Don't defend yourself

Posted by: MattJ

Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 08:56 AM

Pathetic and infuriating. This society is going to hell in a handbasket. Cops can't defend themselves? What the hell is wrong with people? :

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=5478651

" A Chicago Police officer has been sentenced to five years in prison. He says he was defending himself against a drunken attacker while off-duty in Iowa. A judge in Dubuque, Iowa, says the police officer should have simply run away.

Patrolman Mike Mette was convicted of felony assault. He has been removed from the Chicago Police Department and faces a stiff prison term in Iowa.
"I feel it's a complete miscarriage of justice," said Officer Michael Mette.

The case raises questions about fairness and just who was the victim.

This is not just a question of whether the punishment fits the crime. Chicago Police Officer Mike Mette says there was no crime. Nevertheless, a judge in Iowa this week sentenced Mette to five years behind bars for slugging a Dubuque college student, even though the judge admits Mette was being attacked at the time. No one is disputing the facts of the case of what happened that night, only the outcome is being questioned. "My younger brother Marc was living in Dubuque, he went out there for his 25th birthday," said Michael Mette.

The party weekend took place October, 2005, near the University of Dubuque campus. Eleventh District Chicago Patrolman Mike Mette, his brother Marc and several friends went to a late night beer party in a nearby home thrown by a pair of university students, one of them 20-year-old Jake Gothard. According to authorities, Gothard was extremely drunk at the time.

"Yelling, makin' derogatory comments about us being six guys with no women with us," said Michael Mette. Michael Mette says when he and his brother and their four friends tried to leave, Gothard became angry.

"He was just mad that we didn't want to stay and drink with him anymore," Michael Mette said. Gothard and his roommate began chasing Mette and the five other men, claiming they had stolen his cell phone, until they all ended up on the front lawn of Marc Mette's house.

"Mr. Gothard approached me and told me he was going to beat the crap out of me, and he actually hit me with his two fists like this in the chest. Hit me three times. I pushed him away from me. Told him to leave. He comes back at me a fourth time and that's when, you know, when I hit him. I hit him in the left side of the face," said Michael Mette.
Moments later, when city police arrived on the scene, Gothard was still on the ground, having been cold cocked by Officer Mette's right hook. When Mette and the others described what happened, Dubuque Police arrested Mette, charging him with felony assault causing serious injury.

"Just because I am a police officer doesn't mean I'm supposed to take a beating," Michael Mette said. "His conduct wasn't warranted," said Timothy Gallagher, assistant Dubuque County attorney. The prosecutor who brought charges against Mette says it wasn't self-defense.

"Mr. Gothard received, as I recall, numerous cuts, abrasion bruises, head/brain bleeds," said Gallagher. When the case went to a bench trial in December, Dubuque County Judge Monica Ackley found that Chicago Police Officer Mike Mette "was not the initial aggressor of this incident," Jake Gothard was. Nevertheless, Judge Ackley ruled that Mette was guilty, because even after Gothard struck him three times, Mette should have just ignored it and retreated. (italics mine)

"If I'm being attacked on my own property I should have the right to defend myself within reason," said Mette.

On Monday, Mette was sentenced to five years in prison.

"The court has no discretion in that matter. It's mandatory incarceration," said Gallagher.

Jake Gothard wasn't charged, although he has since been arrested for driving under the influence. He returned to compete in college golf tournaments and, apparently, to the party circuit, having displayed dozens of drinking photos on his Facebook page.

Jake Gothard, the official victim in the case, agreed to an interview Friday but then backed out on advice of his lawyer because he says they plan a civil suit against Officer Mette.

Former Officer Mette, who has been placed on unpaid status, is off the job as he appeals the conviction and sentence in Iowa."
Posted by: Taison

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 09:00 AM

I'm starting to lose faith in society, especially after reading all that.

