A Tuscaloosa man was beaten with a metal pipe and struck with a large rock while trying to stop a thief from robbing him on Skyland Boulevard Tuesday, according to recently filed court documents.

Investigators said officers were called to a gas station near the intersection of Skyland Boulevard and McFarland Boulevard around 12:45 a.m. Tuesday on reports of a disturbance there.

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A man there reported that he had been moving some clothes from his truck into bags when a 30-year-old man identified as Steven Nicholas Hussey approached him and started to sift through a few of the bags he had placed on the ground.

The victim told the stranger to stop, but Hussey allegedly pulled out a long metal pipe and struck the victim's truck with it before grabbing three bags of clothing and running away from the scene.

The victim reportedly grabbed a broom handle, took off after the thief and struck him once with the melee weapon.

Hussey then allegedly turned around and attacked the victim with the metal pipe, striking him on his arms and chest. Hussey also reportedly dropped the stolen bags for a moment, picked up a large rock and threw it at the victim, striking him in the face under his eye.

The victim was taken to an area hospital for a head injury and given a CT scan, but the court documents do not indicate he was badly hurt.

Officers eventually found Hussey, who is listed in the report as homeless, and charged him with first-degree robbery, a Class A felony that can carry a serious prison sentence if convicted.

Hussey remained in the Tuscaloosa County Jail Wednesday afternoon, where his bond is set at $60,000.

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