Michigan Man Faces Charges For Handshake

The Associated Press ^

[snodog]

Officer, Prosecutor And Bailiff Become Sick

POSTED: 11:24 am EST January 13, 2006

LANSING, Mich. -- A man is in jail on assault charges after authorities say an assistant prosecutor, police officer and courtroom bailiff all got sick after shaking hands with him.

John Ridgeway, 41, was in an Isabella County courthouse in Mount Pleasant last month on a misdemeanor charge of driving without insurance. He now faces three felony assault charges and up to six years in prison.

After a Dec. 21 jury trial where he was found guilty on the misdemeanor charge, Ridgeway was observed pulling out a vial of liquid and rubbing his hands with the contents, officials said.

The assistant prosecutor, Amanda Swanson, became suspicious and tried to avoid making direct contact with Ridgeway's right hand when he offered it for a handshake. But Ridgeway insisted on shaking hands with her, the police officer who pulled him over and a bailiff.

The three public officers got sick within an hour or so, according to court testimony. Symptoms included nausea, headaches, numbness and tingling. Two of the three officials went to the hospital for the symptoms that lasted about 24 hours.

Police searched Ridgeway's Kalkaska home and vehicle and found a vial, but they say they don't know what it contains. The FBI is running tests on the substance.

Ridgeway told officials the substance was olive oil, according to Gratiot County Prosecutor Keith Kushion, who was called in to handle the case because of conflicts of interest in Isabella County.

"I have never seen the likes of this," Kushion said of the case. "Nobody else has, either."

Ridgeway also told the Associated Press in a phone interview Thursday that the substance was olive oil. He said that was not what made the public officials sick, if they were sick at all.

"I think it's all a bunch of fabricated b.s.," Ridgeway said. "They've got a vendetta against me because I took a ticket to a jury trial."

Ridgeway had a preliminary examination on the case this week. He faces arraignment in circuit court Jan. 27.

Ridgeway is charged with one count of assaulting a police officer and two counts of assaulting a public officer. Each count is punishable by up to two years in prison.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[snodog]

Never shake hands with the convicted. Just a life lesson I would like to pass on.

[ONETWOONE]

I guess it's just best to shake your booty.

[yevgenie]

Re: Symptoms included nausea, headaches, numbness and tingling.
Organophosphate poisoning?

[snodog]

I guess it's just best to shake your booty.

I wouldn't suggest doing that with a convict either.

[Rushmore Rocks]

I wonder why Ridgeway didn't get ill.

[freepatriot32]

ok im calling b.s. on this one.If they got sick from just shaking hands with him breifly becasue of this substance how do they explain him not getting sick if he was soaked in it and carried it on his hand for who knows how long ?I know from personal expierience how viscious cops can get if you beat them in court on a bogus traffic ticket.In my case they didnt try to railroad me into 6 years in prison but they would if they could and i think thats what this is. We will know when the fbi comes back with thier analasis of the substance and if it comes back as olive oil like this guy says it is he needs to personally sue the ever living hell out of everyone involved in this case as well as try to get them charged with criminial libel if its on the books in this state.

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[mfulstone]

Organophosphate poisoning?

Prolly turn out to be psychomatic poisoning, the very worst crime. The victims' own minds poisoned them.

[calex59]

Why would it affect the people he shook hands with but not him? Sounds phony to me, unless of course he had some sort of protective agent on his hands before he rubbed the substance on himself.

[Texas Mom]

I wonder why Ridgeway didn't get ill.

I have wondered the same thing since I first heard this story.

It does seem strange if it was just the ones who shook his hand who got sick. I would ask if anyone else became ill who didn't shake hands with him. If not it does look mighty suspicious.

Next question why would he put Olive Oil on his hands?

[Texas Mom]

Sounds phony to me, unless of course he had some sort of protective agent on his hands before he rubbed the substance on himself.

That thought crossed my mind too but what? Vaseline?

[Bernard]

Or he had spent years preparing for this - just like the scene in "The Princess Bride" with the poison. Also just as believable.

[Dad yer funny]

yup , if you apply Shaklee Basic-H to your hands and let it dry,
you've got a protective coating,but it will rinse off

if the offending agent didn't penetrate that barrier,then...

however , who knows that he wasn't taken ill also, hmmmmm

[snodog]

Or he had spent years preparing for this - just like the scene in "The Princess Bride" with the poison. Also just as believable.

