The video report in the link gets the story across better IMO
Bruce, a reservist with a West Palm Beach unit since March, had his trunk open so he could get dry cleaning out when he was approached by Marakis. There accounts of the exchange differ, but moments later Bruce grabbed a tire iron from the trunk, hit Marakis four times over and chased him about three blocks before pinning him on the sidewalk, 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. Police say when officers arrived 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.
At a news conference Tuesday, 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.
This Bruce guy was on a local radio show this morning to tell his side of the story. According to him, some guy in a robe and scraggily beard came up to him while he was getting stuff out of his trunk, grabbed his nuts and said "I want to F- you". He says he pushed the guys away, grabbed a tire iron from the trunk, called 911 and warned the guy to back off. When the guy (who he obviously didn't know was a priest) came at him again, he slugged him with the iron a couple of times all while on the phone with the 911 dispatcher. He then proceded to chase the guy for a couple of blocks and restained him until police arrived.
I suspect this Bruce dude really did think he was being assulted, but probably overreacted to at least some degree. Since the whole thing was captured on the 911 audio, and witnessed by a handfull of bystanders, the true story will come out in court.
SunCoastBlueHen wrote:This Bruce guy was on a local radio show this morning to tell his side of the story. According to him, some guy in a robe and scraggily beard came up to him while he was getting stuff out of his trunk, grabbed his nuts and said "I want to F- you". He says he pushed the guys away, grabbed a tire iron from the trunk, called 911 and warned the guy to back off. When the guy (who he obviously didn't know was a priest) came at him again, he slugged him with the iron a couple of times all while on the phone with the 911 dispatcher. He then proceded to chase the guy for a couple of blocks and restained him until police arrived.
I suspect this Bruce dude really did think he was being assulted, but probably overreacted to at least some degree. Since the whole thing was captured on the 911 audio, and witnessed by a handfull of bystanders, the true story will come out in court.
I believe that the bulk of the church sexual violations would not exist had the congregation been armed with tire irons...
Q: Name something that offends Republicans?
A: The actual teachings of Jesus
andy7171 wrote:So wait, who said he said Allah akbar? Did Bruce change the story he told 911?
When Bruce called 911, he said he heard Marakis say "Allah akbar." It appears from the story, he's changed his tune once he realized Marakis was Greek and not a "Terrorist". As SCBH said, with the differing versions of the story offered by Bruce along with witnesses who were there and Marakis side of the story, probably have to wait til court to get all the facts straight.
andy7171 wrote:So wait, who said he said Allah akbar? Did Bruce change the story he told 911?
When Bruce called 911, he said he heard Marakis say "Allah akbar." It appears from the story, he's changed his tune once he realized Marakis was Greek and not a "Terrorist". As SCBH said, with the differing versions of the story offered by Bruce along with witnesses who were there and Marakis side of the story, probably have to wait til court to get all the facts straight.
He looked like a douche bag, but his wife was pretty hot.
"Elaine, you're from Baltimore, right?"
"Yes, well, Towson actually."
dbackjon wrote:Rumor has it the marine moonlights as a male escort. More on this later
Wouldn't surprise me. Buddy of mine who was a company commander with 3/5 out at Pendleton had NCIS show up at his office one day with a manila envelope and asked if he could verify that these marines were from his unit.
He opened the envelope to find pics of two troops from his company with balls across the nose.
dbackjon wrote:Rumor has it the marine moonlights as a male escort. More on this later
Wouldn't surprise me. Buddy of mine who was a company commander with 3/5 out at Pendleton had NCIS show up at his office one day with a manila envelope and asked if he could verify that these marines were from his unit.
He opened the envelope to find pics of two troops from his company with balls across the nose.
Don't ask, don't tell, don't make gay porn in LA.
Gosh, I didn't realize DBack was a veteran....thank you for your service Jon....
“It’s like someone found a manic, doom-prophesying hobo in a sandwich board, shaved him, shot him full of Zoloft and gave him a show.” - The Buffalo Beast commenting on Glenn Beck
SunCoastBlueHen wrote:This Bruce guy was on a local radio show this morning to tell his side of the story. According to him, some guy in a robe and scraggily beard came up to him while he was getting stuff out of his trunk, grabbed his nuts and said "I want to F- you". He says he pushed the guys away, grabbed a tire iron from the trunk, called 911 and warned the guy to back off. When the guy (who he obviously didn't know was a priest) came at him again, he slugged him with the iron a couple of times all while on the phone with the 911 dispatcher. He then proceded to chase the guy for a couple of blocks and restained him until police arrived.
I suspect this Bruce dude really did think he was being assulted, but probably overreacted to at least some degree. Since the whole thing was captured on the 911 audio, and witnessed by a handfull of bystanders, the true story will come out in court.
"you want some of this SunCoast......."
$150 will get you some.......and maybe a tire iron over the head!
