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70-Year-Old Man With Crack Threatens Woman With Car in Parking Spat: Police

By Mark Schipper | February 4, 2015 9:40am
 Stanley Tharp, 70.
Stanley Tharp, 70.
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Police Photo

UPTOWN — A dispute over a parking spot almost turned deadly when a 70-year-old man drove at a woman with his car during a Jan. 26 argument at Parc Paris apartments in Uptown, police said.

Officers arrested Stanley Tharp, 70, in the parking lot at 941 W. Carmen Ave. after arriving about 6:40 p.m. to witness the tail end of a fight in which Tharp threatened to hit a 31-year-old building assistant with his car, according to a report.

The victim, Barbara Barker, said Tharp revved his engine and drove at her multiple times as she tried to pull out of an assigned parking spot that Tharp pays to use after 6 p.m.

Barker and other building contractors have authorization to use the parking spot during the day until 6 p.m, she said. She had been working late in the office when Tharp arrived in the building about 6:25 and pounded on the office door.

He swore at her, blocked her path out of the office and then followed out to the parking lot, where Barker said their argument escalated.

She had gotten out of her car and was waving her arms and shouting at Tharp to stop when he reversed, she said, then sped toward her.

Police arrived at that moment with their sirens blaring, Barker said. Tharp stopped the car and was taken into custody. Barker said she was afraid to return to the residential building after the incident.

“I worked remotely for three days after that,” Barker said. “I told the owner that day that I quit, and I’m gone March 1.”

While arresting Tharp, police asked him if he had anything that could be a danger to officers. He responded that he was carrying crack cocaine in the sleeve of his jacket, according to the police report.

Officers found a plastic bag with more than four grams of crack in Tharp’s jacket, police said.

Possession of the drug carries a possible prison sentence of up to three years. The fine can be as high as $25,000.

When Tharp posted bond, Barker said she started suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I was shaking when they said he got out of jail, my eye was twitching for a few days afterwards. It was traumatic,” Barker said. “I was afraid he was going to hurt me. I thought he was going to be in jail for a long time.”

Barker said she is waiting to be contacted by prosecutors and plans to testify against Tharp in court. He is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 15, according to the report.

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