More than a year after local musician and artist Jeff "Git" Hagan was beaten within an inch of his life at the News Room, Jackson County prosecutors have charged a man with the assault.
On Wednesday, prosecutors charged 32-year-old Frank J. Downing of Overland Park with first-degree assault for allegedly beating Hagan at the Broadway bar on March 5, 2008.
Court records say Downing told police on November 25, 2008: "It was a
drunken bar fight and he picked the wrong guy. You saw the video. I
stomped his fucking ass to make sure he didn't fuck with me again."
Harper over on the Wayward Blog wrote about Hagan's recovery after two months in a coma and several months of therapy, relearning how to walk, talk and make art and music.
Court records give this account:
Hagan and a friend were drinking at the News Room when Hagan exchanged
words with Downing and another man referred to as "suspect #2."
A News Room bartender told police that Hagan was acting
"belligerent" toward "customers who were talking politics." Another
witness told police that Hagan was "mouthy and acted like he was half
shot."
The bartender tried to calm Hagan down, but Hagan argued with Downing
and "suspect #2" and then pushed "suspect #2" in the head. The
bartender told Hagan not to touch the man. They shook hands, and
"suspect #2" bought Hagan and another man a round of drinks. But
Downing was still mad.
Downing talked to Hagan and ended up buying Hagan another beer. But as
the bartender grabbed the beer, he heard Downing ask: "Did you just
call me a motherfucker? I just bought you a beer, show some respect."
The bartender told police that he overhead Hagan telling Downing that he knew karate and could "smash Frank's face in."
Court
records say Downing told Hagan, "Well then just hit me. I enjoy getting
my face beat in as much as I enjoy beating someone's ass."
Hagan
punched Downing in the face, and Downing punched Hagan several times,
knocking Hagan to the floor. Downing allegedly kicked Hagan in the head
as other customer tried to break up the fight.
A witness called the police and Downing and "suspect #2" fled the bar.
Hagan was unconscious when police arrived on the scene.
Later, several witnesses picked Downing out of a police lineup.
Photo by Jason Harper
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Franky D is a good dude. I know this for a fact.so what some big mouth punk got stomped out.and that punk magan hit my friend in the face. fuck magan what a pussy. I hope everyone else sees it that way because Frank shouldent get in any trouble for defending himself.
Sounds to me like "Git" stepped in over his head and got his ass handed to him old-school. You play with fire and you will get burned. The fellow that ended up winning this fight should walk on these charges as he didn't strat the fight--he ended it.
Its always the guy who gets his ass kicked that the police fall in love with he becomes what they calla victim. Sometimes people need to realize its alot easier than you think to not become a victim, mind your own business buy a strap and lock your doors but you sure as shit dont go into some bar runnin your jib at Franky D because you think you can sing. And to be honest the Newsroom aint the bar to go to for a nice peacefull night on the town. Franky givem the batwing and step. I did two years over some victim I never even touched so hang in there the system aint new to you and you know what to do. Fuckin big mouth got his. I know Frank he dont just go around startin shit unless you owe him money lol. Dirty D
I agree with the other commentators. Don't bite off more than your proverbial mouth can masticate. Further, the entire incident was on tape, which has been in police custody for over a year. I pray for Downing and his family. It is a shame for a man to suffer for what I call self defense.
This Git individual deserves no sympathy what so ever. He deserved to get his ass beat, dont run your mouth if you cant handle it. Frank is inocent!
I don't know what happened here. I certainly wasn't there. But I have no sympathy for people who don't know how to act.
There are a lot of people who run their mouths because they haven't had the pleasure of being punched there.
In fairness to the Pitch, the earlier version appeared to be derived from the police report, which told a completely different story than what came out in court. According to an unidentified "witness" in the police report, Downing and another guy attacked Hagan in a two-on-one. The court records show Hagan as initiating the whole thing, first by pushing the other guy, then by punching Downing. The court record also makes no mention of anyone other than Downing hitting Hagan. Makes you wonder if that "witness" was one of Hagan's buddies.
Sorry, but being a musician and an artist isn't license to be an asshole and go around picking fights with people. If the court records tell the real story, Downing should get himself a good lawyer because he's being railroaded.
Realist is right, when the Pitch started reporting on what happened to Mr. Hagan, it was made to look like some random act of violence, but in reality it was the complete opposite.
Hagan was drunk, looking for trouble and found a whole lot more than he could handle with Downing. Hagan looks like the asshole in this updated version of events, Downing seemed to have gone out of his way to avoid a confrontation.
I'm really not seeing where this guy deserves a lot of sympathy. He got drunk and picked a fight with somebody who proceeded to beat the shit out of him. If you ask me, he had it coming. Don't bite off more than you can chew, drunk or not.
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