The headline: "Man Pleads Guilty to Biting Officer After Twins Tussle With Police." This is almost a Keystone Kops story, except people could have been seriously injured.
The Kerrville Daily Times reported on Dec. 3 about two brothers from Ector County, Sean and Shane Muirhead, who, after accosting a woman at the local IHOP, fought with police and tried to bite one of them. The brothers accused the woman of following them and tapping their phones for the FBI. Obviously they were high on some drug. They followed her to her car, screaming at her, then beating on the car trying to get in.
The cops were not in control of the situation, since the first one on scene, Zachary Martin, put them in the back of his patrol car unhandcuffed. When they started trashing the car, the cops tried to pull them out and cuff them. The cops pepper sprayed them (and one of themselves), and the cops ended up rolling around on the ground with one of them, who was trying to bite them. One was injured by the handcuffs flailing around. The other ran across the street and was only prevented from entering Hal Peterson Middle School by a civilian, Ronnie Bock, who made a citizen's arrest. Ronnie is a licensed CHL carrier, and he ran across the road through traffic and pulled his pistol and ordered the thug to the ground. The thug was frothing at the mouth "like a St. Bernard," but he complied.
Attacking and injuring a cop, trying to bite him, and striking him with handcuffs - sounds like aggravated assault to me, which carries a penalty range of 2-20 years. Let's see what the brothers were charged with. Shane Muirhead was indicted for assault on a public servant, a third degree felony, punishment range 2-10 years. Get this - he was allowed to plead guilty and got probation! If the paper is accurate, it's ever better - deferred adjudication, meaning that if he completes his probation the case is dismissed so he will have no conviction on his record.
His brother Sean got an even better deal - he was charged with misdemeanor offenses of resisting arrest, and get this - got time served of 65 days.
What I don't understand is - why didn't the cops push to have these thugs indicted for serious felonies? Why didn't one of the local district attorneys take this to the grand jury? Why did the judges approve these handslap pleas? This whole thing makes absolutely no sense.
Kerrville is a town where a first time, non-violent drug offender can get sent to the pen for years. Meanwhile, we have the case of one Nicole Lee England, who was arrested for the 23rd time in Kerrville this week. Her record includes criminal trespassing, theft by check, shoplifting, resisting arrest. Here's the best one - cruelty to animals for stabbing and strangling a dog. What in the hell is this woman doing loose? Why doesn't one of our three prosecutors charge her as an habitual criminal and send her away for about 25 years?
Getting back to the Muirhead brothers, the only actor in the whole drama who showed any common sense was Ronnie Bock, a civilian, and a real hero. And if you think the cops are going to show up and save you, good luck with that.
Nicely put Richard.. And way to go Ronnie.. And thanks for informing public with your blog Richard.
ReplyDeleteTurk.
So now we are going to take the Kerrville Daily Times as the ultimate authority as to what happened during this incident? Seriously? The KDTgets their info from the poloce reports (which the KPD is more than happy to hand-out). I don't see anything like aggaravated assault coming out of this deal. I don't know how old the brothers were, nor do I know their history and motivations. Sounds pretty bad, but a police report always does sound poorly for the Defendant's side. The police had multiple weapons, the brothers had none. The police pulled some stupid moves and so did the brothers, but do we realy want to ruin the remainder of the brother's lives over a silly mess like this. One "tried to bite" a cop? That should be a felony? Again - seriously? Flopping around half-attached hand-cuffs? That should be a 2-20 Felony? Your kiddinng? Please Richard, in order to keep the integrity of your blog (which I have enjoyed for years) don't completely count on the accounts of the cops, the Kerrville Daily Times, and the red-neck peanut gallery.
ReplyDeleteThanks, my friends and I really do appreciate this blog.
I talked to Ronnie Bock, who is a friend of mine, and he confirmed the story. Also to the lady they accosted at IHOP. I'm getting the police car videos and will post them. Deadly weapon can be anything that can cause serious bodily harm. Teeth can bite off ears, fingers, noses, not to mention the risk of infection, including HIV.
DeleteI have all (nearly all) of my teeth. I guess they will arrest me for carrying a deadly weapon. They would if they could - I think?
DeleteI will attempt of contact the Muirhead brothers and post their comments. Two sides to every story - right?
DeleteI would be very careful about waving a gun around in a situation I don't fully understand. What was Bock going to do if the perp did not obey him? Was he going to kill him? My advice to Bock and the other cop wanabe's in Kerrville is don't pull a gun unless you intend to use it. We have PLENTY of police here and don't need hick vigilantes pulling out guns.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you what I'd do - I'd give him a double tap with my Glock.
ReplyDeleteThere was a recent case in San Antonio where a cop pulled over a young girl and raped her. If you happened upon this scene, would you "double tap" the cop if he did not obey your command to stop?
ReplyDeleteI would - the Penal Code and common law allow deadly force to prevent death or serious injury to yourself or a 3rd party, even if the perp is a cop if he is committing a crime.
ReplyDeleteGood for you Richard!! I commend your sense of equal protection.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone writes about using their Glock to "double tap" an un-armed man - well they might be a Kerr County red-neck. What does double tap even mean?
ReplyDeleteDouble tap - two quick shots to the torso, usually followed by one to the head
ReplyDeleteSo someone is dead? Cool Dude? Thanks for the info. Don't believe I want to do such a thing. Life is precious, but I don't watch video games! "Two quick shots to the torso followed by one to the head" - that is too stupid for a near normal person to understand. ( I think).
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