-Taison out
Posted by: Downsin

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 09:15 AM

i agree with the judge, you shouldnt atack kids like that.

but prison is a little exetreme.

basicly, if a college student ever starts on you push him to the floor, use a graple hold or run away.
save the Ko's for multiple poeple, and men that are not drunk. ^^
Posted by: Circle_of_Owls

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 09:16 AM

That makes me sick. The right to self-defence is the first law of nature. I hope his appeal finds a more (or even slightly) rational judge.

-Owl
Posted by: shadowkahn

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 09:22 AM

Quote:

I'm starting to lose faith in society, especially after reading all that.

-Taison out



Don't lose faith in society. Just lose faith in Iowa. I lived there for 2.5 years. Their justice system is a mockery. I got a ticket for 57 in a 55, took it to court, proved the cop hadn't learned how to use the radar, hadn't tested its calibration, and that the radar and speedo in the cop car hadn't been calibrated as required by state law, and they still found me guilty. Then I found out there's no automatic right of appeal for traffic citations.

If they're going to be that asinine about a traffic ticket, they'll have REAL fun with actual criminal cases.
Posted by: Neko456

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 09:31 AM

If he appeals that verdict with witness thats just one Judges opinon, it is sad that they can't put their petty personal opinon aside and just do their job. This type of I was a college student once or I have a cousin going to that college, it could heve been him, thinking that makes Judges find for the aggressor, which is stupid.

The verdict mentioned that he should have ran, it seems that they did, once the a threat follows you to your domains you are not required to run into your home where others could be harmed or alarmed. This was gross injustice and I think the city of Iowa is going to have reinenstate that officer with back pay and civil libilities from the state. Unfortunatly u can't sue the Judge personally. Maybe thats what should start happening that the libility should come out of the Judges Insurance as it does Doctors. They'd think twice or longer before making such stupid bad decisions.

Downsin - Where do you get your logic? Do you know the biggest threat to you is a male subject between the age of 16-25 years old. Let them kill you because they are in college???

Theres a lot of good kids in College, but there are a lot wrap kids also, remembering the recent MidEast shooting on college campus in the USA. Bc they other kids drove BMWs or wore Rolexs, damn get a Job!
Posted by: Downsin

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 10:06 AM

just saying if u dont wanna goto jail.

tho i have not seen any body ever goto prison or even get arested for fighting where i live, police will break it up then let you get on your way (excluding not prevoked beatin witch i have never ever seen)
police arest violence to women and children.

and ofcourse if you even swear at them, let alone be violent to them they will arest u on the spot
Posted by: MattJ

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 10:15 AM

Quote:

i agree with the judge, you shouldnt atack kids like that.

but prison is a little exetreme.

basicly, if a college student ever starts on you push him to the floor, use a graple hold or run away.
save the Ko's for multiple poeple, and men that are not drunk. ^^



25 years old is hardly a kid. You would let someone hit you - several times - before responding?
Posted by: BrianS

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 10:20 AM

Quote:

basicly, if a college student ever starts on you push him to the floor, use a graple hold or run away.




I have realy got to implement this "push them to the floor" technique into our curriculum. Being how everyone that is a bully is weak,imbalanced, and has only one leg and all.

yee haw...
Posted by: jpoor

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 10:23 AM

I think we likely don't have all the facts.

If the officer's story is 100 percent true, then I think he got a bum deal. However, it also goes to show what putting yourself in the wrong place will do for you.

Why was he at a party with underage drinking going on? Bad Juju if you ask me.

Still, that doesn't mean that he shouldn't have been able to defend himself; ESPECIALLY after being chased (down the street?) to another location.

One thing that doesn't jive well though is the refernce to ...Several cuts bleeds/brain bleeds... I don't think you get that from one KO punch. It could be sensationalism of the side of the judge.

In general, I think he got a bum deal, but I'll reserve final judgement pending the rest of the facts (which we may never have).
Posted by: hedkikr

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 11:43 AM

One other point I got out of this (beyond the obvious miscarriage of justice)...

The college guy wasn't arrested despite having attacked the cop. He was let go only to be picked-up another day for a DUI. That tells me that @ any time, he could have killed someone else on the road & it was only luck that he didn't. If they had arrested the college guy, he wouldn't have been a potential killer behind the wheel.