But who is the "Dread Pirate Roberts"? Who has bested the convict, not turned up sick, yet has everything to gain, or loose?

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Nitroglycerine.

[DB]

My bet it is psychosomatic group hysteria - that is, until the tests come back...

[DB]

I would think the nitric acid in nitroglycerin would case severe burns.

[snodog]

My bet it is psychosomatic group hysteria - that is, until the tests come back...

Man, Gil Grissom, you are such a buzz killer.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

No, remember, people put it under their tongues all the time. The symptoms described are similar to the effects of handling deteriorating dynamite, that has started to exude drops of nitroglycerine.

[Iris7]

Nitroglycerin containing free nitrite, nitrate, and of a low pH is quite unstable. Long washing with sodium carbonate is part of the procedure of manufacture. Technical details can be found elsewhere.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

1. Acute exposure: Acute exposure to nitroglycerin can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, occasionally diarrhea, sweating, and lightheadedness. High exposure can cause abdominal cramps, vomiting, depression or mania, mental confusion, delirium, convulsions, paresthesias or paralysis, aphasia, impaired vision, breathing difficulties, methemoglobinemia and blue skin (cyanosis), bradycardia, circulatory collapse, or death [Sittig 1991; Rom 1992].

2. Chronic exposure: Chronic exposure to nitroglycerin can lead to the development of tolerance, and sudden withdrawal from exposure can result in angina-like chest pains which may be accompanied by malaise, weakness, vomiting, dizziness, headache, or impaired vision. Sudden death may also result. Chronic exposure may also result in severe headache, hallucinations, and skin rashes. Allergic contact dermatitis can occur secondary to topical exposure to nitroglycerin.

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/nitroglycerin/recognition.html

[Iris7]

"Organophosphate poisoning?"

Sounds like it.

[Iris7]

There are industrial hand protective creams that will block almost all nonpolar skin penetration. There is a lot of solvent allergy amongst industrial workers and these creams are made to protect them.

[Iris7]

Not vaseline, wouldn't work. Industrial solvent blocking hand cream, see #22.

[DB]

Thanks.

[endthematrix]

Other headlines:

Oily touch
The Morning Sun, MI

Sickening handshake
KARE, MN

US man jailed for 'diseased handshake'
The Age, Australia

[Texas Mom]

Not vaseline, wouldn't work. Industrial solvent blocking hand cream, see #22.

Thanks, you can learn something new every day and you're never too old to keep learning. ;)

[GSlob]

Well, since the accused got himself a much greater dose than that received by the others, he ought to have had it much worse - but the report is silent on this.

[GSlob]

Vaseline is soluble in oils.

[Iris7]

Vaseline would not work, yes. Certain industrial hand creams will, see #22,
Skin Protective Creams that may work against olive oil with a little organophosphate insecticide:

TRAVABON®

Oil Protection

Description: For organic solvents, paint thinner, oil, paint, ink, metal dust. Silicone and oil free.

Profile: TRAVABON® is designed to offer a skin protection cream for oil based hazards. The best product of its kind available! It also contains special emulsifiers which assist in clean up of heavy, stubborn type of dirt (oil, grease, ink, paint, graphite, etc.). The special "suspension" formula make up of TRAVABON® protects better than old fashioned "emulsions" when preventing penetration of solvents and other oil based hazards. TRAVABON® is the only skin protection cream of its type which has been proven effective in clinical studies. In an independent test, TRAVABON® demonstrated a protective effect against the solvents n-hexane and toluol. (Mahmoud and Lachapelle) No other product proved effective. It contains no oils to compromise it's protective layer, and NO SILICONE that can cause problems in sensitive coating operations. Concentrated and dispensed through metered "miser" dispensers, one pump is all you need. Over 1,000 dispensings per bottle. Contains no ingredients that harm the environment. 100% recyclable packaging.

>> Assists In Clean Up From Heavy Dirt
>> Unique Suspension Formula
>> Over 1,000 Dispensings Per Bottle
>> Environmentally Friendly Packaging


ARRETIL®

Oil Protection

Description: For multi-component resins (Epoxy and polyester), adhesives, and organic solvents. Silicone free.

