Police: Marine reservist attacks visiting Greek priest
That's how police say the incident began.
But Lance Cpl. Jasen Bruce said the man, who was wearing a robe, sandals and a long beard, propositioned him in English and grabbed his genitals.
Both versions of events end the same way – with the priest recovering from a beating with a tire iron, the Marine reservist under arrest and police investigating a possible hate crime.
The Rev. Alexios Marakis, visiting from Greece, had performed a blessing of a retired Greek priest in the West Shore area before accidentally exiting I-275 into downtown Monday evening, police said. Marakis followed cars into the Seaport Channelside Apartments on Twiggs Street and got out to ask for help.
Bruce, a reservist with a West Palm Beach unit since March, had his trunk open so he could get dry cleaning out, police said. Bruce, who lives in the apartment building, was not in uniform.
Bruce grabbed a tire iron from the trunk, hit Marakis four times over the head and chased him about three blocks before pinning the priest, police said.
In a 911 call, Bruce made a derogatory comment about a man he said was a terrorist and was trying to rob him and had grabbed him in a sexual manner, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.
When officers arrived, police say, Bruce told them he heard the man say "Allahu Akbar" – Arabic for "God is great."
"That's what they say before they blow you up," Bruce said, according to police.
But at a news conference today, Bruce's attorney said his client didn't understand what Marakis said.
"Lance Cpl. Bruce defended himself with the full legality of the law for being sexually attacked and potentially robbed," lawyer Jeffrey Brown said.
Bruce, 28, faces a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He was released on $7,500 bail.
McElroy said Bruce "teared up when we told him that (Marakis) was a Greek Orthodox priest and not a terrorist."
Marakis, 29, was treated at Tampa General Hospital and released. He told investigators he's visiting St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon Springs.
Marakis declined to comment today, saying he does not speak much English. The Rev. Michael Eaccarino of St. Nicholas said Marakis is doing well.
Before deciding whether the incident qualifies as a hate crime, police will determine whether Bruce's motive was based on a belief that Marakis was Arabic.
The Marines Reserve will wait for the investigation to conclude before taking any action, an official said.
In 2007, Bruce was accused of pushing a tow truck driver in the back and chest when his Jaguar was about to be towed, records show. Bruce told police the truck driver had grabbed him to stop him getting in his car.
Bruce pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery, records show. Adjudication was withheld.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/nov/10/tampa-police-marine-reservist-attacks-vi...
-
- groups:
- News, Current Tonight, US Politics, The Age of Stupid, 1 more
-
- tags:
- + add
-
- recommended by:
- ras_menelik
-
-
-
-
- ras_menelik
- added this
-
Interesting that this doesn't get all that much coverage in the news. Also wonder why they aren't bringing up the fact that the Marine was Christian. But that's not really the point. I think he deserves dishonorable discharge as well.
-
In a 911 call, Bruce made a derogatory comment about a man he said was a terrorist and was trying to rob him and had grabbed him in a sexual manner, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.
When officers arrived, police say, Bruce told them he heard the man say "Allahu Akbar" – Arabic for "God is great."
"That's what they say before they blow you up," Bruce said, according to police.
Welcome to the ..bar where everybody knows....
-
-
-
-
- ras_menelik
- 10 days ago
-
-
what a fucking asshole. that bigot needs to get a dishonorable discharge like yesterday.
-
Though I'm a former Marine myself, I won't defend this guys actions. Even if the events are as he described, beating somebody with a tire iron isn't an acceptable response. That's why we have cops. This action is no reflection on the Corps. They don't condone this behavior. And you can rest assured that when the civil authorities get done with him, the Corps will pick up where they left off. This guy is going to be in a world of crap.
Here's hoping the priest doesn't suffer any permanent injury.
-
So let's say, hypothetically, that this man wasn't a Greek priest but was a muslim who was lost while driving and stopped to ask for directions. And let's say that he uttered the words: Allahu Akbar. Is that any reason to beat the guy with a tire iron? Or attack him in any way? The fact that this man was a Greek priest sort of allows us to sidestep the real issue here. Is it now acceptable to equate any muslim who says god is great to be taken as a terrorist?
