Deaf Smith
Master of Arts
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http://www.pnj.com/article/20081224/NEWS01/812240327/1052
Beach brawl suspect to be charged with murder
Saturday night fight ended in man's death
Kris Wernowsky [email protected] December 24, 2008
Toole's family has retained veteran criminal defense attorney Barry Beroset to represent him.
Beroset said Tuesday he could not speak about the details of his meeting with Toole, but he said his client's family is concerned about the well-being of Chesney's family.
"It's a very unfortunate situation for the family of this young man," Beroset said.
Attempts to reach Chesney's family Tuesday were unsuccessful. His visitation is scheduled for Friday.
Assistant State Attorney David Rimmer said he has reviewed transcriptions of six interviews, including statements from Toole and other witnesses, about the altercation.
Escambia County Sheriff's Office homicide investigator Chris Baggett expects Toole will be allowed to surrender as early as today on the new charge.
The second-degree murder charge could lead to an increased bond for Toole, who originally was arrested on a count of second-degree attempted murder. He posted a $25,000 bond Sunday.
While Rimmer contends Chesney likely died when the back of his head struck the pavement and not directly because of the punch delivered by Toole, he says the act itself supports the new charge.
"It's going to be the state's position that Ryan Toole caused that to happen," he said. "If you push somebody off a 10-story building, hitting the ground may have killed them. But the mere act that someone pushed them means they can be held liable."
Toole was involved in an altercation with a woman outside The Islander on Pensacola Beach early Saturday. Chesney and a friend, Jason Campbell, 35, intervened about 2:40 a.m., the Sheriff's Office said.
Toole punched Campbell, then punched Chesney, who went down and hit his head on the pavement, Baggett said.
On Tuesday night, deputies assigned to Pensacola Beach were expected to begin checking in with each of the 13 bars at the beach.
Sheriff's Office Lt. Gary Montee said he was instituting the new policy as a result of the fatal fight.
"We can't put a cop on every street corner, but we can try to do what we can with the resources we have," Montee said.
Montee said when he worked at the beach in the 1970s, deputies walked into beach businesses and talked with the owner or employees.
"We would walk into these bars during every shift," he said. "You walk into these places and you get a good feel for its clientele. We are getting back to the basics."
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Deaf note:
And this is why unless you are fighting for your life, a body punch or kick is much safer. Many a person knocked out by a head hit, droped and the fall damaged more than the punch or kick!
Go for the head if your life is on the line, otherwise try to knock the wind out of them and make them fold.
And yes... your skills can come back to haunt you!
Deaf
Beach brawl suspect to be charged with murder
Saturday night fight ended in man's death
Kris Wernowsky [email protected] December 24, 2008
- Ryan Toole, 28, who spent about two months this year training as a mixed martial arts fighter, is charged in the death of Michael Chesney, 32. A conviction on the charge carries a possible state prison term of 20 years to life.
Toole's family has retained veteran criminal defense attorney Barry Beroset to represent him.
Beroset said Tuesday he could not speak about the details of his meeting with Toole, but he said his client's family is concerned about the well-being of Chesney's family.
"It's a very unfortunate situation for the family of this young man," Beroset said.
Attempts to reach Chesney's family Tuesday were unsuccessful. His visitation is scheduled for Friday.
Assistant State Attorney David Rimmer said he has reviewed transcriptions of six interviews, including statements from Toole and other witnesses, about the altercation.
Escambia County Sheriff's Office homicide investigator Chris Baggett expects Toole will be allowed to surrender as early as today on the new charge.
The second-degree murder charge could lead to an increased bond for Toole, who originally was arrested on a count of second-degree attempted murder. He posted a $25,000 bond Sunday.
While Rimmer contends Chesney likely died when the back of his head struck the pavement and not directly because of the punch delivered by Toole, he says the act itself supports the new charge.
"It's going to be the state's position that Ryan Toole caused that to happen," he said. "If you push somebody off a 10-story building, hitting the ground may have killed them. But the mere act that someone pushed them means they can be held liable."
Toole was involved in an altercation with a woman outside The Islander on Pensacola Beach early Saturday. Chesney and a friend, Jason Campbell, 35, intervened about 2:40 a.m., the Sheriff's Office said.
Toole punched Campbell, then punched Chesney, who went down and hit his head on the pavement, Baggett said.
On Tuesday night, deputies assigned to Pensacola Beach were expected to begin checking in with each of the 13 bars at the beach.
Sheriff's Office Lt. Gary Montee said he was instituting the new policy as a result of the fatal fight.
"We can't put a cop on every street corner, but we can try to do what we can with the resources we have," Montee said.
Montee said when he worked at the beach in the 1970s, deputies walked into beach businesses and talked with the owner or employees.
"We would walk into these bars during every shift," he said. "You walk into these places and you get a good feel for its clientele. We are getting back to the basics."
-------------
Deaf note:
And this is why unless you are fighting for your life, a body punch or kick is much safer. Many a person knocked out by a head hit, droped and the fall damaged more than the punch or kick!
Go for the head if your life is on the line, otherwise try to knock the wind out of them and make them fold.
And yes... your skills can come back to haunt you!
Deaf
