Gamer harassment leads to real life hit-and-run in Yucca Valley

Police arrested a Morongo Valley man early Tuesday morning after mutual ongoing text message harassment involving two men led to a hit-and-run collision in Yucca Valley.

Police arrested Steven Lee Ingersoll, 24, saying he struck Gregory Allen Murphy, 26, of Yucca Valley along he 7000 block of Bannock Trail in Yucca Valley. According to Murphy and a witness, he and Ingersoll had sent text messages back and forth using their respective gaming consoles.

The harassment escalated, and police say Ingersoll drove to Murphy’s residence at 1:45 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Police say Ingersoll got out of his car and smashed a rear window from a vehicle parked in the driveway belonging to Murphy’s girlfriend.

A police statement said Murphy and his girlfriend ran out and confronted Ingersoll who then intentionally struck Murphy with his vehicle. Murphy was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.

Deputies later contacted Ingersoll at his home and arrested him for felony vandalism and assault with a deadly weapon.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Morongo Basin Station at (760) 366-4175.