Posted on 06/03/2011 3:14:06 PM PDT by grundle
Never come between the "Godmother of Soul" and her luggage. That's the lesson a West Point cadet says he learned at Houston airport when he charges Patti LaBelle's security guards roughed him up.
Richard King, 23, is suing LaBelle over the incident, captured on surveillance video last March 11 at Bush Intercontinental Airport.
King, a Houston resident who is a senior at the military academy, had come home for spring break when he wandered close to LaBelle's limousine. He was talking to his brother on his cellphone when her bodyguards "sprang into action," according to the civil suit he filed this week against the singer and her entourage.
"Apparently defendant LaBelle believed King was standing too close to her (no doubt expensive) luggage, even though he was oblivious to her presence," the lawsuit says. "LaBelle lowered the window of her limousine and gave a command to a trio of bodyguards. " The suit says LaBelle "watched the vicious assault, with approval, from her limousine."
The video shows King being punched and falling against a concrete pillar. He tries three times to get up and finally moves away from the scene. After an ambulance takes him away, the video shows Houston cops posing with LaBelle for a photo. Blood is seen on the ground nearby.
King, who suffered a concussion, has no memory of the incident. "I remember waking up the next morning with staples in my head," he said. He is "shocked" when he watches the video. "I've never been in a fight in my life," he says.
West Point has taken disciplinary action against King after they were notified of the incident by Houston cops, Raley says. He is being busted to private and deployed to active duty. He had been scheduled to graduate in December with the rank of second lieutenant.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
There is another thread at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2729341/posts?q=1&;page=1#1 if anyone is interested.
Busted down to private and enlisted, all because the person was assaulted? This is a steaming pile of Bravo Sierra.
Now as an enlisted, will he be allowed to sue the thugs? Yes, I can see obstacles thrown in the way, especially with the political correctness rot that is destroying our military.
The best outcome would be to see Patti Labelle sued to the point where she is camped out under a bridge crossing Buffalo Bayou.
Looks to me like some West Point officials should be court martialed
I’m not a military expert, but let’s remember that the Commander in Chief is a “black” muslim.
If West Point doesn’t punish this kid (rightly or wrongly) enough to please Omoslem, can’t Omoslem fire some military brass to remind everyone that he’s the “Big Jihadi” in charge?
If you are expelled, don’t you owe the tuition back to the institute? If so, it is no wonder this poor man is suing and I hope he wins big. When we’ve reached a point in society where it is joked about someone getting physically hurt (enough to leave blood where he was lying) and “expensive” diva suitcases... something is very wrong IMHO.
viedo = video. Not my fault, I was beaten up by Patti LaBelle’s bodyguards while posting. Apparently I breathed in her direction or something.
Obsessing with her luggage makes one wonder what the heck was in that luggage? Sorry for the 2nd Lieutenant and his botched graduation over thuggery.
Me neither! If he was convicted of public intoxication or assault, that would be grounds for dismissal. But it's pretty clear that the cadet got jumped virtually from behind while he was engaged in a phone call. Then he was driven into a cement stanchion and knocked unconcious.
What I would like to know is who at West Point did the "investigating"? Did they see this video tape? Lastly, what criteria are they using for dismissal these days?
Seems grossly unjust to take a cadet who is slated to graduate this year with an officer's commission over an event that was beyond his control.
No, it doesn't.
And you're correct.
That is nowhere near enough. The command Staff at West Point have disregarded their personal duty to provide due process. If we are seeing this video, they damned well should have before their actions were finalized.
There are indeed people at West Point who need to be on their way to Iraq as enlisted personnel but Richard King isn't one of them.
Yes, but it's taken out in enlisted service. I'm not aware of having to compensate the US Treasury by writing a check.
My college roommate left the Naval Academy a few weeks into his cow (Junior) year. He had to do 18 months on the deck of the USS Independence as "payback". They cut him loose after a single Eastern Med cruise, so he probably only did about half of the obligation.
Sue her Moochelle sized butt!! My bet is LaBelle’s “bodyguards” have rap sheets as long as your arm which come the trial will hurt her immensely. Get ready to pay up millions you bloated wasteoid has been!
Still never heard of her.
I believe that when this happens, the USMA also presents the ex-cadet with a bill for his or her education, which could be many tens of thousands of dollars.
I hope that the USMA reviews their decision and reinstates the cadet.
Mark
If we are getting all of the information, then it is horrible for this cadet. First, you are beaten up while talking on a cell phone because you got too close to some diva’s luggage. You get to wake up with STAPLES in your head only to be told, “guess what, you’re demoted. Everything you busted your butt for up to now is gone”. If West Point demoted based on bad publicity or something stupid like that, SHAME on them. This story just keeps getting worse and worse.
I just wrote my congressman ...
Nothing works better than doing just that.
I hope the boy takes the old has-been sow for every penny she has.
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