Post by KC on Jul 22, 2006 22:41:45 GMT -5
July 28, 2006 - MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — A jury has acquitted a man who was charged with assault after authorities said an assistant prosecutor, police officer and courtroom bailiff all got sick after shaking hands with him.
The Isabella County jury deliberated about 2 1/2 hours Friday before finding John Curtis Ridgeway, 42, of Kalkaska, not guilty of assaulting a police officer and two counts of assaulting a public officer.
He could have faced up to six years in prison if convicted.
Gratiot County Prosecutor Keith Kushion, who handled the case because it involved Isabella County employees, declined to comment.
Defense lawyer William Shirley said jurors made the right decision because there was no intent on Ridgeway's part to harm anyone.
After a Dec. 21, 2005 jury trial in Isabella County where he was found guilty of a misdemeanor charge of driving without insurance, authorities said Ridgeway was observed pulling out a vial of liquid and rubbing his hands with the contents.
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.
After he was charged, Ridgeway told The Associated Press that the substance was olive oil. He testified that he used oil to anoint "corrupt buildings" and that it was meant to rid the buildings of demons.
www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-36/1153579157263080.xml&storylist=newsmichigan
The Isabella County jury deliberated about 2 1/2 hours Friday before finding John Curtis Ridgeway, 42, of Kalkaska, not guilty of assaulting a police officer and two counts of assaulting a public officer.
He could have faced up to six years in prison if convicted.
Gratiot County Prosecutor Keith Kushion, who handled the case because it involved Isabella County employees, declined to comment.
Defense lawyer William Shirley said jurors made the right decision because there was no intent on Ridgeway's part to harm anyone.
After a Dec. 21, 2005 jury trial in Isabella County where he was found guilty of a misdemeanor charge of driving without insurance, authorities said Ridgeway was observed pulling out a vial of liquid and rubbing his hands with the contents.
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.
After he was charged, Ridgeway told The Associated Press that the substance was olive oil. He testified that he used oil to anoint "corrupt buildings" and that it was meant to rid the buildings of demons.
www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-36/1153579157263080.xml&storylist=newsmichigan