Road rage suspect cleared of charges

WOOD COUNTY, OH - Felony charges against a Tennessee man accused of stabbing Toledo radio personality Troy Neff during a road rage incident in December have been dropped.

Last week the case against Jeffrey T. Hardeman, 42, was dismissed after the Wood County grand jury failed to return formal indictment against the Knoxville, Tenn., man.

Hardeman was arrested in Dec. 10 on charges of felonious assault and tampering with evidence after stabbing Neff in Perrysburg Township. The tampering charge stemmed from Hardeman's alleged attempted concealment of the knife used in the incident. He faced prison if convicted and had made an initial appearance in Perrysburg Municipal Court after his arrest. The case was bound over to Wood County Common Pleas Court because the charges were felony level. Hardeman was released on bond shortly after his arrest. He had been in Northwest Ohio for work in December when the incident with Neff occurred. He was staying at a hotel not far from Neff's financial business in the township.

Hardeman on Dec. 10 got into a verbal confrontation with Neff, 40, of Curtice, after the two men almost collided while driving along Holiday Lane near U.S. 20. Neff, according to authorities and his own admission, exited his vehicle and began fighting with Hardeman, punching the Tennessee man in his face and head. The fight ended when Hardeman stabbed Neff several times.

Neff, who at the time had is own radio show was hospitalized for his injuries and released the next day. Neff later was charged with misdemeanor assault for his role in the incident. That case is still pending in Perrysburg Municipal Court.

Unlike felony level charges, which carry possible time in a state prison, misdemeanor charges do not require review and formal indictment by a grand jury.

Neff faces up to six months local jail time, and possible fines, if convicted. A pre-trial hearing is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday in Perrysburg Municipal Court.

( The Sentinal-Tribune is a FOX Toledo media partner)