You'd think someone 30 would be beyond this kind of behavior. Sheesh.

You'd think someone 30 would be beyond this kind of behavior. Sheesh.

Tell that to, uh, the world.

Immaturity knows no age limit.

Immaturity knows no age limit.

Heh, sounds like a t-shirt or a bumper sticker. But I'm going to hold that a 30-year-old should be past the age where scuffling with cops sounds like a workable idea, alcohol or no.

"But I'm going to hold that a 30-year-old should be past the age where scuffling with cops sounds like a workable idea, alcohol or no."

In theory, yeah, but it still happens. Al Reyes got popped for the same thing this spring, and he's almost 40.

Police used a Taser on O'Balle and his 46-year-old father Gilbert O'Balle. They also shot pepper spray at the pair and the surrounding crowd, documents stated.

These guys are going to give the Ligue family a run for their money.

These guys are going to give the Ligue family a run for their money.

They already have a better name.

Maybe he got confused and thought they told him to go ahead and Backe away.

A co-worker attended that wedding in Galveston. He didn't seem to know what set off the police officers, but the story I got that the police officers seemed overly aggressive in this situation. I know that the people that were arrested are collecting evidence against the police officers in preparation for a class action lawsuit.

You won't have Scott Spiezio to kick around anymore!

Was Ed Wade or Shawn Chacon involved?

Police are nearly always overly aggressive; they're self-selected, after all. Of course, whether they are or not, this behavior only makes it worse, and gives them a license to continue to act that way.

But I am somewhat surprised if the police went off without sufficient provocation at a gathering of rich people.

um all yall

the ligues ran onto a baseball field and attacked an old man who hadn't done nothing.

this is REAL different

the police in galveston beat a guy almost to death - he's in the ICU. there is a LOT more to this here story so it is not just backe was dead drunk and a cop tried to do something about it. it is more like the rest of the people tried to do something about the cops.

vaux

you don't know galveston. and yeh, the san luis is a real nice hotel but remember it is one of the only places left on the island you can hold a wedding party in these days. backe and his friends ain't zackly one of the 5 families...

FEMA coordinator Jaime Forero was also placed in custody during the incident, which occurred just after midnight at the hotel's bar.

Not sure what to make of that, but waiting for more information before jumping on the "drunken ballplayer goes beserk" bandwagon may be in order.

So was the FEMA coordinator a wedding guest or is he staying at the hotel while supervising FEMA's activity in Galveston?

Which do you think is more embarrassing, having all your friends and family read in the paper you were involved in a fight, or having all your friends and family read in the paper that you work for FEMA?

Some interesting links. From the Galveston County Daily News,

“It’s blatantly obvious — this was the fault of the Galveston Police Department,” said Dennis Byrd, the owner of a seawall restaurant.

One police officer arriving at the bar, which was at the scene of a gathering after the wedding, described the scene as a riot.

According to police reports released Sunday night, Lt. Joel Caldwell said he arrived at the bar and saw seven to 10 people fighting.

However, Byrd, who owns The Spot, disputed the police officers’ accounts of the arrest.

“It was utter chaos,” Byrd said. “The wedding ended roughly at 11 p.m., and shortly thereafter we proceeded to the San Luis. Some of the wedding party stayed there.”

Byrd said he saw Backe obey police orders and place his arms in the air.

“He repeatedly said, ‘OK, I’m cool,’” Byrd said. The shifting crowd forced Backe to move, and then police arrested him, Byrd said.

15. jwb Posted: October 06, 2008 at 01:14 PM (#2971611)
So was the FEMA coordinator a wedding guest or is he staying at the hotel while supervising FEMA's activity in Galveston?

According to this account from someone who claims to have there, Forero could have been either,

As a first hand witness, I can attest that no such riot took place. If anything, such a "riot or brawl" was ensued by GPD officers themselves rushing H20. The supposed 200 persons at H20 was in actuality between 60-70 persons when officers arrived.

Also another question to be addressed is to why certain Galveston Police Officers were so apt to direct San Luis pool bar attendants in cleaning up the blood from the altercation. If Mr. Backe's injuries were photographed, I would only expect the pool of blood from the other subject to be photographed as well as part of evidence. I witnessed no such thing, yet watched pool attendants mop pools of blood under police and San Luis supervision.

I know only a few of the wedding party members and this is the first time I have ever interacted with Mr. Backe, but I will be the first to support and applaud his efforts. Mr. Backe and Mr. Ferero acted truly as public figures should in standing up for persons who were subjected to brutality at the hands of police flurried by an isolated altercation.

Just ballplayers being ballplayers.

the police officers seemed overly aggressive in this situation

Shocker.

During the brawl, Backe was told by police to back away.

"I thought they were calling me over, your Honor. They kept yelling 'Backe, hey!'"