Iowa cops' bad judgment. I bet if any one of them had been in the Mette's situation, they would have done the same thing.
Posted by: Viator

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 12:41 PM

Quote:

"Mr. Gothard received, as I recall, numerous cuts, abrasion bruises, head/brain bleeds,"



So is his head bleeding, or his brain? A surface wound to the scalp is nothing, even if it bleeds like crazy. I'm thinking he probably got the abrasions when he fell down in a soggy lump after the officer knocked him over.

This kind of crap over a fist scrap is what gets people shot. When cops are denied the ability to use low level physical force they lose the ability to restrain suspects effectively. Big city departments with enormous internal affairs boards and bleeding heart lobbying groups suck. Where I live, you give a cop that kind of crap, you get pimp slapped.
Posted by: Neko456

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 12:45 PM

One thing that doesn't jive well though is the refernce to ...Several cuts bleeds/brain bleeds... I don't think you get that from one KO punch. It could be sensationalism of the side of the judge.

As in most strikes that deck a guy, more damage is done when he hits the ground then generally from the punch. I think that Officer Mette is a victim here. He a victim of this attack (theres no way that he provoked this he ran from the guy) and his training he is not taught to back down.

He was at the party with his kid brother as a champerion or personal bodyguard, whatever this USA, he is free to escort and protect his family members and their property. He took all the proper evasive actions to tharwt teh attack, once he reach his domains or familes it time to defend.

In uniform on duty he would have arrested that kid, you are taught that you are a cop 24-7. He assaulted a person that happened to be a Cop, the college prep, order sh%$%, and he eat it.

The Judge's decision was Dead wrong. In the appeal, I bet the Cop gets reinstated with back pay.
Posted by: Taison

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 01:20 PM

How about you get educated and stop typing like an eight year old WoW addict?

So far what you've said is pretty much pointless.

25 year old kid? That's hardly a kid.

Pushing people to the ground? NEWSFLASH: IT DOESN'T WORK, OR WE'D ALL INCORPORATE IT INTO OUR CURRICULUM.

Quote:

police will break it up then let you get on your way

Where do you live? Outland? Azeroth? Because your spelling looks like it.

-Taison out
Posted by: jpoor

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 03:09 PM

Quote:

One thing that doesn't jive well though is the refernce to ...Several cuts bleeds/brain bleeds... I don't think you get that from one KO punch. It could be sensationalism of the side of the judge.

As in most strikes that deck a guy, more damage is done when he hits the ground then generally from the punch. I think that Officer Mette is a victim here. He a victim of this attack (theres no way that he provoked this he ran from the guy) and his training he is not taught to back down.

He was at the party with his kid brother as a champerion or personal bodyguard, whatever this USA, he is free to escort and protect his family members and their property. He took all the proper evasive actions to tharwt teh attack, once he reach his domains or familes it time to defend.

In uniform on duty he would have arrested that kid, you are taught that you are a cop 24-7. He assaulted a person that happened to be a Cop, the college prep, order sh%$%, and he eat it.

The Judge's decision was Dead wrong. In the appeal, I bet the Cop gets reinstated with back pay.




I agree that he got the bad end of the deal. I hope he'll be reinstated with back pay as well. However, the cop 24x7 analogy applies both ways. If you think about it, he _should_ have arrested the underage drinkers and those that were providing the drink as well. He's a cop 24x7 after all.

Still, I'm betting we don't know the whole story.

Edit: Oh, and if someone really wanted to be an a$$ about it (hope not) I'm sure there are ethics standards that he has to conform to even off duty. Those would likely include prohibitions on being involved in a party where there was underage drinking involved. Bad judgment for sure.
Posted by: Taison

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 03:12 PM

I've never understood this cop thing.

If I was a policeman, I'd arrest any offenders be it on duty or off. I am after all a policeman. If I'm chasing this criminal, and suddenly it's the end of my shift, do I stop pursuing him and just return back to HQ and clock myself out?