Profile: ARRETIL® is designed to help protect against multi-component resins, adhesives, and organic solvents. The primary use is for assembly workers who deal with resins and adhesives and do not wear gloves. It is ideal for that close tolerance work where glove use is not practical. It is also the only protective cream that is effective against "Skydrol" in the airline industry. ARRETIL® has been thoroughly tested for its skin compatibility. It has been proven in tests in our own laboratory, as well as in many years of use in industry. Concentrated and dispensed through meter "miser" dispensers, one pump is all you need. Over 1,000 dispensings per bottle. ARRETIL® contains no ingredients that harm the environment. 100% recyclable packaging.

>> Effective For Difficult Adhesives
>> Great For "Close" Tolerance Work
>> Over 1,000 Dispensings Per Bottle
>> Environmentally Friendly Packaging



STOKODERM®

Special Protection

Description: Protects against a wide range of oil and water-based hazards. Ideal for machine shop applications. Silicone free.

Profile: STOKODERM® is designed as an all purpose protective cream to be used in a wide range of applications for both oil and water hazards. This makes it ideal for machine shops and the metal working industry. It will also assist in preventing corrosion marks on metal caused by sweaty fingers and hands. Since STOKODERM® penetrates quickly into the skin, it does not leave the skin greasy and slippery. In this way, the gripping ability of the hand and fingers is not lost. It contains the special protective agent EUCORIOL® which strengthens and improves the skin. STOKODERM® contains no ingredients that will harm the environment. 100% recyclable packaging. Dispensed through metered "miser" dispensers, one pump is all you need. Over 1,000 dispensings per bottle.

>> Ideal When Different Hazards Present
>> Skin Strengthening Agent, "EUCORIOL®"
>> Over 1,000 Dispensings Per Bottle
>> Environmentally Friendly Packaging


Stockhausen
2401 Doyle Street
Greensboro, NC 27406
(910)333-2790; Fax: (910)333-3641

http://www.techsavvy.com/industry/file/national/03ty5/sto12.html?id=121447&comp_id=03TY5&base_region=*

[Drammach]

I once touched one of my sisters on the arm with a finger..
She turned and saw a cigarette in my hand and thought I had burned her with the cigarette..
She developed a blister on her arm..

There were at least 3 witnesses that no cigarette ever touched her, and all saw her skin turn red and blister over the next hour or so..

Psychosomatic, indeed.. It can happen..

[RWCon]

what happened to the perp? He should be dead at least.

[mfulstone]

Psychosomatic, indeed.. It can happen.

Of course. Our mind is our own worst enemy at times. It makes us physically ill more often than folks care to admit.

[Judith Anne]

Thanks for the information, it's fascinating.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

You could save money on lighters. Just use your finger. :-)

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Al Qaeda can't figure out how to use a biochemical weapon, but this clown can?

I don't buy it.

[Iris7]

You are welcome. Use this "industrial hygene" stuff at work.

[Iris7]

Don't want to get specific but this story is entirely possible.

[RobRoy]

"What you do not smell is Iocane."

[Joe 6-pack]

"Never shake hands with the convicted. Just a life lesson I would like to pass on."

John Douglas, recognized as the founder of the FBI's profiling unit (ISU) and the model for Scott Glenn's character in "Silence Of The Lambs," developed his data base of behaviors primarily through conducting countless extensive interviews with incarcerated serial criminals throughout the nations' system of federal and state prisons. I don't recall which specific book he relates the account, (Mindhunter?) or which killer he was interviewing, but Douglas relates that when he met the guy in the prison interview room, the killer greeted him with a hearty, handshake which he held for an unnaturally long time. Douglas then related that in the course of the interview, the killer spoke about his compulsive masturbation habits, indicating that in fact, he had just pleasured himself right before meeting Douglas!

Douglas made it a habit to omit the handshake in subsequent interviews.

[avg_freeper]

just like the scene in "The Princess Bride" with the poison.

"Ha ha, you fool!! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders.

The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia; and only slightly less well known is this: Never go in against a Sicilian, when death is on the line!"

Ahhh Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha,... (thump)

[Casloy]

I wonder how he got his hands on my wife's cooking?