Disabled Man Arrested for Stopping Attacker

Press Release | 12/30/03 | David Bresnahan

[Wiley Sr]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Disabled Man Arrested for Stopping Attacker Denied Right to Attorney, Medical Help, Held on $1 Million Bail

BUENA PARK, Calif. – A physically disabled man claims he was attacked during a verbal dispute with his landlord, but police arrested him instead of the attacker. He has been in jail since December 14 on charges of attempted murder, and he has not been granted medical help or a public defender.

Michael A. Matthew, 50, lives on the edge of homelessness. He has been living in a room of a home owned by the man he claims attacked him. Even though he is unable to work at regular employment, he does volunteer work for a local church that helps the homeless.

Pastor Wiley Drake of the First Southern Baptist Church, operates the "Here's Hope Social Ministry Center," 6801 Western Ave. where he feeds the homeless and permits them to sleep in his church. Drake claims the Buena Park Police Department regularly harasses the homeless, Drake, and anyone who tries to help.

“Our ministry has long been a thorn in the side of the ‘Buena Park Entertainment Zone.’ Anything we, or our friends like Mike do, upsets them. They have used everything they can to get us to stop,” explained Drake.

He believes Matthew is just the latest victim of the alleged harassment, aimed at eliminating the homeless from the area of the church, which is very close to the entrance of Disney Land.

“On Sunday, December 14, Mike called me on my cell phone and said, ‘Pastor, get over here my landlord is attacking me,’ then the phone went dead,” explained Drake.

Matthew was allegedly attacked by his landlord, Constantin Stanilla, who a witness says was on top of Matthew choking him with his hands.

Drake arrived at the scene after the police arrived, and tried to tell them about the call for help he received, but the police refused to let him talk to them. Drake said they knew who he was, and that Matthew was one of his volunteers.

“Mike told me that Stanilla was on top of him, choking him with his hands. Mike said he was about to pass out and couldn’t get him off, even though a neighbor was trying to pull him off,” described Drake. “As a last resort to save his own life, he reached up and stabbed the attacker with a small pocket knife.”

Stanilla was taken to a hospital, treated and released for his injury. No charges were filed against him.

Matthew was arrested on a charge of attempted murder and bail was set at $1 million. He has been denied medical attention, and he has not been given his medication. He has also not been permitted to consult an attorney.

“Mike’s in a lot of pain. He needs his medication but they will only give him Tylenol. He is getting very weak in jail, and I’m afraid he might not survive,” said Drake.

“Many times Mike gives food and clothing to a family when we run out. He does this even though he is on disability and has a very low income himself. He has had a series of arguments with his landlord, who has been trying to get him to leave,” said Drake. Drake says he plans to continue to operate his church and provide services to the homeless, despite what he believes is continued harassment from the Buena Park Police.

“We are asking our congregation and others who are concerned, to please send a fax to district attorney Mike Lubinski (714-773-4487), and ask him to give Mike medical attention and to please investigate,” said Drake.

Buena Park Police Department officials refused comment, other than to confirm that Matthews is being held on charges of attempted murder in the Central Men’s Jail in Santa Ana.

Drake has not been afraid to speak out on controversial issues. In addition to his local disputes, he has spoken out nationally through the Southern Baptist Convention on issues such as a boycott of Disney, and he attempted to have President Bill Clinton ex-communicated from the church.

He has also been actively involved in providing counseling to women who are seeking abortions, which has caused problems between him and the local Planned Parenthood facility.

Matthew is scheduled for a court hearing on January 5.

Information:

Case # 03NF3981 Central Men's Jail, 550 N. Flower St., Santa Ana, (714) 647-4500, cjx@ocsd.org

Investigating Officer, Det. Anderson, 714-562-3969

Contact: Pastor Wiley Drake First Southern Baptist Church "Here's Hope Social Ministry Center" 6801 Western Ave., Buena Park, California off: 714-522-7201 cell: 714-865-8132

[Prime Choice]

The link doesn't work. The domain you list (www.thatprman.com) does not exist.

