Lineman Allegedly Injures Coworker’s Shoulder while Restoring Power after Storm

Can You Believe It?

Madison, Tenn. (WorkersCompensation.com) – A lineman was arrested last week after he allegedly injured a coworker as the two were working to restore power in the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern.

According to arrest records in Madison, Tenn., 36-year-old Harley Deline and his coworker were working on power lines on Jan. 30 when the coworker alleged he was assaulted. The victim told police he and Deline were working for Nashville Electric Service (NES) outside of a house on Nix Road when the two got into an argument.

The victim told police they started to fight over the power lines. Deline, he said, was trying to turn on a transformer before it was safe.

“The victim stated he told the defendant several times not to activate the transformer while he went to the front of the residence to try and make contact with the homeowner,” arrest papers said.

The victim told arresting officers that Deline wouldn’t listen. The victim said when he went to the front of the residence to speak with the homeowner, he saw Deline closing the transformer. He told officers he yelled for Deline to stop, which started a heated argument.

“The victim and defendant exchanged words briefly before the defendant told the victim to ”bring his fat a** to the fence,’" the affidavit says. “The victim stated he did not think anything about [it], and he said okay I will.”

But arrest records indicate when the victim approached, Deline allegedly jumped the fence and came after the victim. Police believe the attack was pre-planned. Deline then seized the victim’s shoulder and held it as he kicked the victim’s feet out from under him, the arrest report said. The victim said he knew he was hurt and yelled at Deline to stop, but his attacker allegedly refused.

The injured victim said he believed Deline ambushed him because of Deline’s level of clothing. Originally, Deline had on full winter gear, the victim said, but when he attacked the victim, he had far fewer articles of clothing on.

“The defendant was in full cold weather gear prior to the assault and when he jumped the fence, the defendant was only in base layers as if this was premeditated given the temperatures were well below freezing,” the affidavit said.

The victim was taken to a hospital where doctors said he had suffered a torn pectoral muscle and a torn shoulder that would require surgery to repair.

Because of the severity of the victim’s injury, Deline was charged with aggravated assault.

“Given that the [victim] will need surgery and will have permanent scars, Officers believe this meets the statute for aggravated assault,” the arrest papers said.

Deline’s bond was set at $10,000. Witnesses were able to corroborate the victim’s statements. Deline faces his first court appearance on March 20.

NES released a statement acknowledging the incident.

“We are aware of the incident involving our employees and are fully cooperating with authorities,” the statement said. “As this is an active investigation, we cannot provide further comment at this time and refer all inquiries to the Metro Nashville Police Department,” the company said in their statement.

It was one of a number of coworker attacks in the past few weeks.

In York County, Pa., police arrested a man accused of attacking a coworker late last year.

According to Fairview Township Police, the man was working at a Dollar Tree store in New Cumberland, on Dec. 8, when officers were called to investigate a reported assault. When they arrived, police found an individual who had been severely injured.

Court documents indicated the victim had called the police station saying that he was bleeding from his head after the coworker had assaulted him. Police said they found the man with severe injuries to his head and face, and that the right side of his face was severely swollen. The victim told police he remembered getting hit, but he couldn’t remember how many times.

The video surveillance showed Barrett hitting the man with a box. When the man fell backwards, Barrett allegedly hit the man with a closed fist four times. Police said the man struck his head as he was falling, and was struck repeatedly by Barrett, while he was unconscious, leaving a pool of blood on the floor.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated for a subdural hematoma, a fracture of his S5 vertebrae along with bruises and cuts on his body.

Barrett was arrested on Jan. 23, in connection with the incident and charged with aggravated assault, as well as a misdemeanor simple assault charge and a summary harassment charge. He was taken to the York County Prison where his bail was set at $10,000.

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