If the answer to this is yes, then maybe the whole muslim population is justified in looking at westerners with suspicion and fear.
-
I wasn't there and certainly if a guy grabs your vitals he has to respect a reaction. May be hitting him over the head with a tire iron 4 times is a bit of an overreaction but...as i mentioned previously, he had to respect a reaction. Historically our government has a tendency to vilify the enemy and it seems from this article anti-Islamic feelings did have a role. I am not saying he was not in the wrong but these are all mitigating factors imo.
-
-
-
-
- AmericanStandard
- 10 days ago
-
-
This is a hate crime!! The guy clearly lied and should be arrested and sent to jail. Forget dishonorable discharge, arrest him and send his christian bitch ass to where he belongs!!
-
The fact that Rev. Marakis hasn't been charged with sexual assault or misconduct by the police says to me that they don't give much credence to that excuse. Coupled with Bruce's criminal history of misdemeanor battery, when a similar excuse was used seems a little transparent imo. I guess we'll have to wait and see where the charges fall out.
-
Two thoughts..
Assault and Battery, and possibly attempted murder...YES
Hate Crimes....NO
Imagine if you are attacked...and you defend yourself, attacking back, and in your state of immediate anger you whip out a derogatory word....Or even worse, someone just SAYS you did...Your ass can be sitting in prison a long ass time. I see plenty of opportunity for someone who may have only been defending themself to be charged with this bullshit hate crime crap.
I don't understand why people cannot understand that. The crime, itself, be it battery, assault, whatever, is what one should be tried for...Not how they feel about someone/group.
We are entering a very shady area of mind crime, that isn't going to end well for individuals that certain individuals/groups decide to frame because of political/religious/social differences.
And the sad part is from what I see here, most everyone is falling for this crap, hook, line and sinker!
-
This guy needs jail. He can't say well he thought he was a terrorist and that is OK no It's not OK. Just because you may have a beard and talk different from you,you cant just go and beat the shit out of them. This is deffentley a hate crime.
-
-
-
-
-
- mikeywally
- 10 days ago
-
-
Please provide me where it says he is a Christian? I must of missed this part of the article. Anyone?
-
-
-
-
- My_America
- 10 days ago
-
-
opppps !
-
-
-
-
- larrysnotes
- 10 days ago
-
-
after fort hood the military cannot be allowed to ignore this.guilt or innocence is not the issue--4 times with a tire iron?? on a scale of 1-10--1 being 'no, thank you, i am not interested' to 10 being murder, this is a 9. Serious evaluation to start...now.
the judicial system will have to work out responsibility. -
I don't believe that this Greek priest sexually assaulted the Marine reservist. I believe the reservist concocted the story about sexual assault to justify his hate crime.
-
KSirys,
What I commented on has been considered by those much smarter then myself. Due to a little thing called education, I learned to read....As well as comprehend what I read. And then, KSirys, I also have the benefit of a well-rounded, deeply intense sense of COMMON SENSE. Something it seems which is lacking in both our legislative, and judicial arenas.
Consider:
http://www.newswithviews.com/Duke/selwyn21.htmThere is another problem with federal prosecution of "hate crimes." The Constitution does not give the federal government general authority in criminal law enforcement. That makes it a state and local matter, for good reason. Centralization of power is always to be feared. The chance of abuse is lessened when power is decentralized. The framers of the Constitution knew what they were doing when they gave the federal government jurisdiction over only a few crimes. They opted for decentralization regarding the rest. Violation of that principle in recent years has been a bad thing. Rather than going further in that direction, we should repeal the federal intrusion that has already taken place.
Contemplate:
http://www.fff.org/comment/ed1197b.aspThe insidious thing about evolutionary tyranny is that it's only as visible as the people are perceptive. It doesn't beat you over the head like the iron fist of a despot or sweep you aside like a wave of revolution, but, rather, is a death by a thousand doses of bad medicine that makes benign neglect seem utopian.
