CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT / PVT Black eye is visible in this recent shot of Town Manager Dave Richards. Richards and Joe Verholtz have traded battery complaints since a disagreement about bowling lane etiquette burst into fisticuffs. Advertisement

Town Manager Dave Richards went to the Pahrump Nugget Aug. 5 to participate, as usual, in his weekly bowling league action.

He didn't expect to be filing a battery complaint against Joe Verholtz. Or to be facing one in return.

"I just went there to bowl, not to box," Richards said. "I was assaulted."

According to Richards, he got into a verbal altercation with Verholtz over lane etiquette.

Verholtz, who was bowling adjacent to him during pre-match practice, apparently felt that Richards had cut in front of him.

Richards said he had attempted to wait for Verholtz to bowl several times before actually approaching his lane.

The next things Richards knew, he said, he was getting pummeled by Verholtz, and he was still holding his bowling ball.

"He hit me about four times before I even knew I was in a fight," Richards said. "And I never got my fingers out of the bowling ball."

The town manager said several others pulled Verholtz off of him.

Sheriff's deputies were called, and Verholtz filed a battery citation against Richards as well.