Update: Reduced Charge, Probation For Man Charged In Fatal Dania Beach Standoff
This story was updated on November 12, 2019
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- The case against a South Florida man who was originally charged with murdering a groundskeeper following a dispute over money, pled nolo contendere to misdemeanor culpuable negligence and given one year of probation, according to court documents.
Issa Asad was also ordered to pay a $225 fine.
Below is the original article.
DAVIE (CBSMiami) – A Broward man is in jail charged with murdering a groundskeeper following a dispute over money the groundskeeper believed he was owed, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.
Issa Asad is being held in jail without bond. He is accused of running over a lawn care worker during an argument over $65 bucks earlier this month.
The Broward Sheriff's Office says the argument flared up in a Dania Beach shopping plaza along Sheridan Street on July 5th after Asad and the worker disagreed on how much the worker should be paid. BSO says the victim, Michael Kramer, believed Asad owed him $65 more for the grounds keeping work. BSO says a witness told them that Asad -- who owns the property where the work was done -- refused and threatened to run Kramer over with his Mercedes.
"Are you going to run me over?" a BSO news release quoted Kramer as saying.
"If you don't move, I'm going to run you over," the release says Asad replied.
Investigators say Asad stepped on the gas and ran Kramer with the front and back wheels of his car. Detectives say that Kramer clung to life for 10 days and died last Tuesday.
Tracy Jackson lived a few doors down from Kramer. She said Kramer worked hard, shared what he had with those who needed it and did not deserve to die.
"His life wasn't worth losing over $65 dollars," Jackson told CBS 4's Carey Codd. "I sometimes had needed $10 or $20 dollars and when he had it he gave it to me. If he didn't have it, he'd go get it and bring it to me. That's why I was so hurt because he was looking out for me."
Click here to WATCH Carey Codd's report
However, people who work in the plaza where the incident occurred say they are hearing there is more to the story about what transpired between Asad, Kramer and others working on the property than what investigators are saying at this point.
CBS 4 News spoke briefly by phone with a member of Asad's family on Monday night. But the person refused to comment on the case.
Following the incident, BSO says Asad was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. However, after Kramer died last week the charge against Asad was upgraded to murder.
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