Activist says candidate injured her
A Republican activist and fundraiser is alleging secretary of state candidate Rob Lauer injured her during an altercation at a Las Vegas bar, prompting her to report the incident to police.
Jennifer Von Tobel, 46, said the incident happened Friday night at Stoney's Rockin' Country bar, 9151 Las Vegas Blvd. South, during an event for Southern Nevada conservatives.
Von Tobel said she was having a conversation with Lauer, 40, that turned from friendly to violent and ended with him twisting her wrist behind her back three times, causing injuries to her wrist and shoulder. "I was yelling loud, like 'ow, ow, ow, stop it.' He just did not stop it," Von Tobel said.
She filed a report with the Metropolitan Police Department on Friday night after the incident.
Lauer denies wrongdoing and on Monday filed a report of his own with police, alleging he is the victim.
"They are both basically alleging battery," police spokeswoman Barbara Morgan said.
The police reports were not released.
Von Tobel, who has multiple sclerosis, a disease of the central nervous system, said she knew Lauer casually and had offered to help him raise campaign funds .
She said the severity of her cries made it apparent the altercation was no laughing matter. "I have no idea what he was thinking," she said. "You don't fool around like that. I never laid a hand on him except to push him away."
Lauer said Von Tobel grabbed his buttock and put her arm around his neck, prompting him to react with a maneuver he learned in military training.
He said Von Tobel was "drunk and acting like a fool."
It's not the first time Lauer has had legal problems. He was arrested in July 2007 following the sale of an aircraft to a man in Florida. The Florida man alleged Lauer represented the plane as being in good working order when it was "total junk."
Criminal charges in that case were dropped. Lauer also said he has settled other legal disputes that have dogged him in recent years.
"I've won every single thing I've had to deal with in the last three months," he said.
Lauer is the only Republican candidate for secretary of state. He is challenging Democratic incumbent Ross Miller.
Review-Journal reporter Lawrence Mower contributed to this report. Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@ reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.