Police should have the ability to arrest offenders 24/7.

-Taison out
Posted by: jpoor

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 03:17 PM

In the US they do have the authority to arrest even off duty. But then again so do average citizens.
Posted by: GriffyGriff

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 04:37 PM

I advocate the Blitzkrieg method.. Drop the Basdard, take his wallet (so you know where he lives) and go.
Posted by: Neko456

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 05:04 PM

Being a Cop 24/7 is something you have to work out. You can't make a arrest for ever viloation that happens around you on duty or off. But espeically off duty not only are you at risk, you boarden the gap of trust around you. If you are such a do gooder that everbody fears your wrath, who do you think will want to be around you. And how can they ever trust you, to tell you a real crime happened. And yes Crimes against persons, and felonies rate higher then throwing beer cans out a motor vehicle or pissing in the street. All are violation but you have to be tacticful and human also. And not bring fire on yourself, police officers are killed more ofetn then not off duty working Security at Apartment complex domestics, Lone Construction sites, Banks and Liquor stores. Usually without their most valuable equipment the radio to call for backup. Imagine how paranoid they be busting everybody for everything. Man they barely can trust anybody unlesss in the same uniform now.

Ethics are just that, few of us can hardly standup to them 24/7hrs in a day.

Bottom line any adult should be able to escort a family member to a party and home, wheather drinking is invovled or not. He did nothing wrong except not meet the ethical standards of some Judge that probably never been attacked on the street.
Posted by: jpoor

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 05:15 PM

I agree you have to choose your battles. But you also have to choose the situations you put yourself in. It's amazing how many time people on here have told others that the best way to avoid conflict is to avoid places where conflict is likely. The same thing applies here.
The only difference is that we feel that this guy got the shaft. So in defending him, there is a tendency to condone all his actions and judgments when, in other instances those same actions would have elicited a "he should have known better" response. (not really speaking of anyone specific here, just generalities)

Quote:

Bottom line any adult should be able to escort a family member to a party and home, wheather drinking is invovled or not. He did nothing wrong except not meet the ethical standards of some Judge that probably never been attacked on the street.



Not just drinking, but underage (read illegal) drinking.
Again, choose your battles is good advice, but there is a difference between passing by the litterbug (or pick your minor infraction) and actually attending an event where (a) there is underage drinking and (b) there is a higher likelihood of trouble.

Again, just to be clear. Given the story (facts?) provided, I think the guy got a bad deal. I also think he showed poor judgment by being there.
Posted by: jpoor

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 05:37 PM

I had a suspicion that there might be more to this story.
Here's yet another twist:
Quote:


"Mette has no clout in Dubuque. But Dubuque is a small town, and the intoxicated man's daddy is a boss in a giant Iowa trucking company."

That little punk Jake Gothard's father is a local bigwig.



I have no idea about the credibility of the statement though. It's from here:
http://www.hannity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=262415&page=4

Here's even more:
http://www.lineofduty.com/content/view/88735/1/

There is some indication that there _might_ have been more than one blow. I guess we'll probably never know the whole truth.
Posted by: Downsin

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 06:23 PM

Quote:


I have realy got to implement this "push them to the floor" technique into our curriculum. Being how everyone that is a bully is weak,imbalanced, and has only one leg and all.

yee haw...



any body can push a drunkard to the floor.

and yes you should implement it, after you learn the corect way. heres how u do it, look at their legs, quickly put ur leg behind their leg (witch ever if in front) and push fast.
they will almot always fall to the floor, if they dont they will probly be un balence in witch you can push them again.
this will work on most poeple.

if they are in some kind of MA stance a difrent aproche may be required, come to the isle of wight (england) to learn more on pwnting with pushes. (weight helps, but is not required)

terms and conditions apply
Posted by: Downsin

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 07:18 PM

Quote:


Pushing people to the ground? NEWSFLASH: IT DOESN'T WORK, OR WE'D ALL INCORPORATE IT INTO OUR CURRICULUM.