One example of this brand of tyranny is the proliferation of hate-crime laws in the Western World. The very concept of hate-crime law itself is an offense against freedom and, as such, is quintessentially un-American. Yes, I hate hate-crime laws. And so should you.
Read and think! Don't just read these stories like this one, and react with illogical emtions.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/hate_crime_hysterics_4MDWH7j...
Hate-crime laws are indignation gestures. Legislators federalize the criminal law in order to use it as a moral pork barrel to express theatrical empathy. They score points in the sentiment competition by conferring special government concern for more and more particular groups.
Laws hold us responsible for controlling our minds, which should control our conduct. But government increasingly wants to inventory and furnish our minds, removing socially undesirable desires. Law has always had the expressive function of stigmatizing particular kinds of conduct, but hate-crime laws treat certain actions as especially wicked because the actors had odious (although not illegal) frames of mind.
This draws government steadily deeper into stigmatizing certain thoughts and attitudes, which incites more and more groups to clamor for inclusion in the ranks of the especially protected. The Cato Institute's Timothy Lynch notes that prosecutors of supposed hate crimes must pry into defendants' lives - books and magazines read, Web sites visited, the nature of his or her friends - to uncover evidence of unsavory thinking.
And I'll thank you not to try and impose your own opinions on what you think I do, or don't have a clue about. I hate that...Ooops!
-
S3th,
Nice comment! It must have taken you all night to write this, but let's break down your "sense of common sense" down a little. Oh and by the way, people with education, since you say you have some, don't usually capitalized their words to make a point. Think about that... oops!
From what you wrote, "What I commented on has been considered by those much smarter then myself" really? and who are these folks? Have they experienced a hate crime? Have they lived in a town or city where hate crimes happen all the time? Or maybe they live in a city or town, where nothing really happens and they look at it from their penthouse and put their two thoughts in? Please tell me of someone that has experienced a hate crime and let me know what they say or maybe, school me a little and show me how they think, just like you.
See, I have experienced a hate crime once or twice in my lifetime (I'm 33 now) and what I have come to learned about this country, from others smarter then myself, is that usually people who comment on articles like this one and go against the norm, usually are commenting on beliefs and stories they hear without some type of experience....
And you wrote "Due to a little thing called education, I learned to read....As well as comprehend what I read."
Really? So, for you to read the article and come away with..."I see plenty of opportunity for someone who may have only been defending themself to be charged with this bullshit hate crime crap. I don't understand why people cannot understand that. The crime, itself, be it battery, assault, whatever, is what one should be tried for...Not how they feel about someone/group. "
is really a broad comment that doesn't tackle the real point here. Or are you going to tell me that black folks were lynched back in the day because they had committed an actual crime, or maybe because they were black? Can you sit there and really explain that? or are you going to tell me we live in a better society now and that we don't have racism anymore?
You might not have experienced a hate crime and on the other hand you might have.. I don't know, but I base my judgment and opinion on past experiences and from people who have actually seen and felt a hate crime. Not just some article on newspapers.
Now, i'm still trying to understand this one. "And then, KSirys, I also have the benefit of a well-rounded, deeply intense sense of COMMON SENSE. Something it seems which is lacking in both our legislative, and judicial arenas."
Well, it's great that you have "deeply intense sense of common sense" but what does that have to do with the article here? and how does it compare to people who have experienced it? Get back to me on that one...Also, it's great you pull out articles and it's great that you have a "deeply intense sense of common sense" but let's be realistic here. The article said and I quote... "When officers arrived, police say, Bruce told them he heard the man say "Allahu Akbar" – Arabic for "God is great." "That's what they say before they blow you up," Bruce said, according to police"
Without reading more into the story and let's just say there were no other facts mentioned in the article, I would have then agreed with you. But, once I hear that he's
1. A Marine - the definition from google."A soldier serving on a ship or at a naval installation" I'm pretty sure, he knows how to combat and attack someone.
2. From the article... "grabbed a tire iron from the trunk, hit Marakis four times over the head and chased him about three blocks before pinning the priest, police said" I would have to come to a conclusion that if he was trying to blow himself up, he would have done it right there and then. Marakis, wouldn't have tapped him in the shoulder and say "Allahu Akbar", allow himself to get hit and run around for three blocks and stay down, without blowing himself up.