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[Wiley Sr]

Sorry, should have been www.thatprguy.com

[snopercod]

A million dollar bond? What, they were afraid the man would flee in his wheelchair?

Whatever happened to the Bill of Rights?

Amendment VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VIII Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

[marktwain]

He has had a series of arguments with his landlord, who has been trying to get him to leave,” said Drake.

This story doesn't pass the initial "smell test". The guy's landlord "has been trying to get him to leave". Why is he still there?

All of the references in the article point to "evidence" that the person in jail was the one attacked. I bet that this is mostly B.S. and that the evidence points exactly the opposite.

While I cannot prove it from the lack of information in the article, the way that it is presented indicates to me that it is designed to muddy the water and portray the person arrested as "the victim", even though the facts may be exactly the opposite.

[Wiley Sr]

I appreciate your blind armchair look at the situation but I'm here and know the truth of the situation. the article is pretty clear on what happened.

[Old Professer]

Don't need no Snopes to scope this out; pure Streisand.

[Johnny_Cipher]

“On Sunday, December 14, Mike called me on my cell phone and said, ‘Pastor, get over here my landlord is attacking me,’ then the phone went dead,” explained Drake.

Does anyone else find it odd that an almost-homeless and poor "Mike" would:

1. Have a cellphone in the first place.

2. Somehow be able to dial his friend's number and tell him that he was under attack WHILE HE WAS UNDER ATTACK?

Something smells here, big time.

[Prime Choice]

Does anyone else find it odd that an almost-homeless and poor "Mike" would:

1. Have a cellphone in the first place.

2. Somehow be able to dial his friend's number and tell him that he was under attack WHILE HE WAS UNDER ATTACK?

Something smells here, big time.

I'm afraid I have to agree. This story doesn't pass the smell test.

[monday]

"the article is pretty clear on what happened."

This article is pretty clearly BS. It smells all wrong. You are either naive or shady for passing it off as true.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

The first doesn't trouble me. Cellphones are getting as cheap as land lines. The second does.

So does this. If Mike was being choked then there should be strong physical evidence. A few photos taken the next day after the bruises had time to form would be nice.

Also there is, I believe, no way the police would have taken him down to the station if he was damaged in such a way. They would have feared a lawsuit.

[Johnny_Cipher]

The first doesn't trouble me. Cellphones are getting as cheap as land lines

Just goes to show how long I've had my cell, I guess. I paid over $200 for the phone and until recently paid $50 a month for the service.

[SouthernFreebird]

What's up with the million dollar bail when no one was actually even murdered! One stab wound...? come on someone's paying good money to the judge.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

To buy the phone maybe $100.00 but people will often give you old cell phones, there is nothing wrong with them they just don't have the latest gizmo's. Get prepaid phone minutes and you can "reach out and touch someone" for pennies with no need for a service plan. We do this for some of the elderly and/or needy in our church with emergency numbers preprogrammed. It gives them a lifeline if they need it.

[Wiley Sr]

you idiot it is cheaper for a homeless person to have a cheap cell phone than use the public pay phone. Idiot is not an insult it's greek idios, i.e. one who does not really understand.
you are e of the opinion that your silver spoon gives you the benefit of a "CELL" phone that only the elite should have.the only thing that smells is your consenting attitude. Remember you are but one paycheck yourself away from homelessness.

[ThanhPhero]

. Remember you are but one paycheck yourself away from homelessness.

Some conclusions can be drawn about Mr. Sr from this quote that do not reflect well on the reliability of his information. I was willing to give the benefit of the doubt to the man in the wheelchair. Now I tend kind of the other way. I'll wait to see what falls out

[trussell]

1) The one with the cell phone is not the almost homeless man, it is the Pastor. Mike called me on my cell phone

2)Is it possible the man called his Pastor while the attacker was advancing on him?