Watertown police have arrested a man accused of beating his former employer with a 4-foot-long piece of hardwood molding.
Police responded to Specialty Flooring, at 1445 Main Street in Oakville, at 12:06 p.m. on Thursday for a report that someone had been assaulted and found the 53-year-old owner of the store bleeding from the head.
The victim told police that his former employee, Richard Murphy, 51, of Waterbury, had attacked him and was trying to kill him, police said.
The victim said Murphy has been staying in a camper behind the business. Shortly before noon, he went into the business, snuck up behind his former boss and struck him in the head with molding, over and over again, police said.
As they were investigating, responding police officers saw Murphy behind the building, trying to run off, police said. They found him in Steele Brook, a body of water behind the company, according to police.
Murphy resisted attempts to take him into custody and police used a stun gun on him, police said.
Murphy told police that the victim owed him money and that he went into the shop to obtain payment, even if it meant using force, police said.
The victim, however, said he had lent Murphy money in the past and did not own him anything.
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Evidence police found included molding that had blood on it, according to a news release from police.
The victim was taken to the hospital to be treated for head and arm injuries. Murphy was also taken to be evaluated.
Officer Jeff Desena suffered arm and knee injuries while taking Murphy into custody.
Murphy was arrested on several charges, including robbery, assault, reckless endangerment, threatening and additional charges.
He was held on $50,000 bond and is due in Waterbury Superior Court today.
