Michigan man charged with assaulting postal carrier over Kamala Harris flyer
Michigan man charged with assaulting postal carrier over Kamala Harris flyer
A 61-year-old man faces multiple criminal charges after allegedly assaulting a female postal carrier upon receiving a flyer in the mail featuring Vice President Kamala Harris.
**(CBS DETROIT) — **A 61-year-old Farmington Hills man faces multiple criminal charges after he allegedly assaulted a female postal carrier Thursday evening upon receiving a flyer in the mail featuring Vice President Kamala Harris.
Investigators say Russell Frank Valleau was allegedly upset about receiving the particular piece of mail and told the postal carrier that he did not want that "Black b****" in his mailbox. He's accused of yelling derogatory, racist and sexual remarks about Harris and the carrier, calling the postal carrier a "Black b****" and lunging at her with a knife.
The postal carrier used pepper spray on Valleau to stop the attack. Farmington Hills police later arrested him in a neighbor's yard.
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Only a possible two years in prison for attempted murder?
Valleau was arraigned Friday on one felony count of ethnic intimidation and one misdemeanor count of assault and battery. He pleaded not guilty and was issued a $25,000 bond.
If convicted of ethnic intimidation, Valleau faces up to two years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
That doesn't include the misdemeanor assault charge. He's not being charged with attempted murder, it sounds like he brandished a knife and yelled slurs but didn't attack her.
The article language wry much makes it sound like attempted murder, "lunging at her with a knife" you don't hold a knife toward someone and rush toward them unless you're planning on stabbing them.
Neither I nor the article writer were there, so we don't know the exact motion, but the words of the article make it sound like attempted murder to me.
Prosecutors can amend charges, they are probably still collecting evidence to determine if they can prosecute a higher charge, which is when they'd bring in something like attempted murder.
I'm sure there is some legally restricting element like "a clear intent to kill" which would have to be demonstrated in court to have that charge stick.
Police and prosecutors often use extremely hyperbolic language in order to bolster their case.
Even if he lunges it's "just" assault, brandishing, terroristic threats. The dudes an idiot but that's not attempted murder.