Assault Victim Wants Answers

Tuesday, July 24th 2007, 4:32 pm

By: News On 6

An assault victim is on a quest for justice. The manager of an Owasso restaurant says he was roughed up by a former employee. Police arrested the employee that day and the case went to city court, which is where the victim says justice was derailed. News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports the city prosecutor dismissed the case against the employee and ordered him to pay court costs of $34. The victim says he wants answers about why this happened, but even that has been frustrating.

"I just opened it a little bit to see who it was," assault victim Mike Adams said.

Mike Adams is a manager at the 3 Tomatoes and a Mozzarella restaurant in Owasso. On June 4, 2007, an employee, who had quit the week before, showed up at the back door on a day the restaurant was closed, said Adams. Two days earlier that same employee had allegedly called 27 times making threats. Adams says on June 4th they calmly talked about 20 minutes, then, the man lost it.

"He grabbed me by the throat and started to force his way inside,â€ said Adams. â€œI grabbed his arms and we danced and struggled all the way out to the parking lot."

Mike got away, called police and they arrested the employee. In pictures taken two hours after the altercation finger marks could be seen on Mikeâ€™s neck.

"It really did scare me, not so much at the moment, adrenalin, heart beating a mile a minute, really scared me later,â€ Adams said. â€œI live in this town and it's a small town."

Mike called the court clerk's office to check on a court date and inform them he was going to Germany for 17 days. They assured him he wasn't needed, but when he came back he learned the case had been dismissed, and the man paid $34 in court costs. Mike and the restaurant owner were furious.

"So what, I can go up to any place of business anywhere and assault somebody for $34? We're in the wild west at that point," 3 Tomatoes and a Mozzarella restaurant owner Greg Peters said.

Mike says he asked why the case was dropped and asked to talk to the prosecutor, but was told he couldn't have that information.

"They actually made Mike feel like the bad guy for trying to find out what was going on with the case," said Peters.

Owasso's city prosecutor Chuck Ramsey and the judge both have full time jobs elsewhere and only work one night a week in Owasso. Ramsey is out of town until next Monday, and the owner of the restaurant contacted the Owasso city manager who says he's looking into the matter.

The clerk's office said victims aren't contacted unless the case gets set for a non-jury trial. The Owasso police officer working the case told News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright he was surprised to hear the case had been dismissed, and that he had not been called to testify.

Had the suspect been convicted of the misdemeanor assault and battery charge, the fine would've been $304.

Watch the video: Assault Victim Seeks Justice