League City: Mayor assaulted

[Bob Landry]

That's a twist. Usually Austin's ex-mayor, Will Wynn was the one doing the asssaulting in a fit if rage. Nothing ever came of any of the incidents except a little news coverage, because our politicians all live under a different set of laws..I always wished it had been me that dirtbag put his hands on..

[Abraham]

As a general observation it seems that if you're gay and involved in a dispute, said dispute is quickly classified a "hate crime" (no matter the facts or particulars) and in this case, racism must be part of the equation because the race card has been issued by the accused. Racism doesn't have to be a fact, just the accusation is ALWAYS enough. Enter Quan-LX...

When, I wonder, when will disputes not fall into specialized categories?

When will we start demanding specialized dispute categories for those left out i.e., what happens when a surfer dude gets into a traffic dispute with a cowboy? What'll we call that? Who will we insist help us settle the dispute? Larry Mahan for the cowboy and Laird Hamilton for the surfer?

Where does this "theatre of the absurd" end?

Why can't the entry of those not directly involved in the dispute (attorneys excepted) be barred from sticking their publicity seeking noses in? QLX my foot. Laird Hamilton and Larry Mahan must stay out of these situations too.

[seamusTX]

http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewc ... c6ec8cff4e" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

At least it hasn't hit the national news -- yet.

Why can't the entry of those not directly involved in the dispute (attorneys excepted) be barred from sticking their publicity seeking noses in?

In our system of justice, crimes or accusations of crimes are considered public business. This system probably is more fair than private vendettas or the kind of so-called justice that is handed out in undemocratic countries.

- Jim

[Liberty]

I have two comments based on the assumption, which I am not at all certain of, that these reports are accurate:

• There is no excuse for tailgating, none, nada, zilch, zip. You will not get where you're going one second sooner because you are one or twenty feet behind the vehicle in front of you.
• There may be a reason to engage in a road-rage incident, but I can't think of one. I have managed to disengage every time.

- Jim

They both agree he followed her into the parking lot.
Even if she called called her names, even if she flipped him the bird. Him following her into the parking makes him the aggressor.

[seamusTX]

The kid's girlfriend's story is that he went into the parking lot to get away from Ms. Randall, and Ms. Randall followed him.

I don't buy it. The driver of a vehicle just has to hit the gas to get away from a scooter with maybe a 40 MPH top speed, and getting out makes no sense at all.

- Jim

[tacticool]

They both agree he followed her into the parking lot.
Even if she called called her names, even if she flipped him the bird. Him following her into the parking makes him the aggressor.

The first news article said the opposite. Did the police change their story?

Police said Randall did follow Benson into the parking lot where the two argued, and Benson shoved her and fled, clipping another truck in the parking lot on his way out.

Based on that I was sympathetic toward the kid until quarrel-ten jumped in.

[dicion]

“She slammed on her brakes and we had to swerve not to hit her. Then she started calling DJ the ‘n’ word and sticking up her finger at him,” McIntyre said.

As pointed out above, if you have to slam your brakes to avoid rear ending someone, it's your fault. Plain and simple. You were following too close.

Even IF the Mayor was cussing at this kid, using racial slurs, flipping the bird, that's all just verbal.
Him pushing her escalated it to the physical. I think all of us who have taken the CHL Class in the past few years have had to sit through the 'de-escalation' schpiel. Pretty much, IIRC, if you are the one that escalates a situation, you're the one at fault for it.

Sounds like both sides may have made some errors in judgement.

Definitely will be watching this to see how it plays out.

[seamusTX]

They both agree he followed her into the parking lot.

The first news article said the opposite. Did the police change their story?

Somebody did.

The print edition of the Thursday Galveston County Daily News said,

The man then forced Randall with his vehicle into the parking lot...

At this point, I don't think we have reliable information.

- Jim

[bryang]

Now that the race-card has been played no matter how this plays out, it will be wrong. The police have questioned several witness that saw what happen according to one report. I would be interested in what was said, evidently the police seem to believe the mayor. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

I really have a hard time with a scooter and a car engaged in road rage.

-geo

[KD5NRH]

The kid's girlfriend's story is that he went into the parking lot to get away from Ms. Randall, and Ms. Randall followed him.

How could she follow him when his story was that she was in front of him?

[seamusTX]

How could she follow him when his story was that she was in front of him?

Scooters are very nimble. It would be possible to make a sharp right turn or U-turn and follow someone who turned away while following you.

Not that I think that's what happened.

- Jim

[quidni]

He then tried to get back in the car and Randall poured a drink on him, Ford said.

OK - she was riding a scooter. Last I checked, motorbikes don't typically have a cup-holder.... and you want both hands for the handlebars, even on a scooter with an auto tranny. Especially in traffic.

Unless she was wearing a camelback, and squirted it at him?

Too many fish in this story.

[thorkyl]

Ok lets get the news article right

First Print - Mayor injured when attacked by motorist
Then the they realize she is pro gun

Right wing mayor attacks disadvantaged youth
Then they realize he was black

Crazy gun toting mayor attacks young disadvantaged African American


Now, where is quanel x at in this one?

--- > No, I am not a racist I hate everyone equally.

[seamusTX]

The Galveston County Daily News endorsed Toni Randall for mayor in April 2008, and the endorsement mentions her connection the shooting range.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story.las ... a79998ad2f" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[seamusTX]

Nearly six months later, the other shoe drops: The teenage driver was charged with misdemeanor assault and deadly conduct:

http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewc ... c977af768e" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim