Police Recommend Charge Against Girl at Trump Rally

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Investigators are recommending that a 15-year-old girl who was pepper sprayed at a Donald Trump rally be charged with disorderly conduct for punching a man in an altercation captured on video.

Police in Janesville are investigating the altercation outside the rally on Tuesday.

The girl told police the man groped her breast. But police said Thursday that they don't have evidence to support that allegation.

Another man wearing a red Trump hat pepper sprayed the girl moments after the punch.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/cops-find-man-accused-pepper-spraying-girl-trump-38050202

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By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JANESVILLE, Wis. — Mar 31, 2016, 5:03 PM ET

[intrepidity]

1. "Moments" after?

If it is the video I'm thinking of, it was almost instantaneous, as though he was brandishing the pepper spray and she was taking the swing at the spray.

Is there a video showing the "punch" and where it landed? The one I saw had that part off camera.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. Pepper-spray-guy pushed his way through the crowd to get near her

and like you said, the speed indicated he had the pepper spray in his hand, waiting for the moment to assault her.

As soon as he sprayed her, he turned and moved away through the crowd.

In the video I saw, pepper-spray-guy's assault was clear. The grope of the woman was not in the video. It showed her throwing a punch, but it was somewhat deflected and I didn't see it land on anyone.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. The two videos I've seen showed her throwing the first punch.

Last edited Fri Apr 1, 2016, 01:56 PM - Edit history (1)

You have to expect a reaction.

[Chakab]

3. You generally expect a reaction from the person who's being assaulted to defend themselves.

I don't have a problem with the charge being filed against her, but the guy with the pepper sprayed should also be charged. He has no conceivable argument for self-defense.

And that smug, self-satisfied look on his face afterwards showed that he obviously didn't feel that he was in danger at that moment.

[spooky3]

5. but why would someone throw a punch at a random stranger? I hope the police are investigating

what led to it, since they believe her story was false, and most women do not initiate punching men they don't know, at a big public venue. Did he say something she found offensive? Was there evidence she was on drugs or otherwise impaired? Was she an activist who wanted to engage in civil disobedience to call attention to something? (I would think very few women would do it by punching someone who could do real damage to them, or who had friends there who could.)

She would still be responsible for the first punch but at least we would understand why she did it.

If not, what triggered the punch?

And, as others here said, it was a second man who sprayed her and that should be an assault charge too. How hard are the police working to find that guy? Most people do not have pepper spray handy (and can draw it within seconds) just in case a woman in a crowd might decide to throw an unexpected punch at someone else. According to the report, he is at large. Why wouldn't he come forward then or now to take credit for protecting the other guy? So what is up with that?

As Judge Judy says, "if it doesn't make sense, it usually isn't true." So what's the full story?

[pediatricmedic]

10. Doesn't matter what vile trash someone is speaking, you have no right to assault them

And from the videos, it shows her friend touching her repeatedly. Maybe she thought it was the other guy.

As you said, pepper spray guy is also in the wrong as well.

[spooky3]

23. "She would still be responsible for the first punch but at least we would understand why

she did it." You probably overlooked that in my post.

The main point I was making is that the police account does not make sense, at least as reported, so I don't think we know exactly what happened.

[crim son]

14. I've been groped in the subway numerous times and

when possible, have grabbed the offending hand and tried to twist it off the offender's wrist. Nobody witnesses it and even I don't know who's doing the groping. It is disgusting to think that, if the girl's story is true, she will be charged for defending herself. Disgusting.

[Xithras]

22. She wasn't defending herself. That's the problem.

There's a difference between using physical force to stop an assault in progress, and physically attacking someone because they've done something in the past that was violent/disgusting/illegal. One is "self defense", and the other is vigilatiism and assault. The video of the incident clearly shows that any assault that occurred against her was over long before she took a swing at him. Because there was no ongoing attack, because the video shows her approaching HIM and because she failed to use the myriad of opportunities she had to flee the scene and get help from the many nearby law enforcement officers, any novice prosecutor will shred any self defense claim she makes to pieces.

You can use physical force to stop a crime in progress. That's it.

[awoke_in_2003]

12. Because 15 year old girls...

go around punching adult men for the heck of it.

[blackspade]

4. Oh those poor, poor oppressed Trump supporters....

So she gets sexually assaulted and she gets charged....typical.

[chapdrum]

6. Germany in the early 30's-

comin' round again, in the U.S.

[Dont call me Shirley]

7. Abuse of women continues...

[elmac]

17. That is something republicans and ISIS have in common

Abuse of women is part of their ideology, culture.

[Dont call me Shirley]

20. Pretty much the entire world patriarchy.

[SusanLarson]

8. Don't just charge her

The man should be charged as well for sexual assault.

[FreedomRain]

11. pepper spray guy

obviously prepped and was hoping for an opportunity like this. I hope they catch him.

Groper guy, I believe did it, but if they have no evidence it is a waste to try charging him.

the girl, well, I just don't know enough about it. Self defence is probably enough to give reasonable doubt in her favor though.

[alp227]

13. Janesville Gazette with more details - no evidence of sexual assault/groping

Girl faces juvenile charge in Trump rally pepper-spray incident

[AngryAmish]

15. It is nearly impossible to believe that a woman would lie about being sexually assaulted.

[former9thward]

16. We were told Paula Jones, Juanita Broaddrick, and Kathleen Willey

all lied about being sexually assaulted by Bill Clinton. Were they telling the truth?

[LanternWaste]

19. Were they fifteen?

Were they fifteen?

(both questions being as irrelevant as the other...)

[former9thward]

21. No, they were responsible adults.

Are you telling me that teenage girls don't lie but adult women do lie about sexual assault? Interesting position but not surprising.

[840high]

27. +1

[mahatmakanejeeves]

18. I beg to differ.

The Duke lacrosse incident

Breaking: Rolling Stone Issues Apology for UVA Rape Story

[Democat]

24. Then why even have trials?

Just hang anyone accused of a crime.

[Socal31]

25. There are many things to be said about this incident.

What you just said isn't even close to being one of them.

[840high]

26. Thanks.