Police: Dallas Doctor Fumes, Tries to Run Over Smoker

Mar 29, 2011 – 2:43 PM .

DALLAS -- Medical professionals have explored many ways to get people to stop smoking, but running over them with a car has never been an industry-sanctioned approach.

But according to police, that apparently didn't stop a prominent Dallas doctor from trying.

Police say Dr. Jeffrey Reed Thompson, a Dallas physician who has received recognition for being one of the city's "best doctors" from D magazine, tried to run over a man who was smoking by his car.

Thompson, 54, faces a felony charge of aggravated assault with a vehicle following a confrontation with Donald Zuelly, 48, of Rowlett, according to the Dallas Morning News. Thompson was booked into the Dallas County Jail on Friday and released on Saturday morning after posting $5,000 bond. Thompson could not be reached for comment on Tuesday afternoon.

The confrontation began Friday morning when Thompson saw Zuelly smoking by the doctor's 1994 Mercedes coupe, which was parked in Thompson's office parking garage.

Thompson approached Zuelly and said, "You can't smoke here, " according to police. Then he reportedly snatched the cigarette from Zuelly's mouth, threw it on the ground and stepped on it.

Zuelly reportedly told Thompson, "Are you (expletive) crazy? If you put another finger on me I will put you on the ground."

During the confrontation, Zuelly threw down a can of Coke, and some of the liquid splattered on Thompson's pants.

Zuelly told police that as he walked away, he heard the squeal of tires and turned to see Thompson speeding toward him. Zuelly said he ran to seek cover behind a concrete post, scraping his right elbow along the way. Thompson reportedly then put the car in reverse, pulled up next to Zuelly and motioned for him to come out and step in front of the car. Zuelly left and called 911.

One witness told police that she saw Thompson grab the cigarette from Zuelly's mouth. Other witnesses said they saw him speeding and driving erratically in the parking garage.