Where do you live? Outland? Azeroth? Because your spelling looks like it.



dewd i did practise it allot in both karate and judo.
i wud ov thought u all learn take downs.
and i dont speak tht much like a pro gamer, just add in a few pwnting and roflmaos ??
Posted by: oldman

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 07:39 PM

Quote:

Edited by Downsin (07/17/07 07:19 PM)



Posted by: clmibb

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 07:56 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Edited by Downsin (07/17/07 07:19 PM)






I'm with ya oldman!

Casey
Posted by: Downsin

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 07:58 PM

it had some spelling mistake
Posted by: oldman

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 08:00 PM

Yes it do.
Posted by: clmibb

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 08:02 PM

SOME?!?! I'd hate to see what MANY would be.

Casey
Posted by: Downsin

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 08:16 PM

those wernt mistakes.
Posted by: clmibb

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 08:17 PM

OK first they were mistakes and now they aren't? Which is it?

Casey
Posted by: Bushi_no_ki

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 08:32 PM

Judge Ackley needs to be removed from the bench.

The prosecutor needs to be disbarred.

Officer Mette needs to be fully compensated for the last two years, reinstated, and paid civil penalties by the bigwig father for this gross miscarriage of justice.

Gothard needs to be charged with Drunk in Public, being a Public Nuisance, and Aggravated Assault in this case.
Posted by: Taison

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 11:45 PM

Quote:

and i dont speak tht much like a pro gamer

I didn't imply you speak like a pro gamer. I was implying you speak like a wowcrack addict. Basically, like those who play 24/7 and have dumbed down English to the point it's unbearable.

Quote:

isle of wight (england) to learn more on pwnting with pushes.

FFS you're English and speak like a moron? It's people like you that makes me worry about the future of the language. From reading your sentences, I know you can speak understandable English yet you don't put in the effort. You add all that "leet" speech just to annoy people. I don't know if you read the "README", which I doubt you did, leet speech isn't encouraged here.

Quote:

i wud ov thought u all learn take downs.

Edited for spelling mistakes? What do you call the above?

Quote:

dewd i did practise it allot in both karate and judo

So, now you claim you know both? Didn't you say you got your own style? Which is it going to be?

Quote:

heres how u do it, look at their legs, quickly put ur leg behind their leg (witch ever if in front) and push fast.

Osoto-gari. You know, that from reading that, I can say you know just about nothing about the detail of the throw. To you, it's just putting your leg behind theirs and push. Yeah right. Since I'm quite anal-retentive when it comes to Judo let me explain the finer points of the throw since you clearly don't know what you're talking about.

To perform the Osoto-gari(cold throw, from orthodox) you step in, so that your chest touches his, your right hand holds with his left shoulder or neck. Your left hand holds his right elbow, so he can't move that arm freely. You chamber your right leg up and with a kicking motion, almost like a back kick, you sweep his right leg up while at the same time push down with your right arm thus propelling your uke's head into the ground if you want to be mean. If there's space between your chest and his, it's easy like (censor) to be countered like being caught in uchi-mata or reverse o-goshi.

See any difference between mine and yours explanation? I see. 1) The level of detail is different, which can't be learned from a book, only through hard training over the course of years. 2) Nothing is easy like you say it is.

Quote:

any body can push a drunkard to the floor.

I can say that you wouldn't be able to push me. Not everyone becomes a docile person when drunk. And what level of intoxication are you implying? 2 bottles of beer? 5 litres of beer?

Quote:

if they are in some kind of MA stance a difrent aproche may be required

What approach do you recommend?

-Taison out
Posted by: Taison

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/17/07 11:48 PM

Forgot to add something;

Your signature Downsin;

I got the aura.

Which would that be? Devotion? Retribution? Sanctity? or Crusader?

-Taison out
Posted by: jpoor

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/18/07 07:50 AM

Wow, I was hoping to wake up to some more rational discussion on the case, but it has turned into a bashing match

I agree, the guy's writing style is annoying as all get out, but. . .