-
cont...
3. From the article... "But at a news conference today, Bruce's attorney said his client didn't understand what Marakis said. "Lance Cpl. Bruce defended himself with the full legality of the law for being sexually attacked and potentially robbed," lawyer Jeffrey Brown said"
So, with all that said and you making a statement like.. "The crime, itself, be it battery, assault, whatever, is what one should be tried for...Not how they feel about someone/group. " is really ignorant... You do know what that means right? If not, read and learn about it...
Oh and on your little note you sent me... you wrote " I see you describe yourself as a thug...So be it... If you want to be at thug, go for it. If you are going to get all thuggy on me with your comments though, I will take you to task for them.... " lol.. really? thuggy? what is that? and in my profile it says,
"Favorite quote " Yes I'm gona say, that I'm a thug, that's because I came from the gutter and I'm still here" .. is from a famous rapper who I admire very much.So, please don't do the ol' change the subject to something complete off subject, and irrelevant defense comment any more. Next time, stay on the subject...
Oops!
-
Caps help make certain words stand out. It's something I do for those who can't understand a POINT, without having it POINTED out for them.
As a white boy, or CRACKER, who accidently walked into a neighborhood he wasn't warmly welcomed into, because of his color, I understand what HATE crimes are KSirys. The crime wasn't the boys kicking the shit out of me for being white. THE CRIME WAS KICKING THE SHIT OUT OF ME. It's called assault. The fact that you cannot understand this simple concept proves who the simple one in this conversation is.
And as for the little note I sent you using sarcasm to POINT OUT how you have misread, misunderstood my previous comments on Currrent, it was suppose to be funny.
It was also suppose to be private. But I guess you cannot understand the concept of a PM either!
I guess you only are able to understand stuff when it is spelled out to the L.E.T.T.E.R.
Example:
Paraphrased to get the meat of the misunderstanding...
http://current.com/items/91380817_locked-up-for-lif...
S3th said:
"Oh, the poor rapists....
Meanwhile the victims of their horrific crimes go unmentioned. I guess it's better then trivializing them, or making rape apologies for why they DESERVED it!!"
KSirys responds:
"You said he deserved it, or didn't you??"
You thought I was referring to the thirteen year old rapist. I was referring to the WOMEN who are raped.
But I guess you consider the 13 year old rapist of the story the VICTIM, while completely ingoring the girl who was raped. Do you make excuses for WHY she DESERVED it as well?
Now, I'll clarify something a litte more for you, so that there is no chance for misinterpretation.
The experiences of being attacked because of other peoples hate, did not create, in my mind, a need to prosecute them for their own misplaced hate. While they should have been prosecuted for Assault and Battery, I took my ass kicking as a lesson on which neighborhood this cracker should avoid at all costs.
As for their hate, it's thiers to deal with. It will cause them to do things which will hurt THEMSELVES. You see, hatred is a crime against yourself. You lose out on genuinely wonderful events with people who differ from you. You live your life in your own self-imposed prison cell where you see people of different races, religions, etc. as enemies instead of allies in life, helping you to live a peaceful existence.
Since you seem to revere rappers, you must find their lyrics enlightening...
There is nothing enlighening about HATE, MISOGYNY, or CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.Meanwhile I stand by this. Hating isn't something one should be prosecuted for by a state/city/federal court. The crimes one commits, are what you should be prosecuted for. The hatred one has inside themself is their own personal crime against themself, which they pay for every day of their life.
-
Tampa, Florida. That's it. You can do whatever you want to another person if you feel that you are being threatened in Florida. Another reason why I stay away from there. The army may discipline the reservist, but he will probably walk right through the Florida court system without even a slap on the wrist. Unless of course, he is a black man.
-
-
-
-
- EdJoyProductions
- 9 days ago
-
-
What the hell does this guy thinks about America Geez. The military really fucks up people.
-
-
-
-
- LadybugLady
- 7 days ago
-
