jumped out of his truck, yelling as he approached.

During the ensuing argument, Parmentier allegedly took his pistol and removed it from its holster, the side mirror of his sport-utility vehicle was broken off, and he said the other man tried to punch him in the face but missed.

Both Parmentier and the other man, Gregory J. Kurtz, 55, of Pound, were originally given citations for disorderly conduct. Kurtz did not contest the ticket and was fined $389.50, while Parmentier pleaded not guilty.

Parmentier was later charged with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and resisting or obstructing an officer, and the felony charge was added last week.

According to the criminal complaint, Kurtz filed an amended statement Nov. 11 that Parmentier pointed the gun at him at least once during the confrontation.

The case is being heard by Brown County Circuit Court Judge Beau Liegeois because both Oconto County judges recused themselves, since Parmentier sits on the county board’s law enforcement and judiciary committee. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Jan. 17.