Our partners at SeattleCrime are reporting that Michael McConnell, owner of the Caffe Vita and Via Tribulani chains and one of the kings of Pike/Pine has been charged with assault, DUI, and hit and run charges after he allegedly crashed into, and then attacked, another motorist near Seattle University last week:

According to a police report, a man told police he was sitting in his car waiting for the light at James St and Broadway at about 6:00pm on March 31st when black Mercedes, apparently occupied by McConnell, crashed into him from behind. Both drivers pulled off of the road but, the report says, but McConnell refused to give the victim his information. The report notes the victim smelled alcohol on McConnell’s breath. McConnell’s attorney—who was driving another vehicle behind McConnell—tried to intervene, the police report says, and told the victim “they would give him $1,500 to pay for the vehicle damages and not call police.”

And that’s when it started getting even more interesting, reports SeattleCrime. Crime reports that McConnell has entered a not guilty plea on all charges, according to court documents. Hop over to SeattleCrime for the full report.

McConnell’s pizza and coffee empire recently expanded to Pioneer Square where the businesses are managed by his son, Chris. The elder McConnell is also behind the new pizza restaurant taking shape next to E. Pike’s Caffe Vita location. Expanding its caffeine-laden offerings, Vita was recently approved for a license to serve beer and wine.