Then again, if you look at his screen name, there might be a clue there, though I'm not sure.
Posted by: Downsin

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/18/07 09:39 AM

rofl. lmao"

but yah i claimed i tried martial arts too, i have done a few years of kick boxing, karate and judo.

i dont do any at the moment

(tho next week im gonna start teakwando becuase its supose to be handy to know a martial arts if i wanna do a body guard job or something along those lines)

i practise my own style witch has structure.
and just becuase what i said is simple, it is also fast and effective.



EDIT: my title is randomness i just thought i should have a title.

those wernt mistakes becuase i spellt it like that on perpose, the mistakes were missing out some letters making it not understanable.
Posted by: jpoor

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/18/07 09:44 AM

How about some video of your "own style." Who knows, it might be something new and interesting. Lacking video, how about a detailed explanation?

I don't think TKD will hold much water in the "body guard" career field, but I could be wrong.
Posted by: Neko456

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/18/07 10:31 AM

Quote:

Quote:




yee haw...



any body can push a drunkard to the floor.





How many drunks have you handled? Yeah they may fall but they get back up or pull you down with them, they are almost imprevious to pain sometimes and can hurt you seriously. Sudden shock seems to work, chokes and imbalancing, trips, quick leverage arm bars and over the shoulder hammer locks, that take them down. But throws sometimes they hold on and you both go down. You land on top like you want and they throwup all over you.

Pushing them down and don't slide back now they grab your leg, now you are grappling with a drunk that could t-up on ya, and with bad breath.

Thats a possiblity, but handling a drunk is not a cake walk.

Jpor - Thats one of the reason I gave up being a Cop, its only justice for Just Us, that are rich. Someimes not always, but one of the few areas were capitalism sucks.
Posted by: Taison

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/18/07 12:39 PM

You title should be "MASSIVE FAILURE".

-Taison out
Posted by: crablord

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/20/07 08:48 AM




This duck is very angry with this thread at the moment.
Posted by: MTcpd

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/21/07 03:59 PM

Michael A. Mette - Assault Causing Serious Injury in Iowa

This case is too complex to cover entirely but here are some significant facts taken directly from the police report and trial transcripts:
1. Michael Mette said he started drinking about noon on Saturday, took a nap, then drank until the bars closed in East Dubuque at 3 am Sunday. Officers said he refused to be tested? What was his BAC?
2. Testimony stated the cell phone was stolen from Jake Gothard because he was calling 911 for help removing 6 people from his house. Interference with an Emergency Act? Further, there were only 2 people in the house when the 6 people arrived. There was no party?
3. The police report stated that Michael Mette said Jake Gothard was "arguing with Marc Mette" when Michael Mette struck Jake Gothard on the left side of the face. Jake was knocked on his back. Did he even see the punch thrown? Additional blows or kicks did much more damage. This would not be self-defense in any state.
4. Witness testimony described seeing Michael Mette and a second possible assailant kicking Jake Gothard while he lay on the ground.
5. Pictures, Testimony and Medical records documented some of Jake Gothard’s more serious injuries:
a. Multiple hematomas (5 bleeding sites) on Left, Right and Back of head. Bleeding lasted several months.
b. Broken nose required reconstructive surgery (bone and cartilage).
c. Broken cheek bones.
d. Many separate and distinct bruises on the left and right side of his torso including under his arms, in his armpits, etc... These bruises were described by Michael Mette’s expert medical witness as “classic defensive” injuries. The expert witness changed his story when the County Attorney pointed out he had described the bruises in the pictures submitted in evidence. He then claimed all injuries were created by falling on the sidewalk. County attorney pointed out this would be inpossible based on the number and location of the injuries such as in the armpits, side of rib cage, etc…
e. One very graphic picture showed a broken jaw with a scratch that was 3 inches wide and 6 inches long on Jake Gothard’s cheek. It started in the middle of the cheek and scraped downward towards his neck. This could not be caused by a hand.
6. Michael Mette’s hand was cut plus his shirt had blood on both front and back. Hmmm, was Jake Gothard already bleeding before Michael Mette hit him? Very odd.
7. Defense counsel did not deny any of these injuries but argued that all injuries were caused by one punch. Seems unbelievable. This may become known as the “Punch” heard across the nation.
8. Jake Gothard was air lifted to University of Iowa Hospitals where he remained in a coma for 4 days and was released after 6 days. Transcript says he is continuing medical treatment today with more surgeries planned.
9. When Jake Gothard was released from the hospital, he was not allowed to bend over or lift more than 5 pounds for 30 days due to continued bleeding of his brain.

