A 48-year-old man who was angry about a ladder not being returned in a timely manner reacted violently Tuesday when his friend came to an Iris Avenue residence to return it.

The situation became so intense that a bystander was forced to intervene and restrain the man until his friend – who admitted he had forgotten to return the ladder – could flee for safety, according to a Murfreesboro Police Department incident report.

A few minutes later, his visibly injured friend walked into the Police Department to report what had just occurred.

“(The complainant) stated he (went to) Iris Avenue to return a borrowed ladder to (the man),” Officer Michael Rickard reported. “(The man) was upset over the length of time (the complainant) had borrowed the ladder and began to verbally assault him.”

The man then “chest bumped” his friend and “grabbed him around the collar of his shirt,” Rickard reported.

“(The complainant) pushed (the man) away from him and turn to go get in his vehicle,” Rickard reported. “Once turned around, (the man) struck him in the back of the head with a closed fist.”

As the assault continued, the bystander ran over to the property and defused the situation, according to the report.

“(The complainant) did have an actively bleeding abrasion to his head behind his left ear,” Rickard reported, noting he refused medical treatment.

Despite the pounding headache and cut, Rickard reported the injured man said “he would attempt to obtain warrants only if things got worse.”