Letter: Bully makes life a hell for publishing a newsletter

Thursday, May 8, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

A bully in the Wimbledon Condominiums, upset with criticisms of him in our weekly in-house newspaper Network, which I publish and distribute to our 100 subscribers, opted to object by use of force: slugging me April 3 and again May 3. Both times, Metro quickly responded but, to nobody's surprise, he was nowhere to be found and would not respond to police knocks at his door. At urging of several neighbors, I commenced to carry pepper spray. And got a protective order from Justice Court.

Returning from sunday brunch, he confronts me in the lobby, damns the protective order as having faulty service and proceeds upon me. He is warned, not once, but twice. He continues, and gets a full can of pepper spray, sending him running off to the lobby. I'd forgotten to keep one eye closed (as spray vendors warn) so have my personal eye problems too, but within 30 minutes, they disappear. Metro arrives. Sees that the protective order is properly served (by them). They cannot issue him a citation for the prior assault and battery, they issue them only at the time when defendant is present. I'm there. I get a misdemeanor battery citation for "unlawful use of force upon the person of another by pepper spraying."

Guess it doesn't pay to defend oneself anymore.

Michael Schaefer