WSB-TV broadcast about the arrest of General William Livsey (US Army - Retired). General Livsey served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He retired as a four-star general.
Ten cops, really? To arrest an eighty-four year old man?
More below . . .
General Livsey is charged with simple assault, robbery, misdemeanor obstruction, theft and making terroristic threats on Saturday. Fayetteville cops allege he attacked a delivery driver after his debit card was declined, and a police officer.
Witnesses in the neighbourhood say that the police response was excessive; a witness in the house says that the attack did not happen, it was a misunderstanding.
General Livsey was released on his own recognizance in lieu of $12,000 bond.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted that a portion of Highway 314 in town was renamed the “General Bill Livsey Highway” in Livsey’s honor. He retired from duty in 1987, following a career that saw him win the Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star and Distinguished Service Medal, amongst other honours.
Quoting the Journal-Constitution article on the incident:
“It’s the first time in my life I’m ashamed to be an American,” Livsey said. “They took me away without my shoes, glasses or medicine.”
He added, “I fought for this country so hard, and I’ve tried to do good all my life.”
Livsey was a platoon leader in the Korean War and later commanded an infantry battalion in Vietnam before returning to South Korea to command U.S. forces there in the mid-1980s. He retired in 1987.
The article notes he tried to punch and kick one or more officers, all while making "disparaging remarks," (the latter a death-penalty offence but the police were merciful in this case).
His wrists were injured, allegedly from the way he was handcuffed.
According to the Journal-Constitution article, General Livsey . . .
. . . said there were several guests at his house at the time of the incident. He said he sent his assistant to the restaurant to pay for the food and give the driver a tip.
Livsey also said Royal Chef wanted to drop the incident but the Fayetteville police made “a spectacle of it and a spectacle of me.”
He also said to the television station after he returned home: “I feel like I could wipe a tiger’s ass with sandpaper.”
Did the fellow do as the police claim? I cannot say, but considering the number of witnesses both inside and outside the house, the fact the restaurant wanted to drop all this, and the fact the guy is eighty-freakin' four, I suspect there is a bit of exaggeration on the part of the police (after all, they have to justify using ten cops to secure an eighty-four year old man).