Chicago area media, residents and CPD must demand further investigation into this incident. All these facts were readily available in public records but not reported.

The audience deserves to hear both sides of this story so they can draw their own conclusions.

MT

Ref: Police report (Michael A. Mette) dated Oct 9, 2005
Trial transcripts dated August 14-16, 2006
Posted by: jpoor

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/21/07 04:40 PM

Very interesting. I hate to say "I told you so," but I did. More to it than meets the eye, and now why isn't there a stream of folks coming in to condemn the guy, when there was such a throng willing to blindly defend?

Now, since the whole case still hasn't been presented, we still don't know all the facts. It sure does seem that the officer's story has some holes in it.

If you look at the video that is linked to the original story in the OP, watch the demeanor change when he makes the statement along the lines of "and that's when I hit him." Notice all the stumbling and bumbling compared to the rest of his "baseline" speech pattern. Were I doing an interview/interrogation, at that point I would have explored the reasons for the changes.
I took it all as indicators of increased stress which can be an indicator of deception. Not always deception mind you, sometimes it's just other sources of stress. Still, makes me go HMMMMM every time I watch it.

Now, on to the judges statement. Provided that the above "facts" are all true, the verdict and sentence were just. The judge's statement (possibly incomplete?) that the officer should have just run away wasn't very effective. Something more along the lines of "even if it started as self defense, he should have known when to stop, but he took it too far" would have been better.
Posted by: MattJ

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/21/07 06:58 PM

I appreciate getting both sides of the story. This does cast the intial newspaper story in a decidedly different light. However, the judges statement here:

Quote:

Nevertheless, Judge Ackley ruled that Mette was guilty, because even after Gothard struck him three times, Mette should have just ignored it and retreated.



Was what really caught my eye. I am not disputing that excessive force seems to have been involved re: the police report provided. It does seem like the incident began before the inital assault to Mette, although whether the judge seems to consider any of it is unclear to me. I do wonder how the judge came to that conclusion.

But to retreat after being physically attacked? Idiotic - regardless of the facts of this particular case.
Posted by: jpoor

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/21/07 07:24 PM

Yeah, that's what I meant by her statement wasn't the best.
Posted by: budobrubbie

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/22/07 05:17 PM

Quote:

EDIT: my title is randomness i just thought i should have a title.



Would your title be an abbreviation for "Down Syndrome"?
Posted by: jpoor

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/22/07 05:22 PM

Quote:

I agree, the guy's writing style is annoying as all get out, but. . .

Then again, if you look at his screen name, there might be a clue there, though I'm not sure.




That's what I implied here.
Posted by: Downsin

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/22/07 07:46 PM

Quote:

Quote:

EDIT: my title is randomness i just thought i should have a title.



Would your title be an abbreviation for "Down Syndrome"?



what i meant by that is sig.

but yes my name was originally that, i made it that quite along time ago tho and i use it for evrything so its just a name.
Posted by: KickSlipTrickYa

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/24/07 01:24 PM

Incorrect ruling. I don't even need to say why.
Only contadicting argument is mette is a man of the law and should avoid the conflict (pride and clouded judgement got the best of him). Its not easy to run from a drunk dude who can easily be layed the wutchmacallit out.
Posted by: jpoor

Re: Don't defend yourself - 07/24/07 04:20 PM

Actually, there is a lot more to it than that. Did you read any of the information late in the thread?
Posted by: anonImous_user

Re: Don't defend yourself - 09/01/07 12:53 AM

I went to high school with jake gothard.