Suspect in assault top military wrestler

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Out of Control - 2009-11-09 14:21:30

The article said he knoocked off a woman's hat, threw something at her and then knocked her to the ground. This apparently was followed with verbal assault. The assailant is a 185 lb. trained wrestler. He was cognitive enough to perform a spin move, place the officer in a chocker hold and slam him to the ground. It took 3-4 people to get him under control. Sorry, he deserved to be charged and should face his day in court. Hoffman was not charged with being drunk. Intoxication does not excuse criminal behavior.

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harry trampolini - severna park, MD - Karma: Neutral

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drunken debacle - 2009-11-08 16:52:06

First and foremost, Hoffman's a moron and a donkey for being so infantile with the woman and assaulting her.
However, I'm with Frenaye in that this donkey also really could have mistaken the officer for a bar patron in costume. The article doesn't say how Owen went about attempting to clarify that he truly was law enforcement. Furthermore, considering the state the donkey was in - was it smart to physically address him until the officer actually had back up? He posed no threat to anyone else in the area at the moment. Yes, according to the officer he was attempting to leave the scene - but really? Tell the victim to stay where she is and keep sight of the assailant until he actually has a lucid moment and realizes you're a cop or you have another officer to assist you. Patience goes a long way...and won't cost taxpayers money for the "injuries in the smack down", as the author put it.

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T Jackson - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

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BIll Raye - 2009-11-07 20:57:51

It is illegal and impolite. However, if Hoffmann believed it was a costumed partier and he grabbed him (likely grabbed his arm and tried ot pull it behind his back) he will do what he is trained to do.

As to why it took 4...well, once it got going I imagine the adrenaline took over.

Hoffmann is an ass for hitting a woman. But I also have to say on that ONE night of the year, I can see how it happened.

Call it disorderly conduct or public drunkenness, and the assault and resisting charges will be dropped.

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John Frenaye - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

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rediculous - 2009-11-07 16:36:52

As a person that witnessed this event I would completely agree that this altercation would be settled much more quickly with the aide of a taser. I'm also curious to how much of the incident the offender even remembers given that he wouldn't let go of the officer or give up to 4 officers wrestling/beating him and telling him to stop resisting.
At first glance i thought it was a drunken wrestling match between a couple costumed characters until 3 other officers in matching gear rushed to the scene.

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Ttoe C - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Tasers - 2009-11-07 14:49:16

Some county officers have them. The demand is greater than the funds. They get trained and when one becomes available, they get them.

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Stephanie F - , - Karma: Excellent

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Red herrings - 2009-11-07 01:44:12

JR, I don't think any reasonable person needs an explanation of why police are issued weapons or seriously asks "why there are police involved shootings" in a general sense. But I think people might ask why there are so *many* shootings lately in Anne Arundel County and question the circumstances of particular shootings of unarmed people and the like. ... As to those who said Annapolis police need to be issued Tasers, there's a proposed bill to allow exactly that, which the Capital wrote about a few weeks ago. Don't county police already have them?

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Paul Wilson - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Comment removed by HometownAnnapolis staff. - 2009-11-06 22:18:30

Staff message: Why is this comment hidden?

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- Karma: Neutral

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Uhmmm, John - 2009-11-06 20:26:28

Correct me if I'm wrong, but even if the officer had been a person wearing a costume, isn't it still against the law, or at least sorta impolite, to body slam him into the ground and choke him...still an assault, right?

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Bill Raye - Pasadena, Md - Karma: Neutral

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A different point of view - 2009-11-06 19:15:38

Certainly assaulting an officer is bad news and wrong. No argument there. Shoving a woman to the ground is also a no no in my book.

I am not making excuses for Hoffmann, but--it was Halloween and the officer appeared to be "partially" uniformed. The article says it was a t-shirt that said POLICE across the chest. These are readily available anywhere and given that it was Halloween, it COULD have been a costume.

Couple that with the time of night and a bit of alcohol and is someone able to discern "police issued weapons" from perhaps some fake costume props?

And now this guy is in the military and a trained fighter, I imagine it was only instinct.

Had there been a fully uniformed officer or perhaps a patrol car at the initial incident, the outcome may have been far different.

My guess is that charges will be dropped or he will get a slap on the wrist and it will be called an unfortunate accident.

I do hope Officer Owens is recovering and I am glad that it ended with only a few people with relatively minor injuries--it could have been a lot worse.

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John Frenaye - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

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Coward - 2009-11-06 15:26:30

I'm dismayed that such a large man, trained by the military and trained as an athlete to use his size and strength, would use it to resist arrest, but even more disgusting is that he allegedly used it to harrass a young lady. If the reporting is accurate, it seems that it was used in a threatening manner, as he pushed her to the ground. That in my mind, would have been enough reason to tase him! But thanks to the former Marine who aided in subduing Mr Hoffman; only wish he would've applied a couple of quick knees or elbows in the process!

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Call Me Ish-Email - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

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Thats why they issue a weapon - 2009-11-06 14:21:05

And people want to question why there are police involved shootings. All police should carry tasers and if that doesn't subdue a criminal then use one of the other options in your belt

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J R - Gambrills, md - Karma: Neutral

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Drunk + stupid = arrest - 2009-11-06 13:46:57

Thank you for your service, Ofc. Owen. I hope your one the mend and able to return to work when you are ready.

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Jeff O - Pasadena, MD - Karma: Excellent

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Hoffman - 2009-11-06 13:36:28

Sounds like stupidity fueled by alcohol. Sounds like Annapolis police need to be issued tasers, so they don't have to wrestle with these idiots that resist arrest.

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Rick M - Laurel, Md - Karma: Excellent