Posted on 08/28/2006 5:53:33 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
Former Minnesota Twins pitcher Jeff Reardon was found not guilty by reason of insanity on charges of robbing a jewelry store last December.
Reardon, who pitched a save for the Twins in the 1987 World Series, was arrested and charged with armed robbery after he held up Hamilton Jewelers in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Reardon's attorneys argued that Reardon's judgment had been impaired by the dozen medications, including anti-depressants and mood stabilizers, he had been taking following the death of his son in 2004. Reardon had also been taking medication for a heart angioplasty he had a week before the incident.
According to defense attorney Mitch Beers, the incident -- in which Reardon's ransom note contained the courtesies "please" and "thank you" -- was like a scene out of a Woody Allen film.
Beers also said that Reardon had no financial motivation to rob the store.
Two court-appointed psychiatrists agreed with the defense, saying that there was no logical explanation for Reardon to rob the store.
Reardon said that, until Judge Stephen Rapp's ruling, he had worried about going to jail.
"I don't think I've ever had a speeding ticket before," he said.
The four-time All-Star was 73-77 with 367 saves and a 3.16 ERA in 16 seasons with the New York Mets, Expos, Twins, Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees.
Reardon must return to Rapp in six months for a court-ordered review of his case. According to the Palm Beach County criminal division manager, Reardon will also be required to continue mental health treatment for one year.
Jeff was pretty special to us in '87.
Original story..........
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1547511/posts
Caught stealing, but he beat the Rapp. :-)
Good ending, sounds like it was the meds more than the man.
Ping.
Yeah, we were all a bit shocked to hear the news of his arrest. Totally out of character for the guy.
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