Star Tribune reporter sues, says man he tried to interview nearly ran him over

Updated: September 19, 2007 - 7:53 PM

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Star Tribune reporter Paul McEnroe filed a lawsuit in Hennepin County District Court seeking more than $50,000 from a man he says nearly ran him down as he tried to interview him in 2005 about a Minneapolis City Hall bribery investigation.

As McEnroe approached Gary A. Carlson, who was in a pickup truck, Carlson accelerated and "caused the outside mirror" to "violently collide" with McEnroe's body. Carlson left the scene and failed to provide any assistance, the lawsuit said.

The matter was investigated by police, but no charges were filed, according to McEnroe's lawyer Fred Pritzker.

The reporter, who was out of the country and unavailable for comment Wednesday, suffered injuries to his left shoulder and arm as well as "emotional distress," the suit said.

At the time of the incident, Carlson was the CEO of the Chicago Commons Corp. and was involved in the investigation of Dean Zimmermann, a Minneapolis City Council member at the time.

Zimmermann, a Green Party member, is serving 2½ years in prison for bribery. He was convicted of taking three bribes totaling $7,200 from Carlson, who testified at the trial that the FBI had wired him with sound and video equipment.

ROCHELLE OLSON