Three Richmond Mall security guards and the brother of one were ordered to the Madison District Court diversion program Tuesday because of their roles in the alleged Aug. 15, 2008, assault of a mall patron.
The four — Troy Pollock, Josh Farthing and Chris Rawlins, along with his brother Jason Rawlins (who is a former Richmond Mall security guard, but was not employed at the time of the incident) — are accused of the alleged assault of 18-year-old Kyle Sharp near the food court entrance of the mall.
Sharp was charged with disorderly conduct in connection with the same incident, but that charged was dismissed in district court.
Sharp’s attorney, Wes Browne, filed a civil suit Tuesday in Madison Circuit Court against: Bush Realty Richmond Mall LLC; Eagle Security LLC; Jason and Chris Rawlins; and Josh Farthing and Troy Pollock.
Pollock is the same guard who, six days earlier, Aug. 9, 2008, ejected mall patron Kym Clem from the mall for wearing a short skirt.
“After Ms. Clem’s story aired, we fielded a number of phone calls from mall patrons who claimed they were mistreated by the security guards,” Browne said. “What made Kyle’s case stand out was the number of eyewitnesses who saw the attack, and the severity of what happened. We hope any eyewitnesses who did not give a statement to police will come forward.”
There were at least three eyewitnesses based on 911 calls made at the time of the incident.
“You’d better get a bunch of officers out here because they don’t know what the hell they’re doing,” said one 911 caller. “They’re beating people for no damn reason, and I’ve got several witnesses here saying exactly what happened. They attacked him first. He (Sharp) ain’t hurt, but these security guards are jumping him for no reason. And I mean jumping.”
Another caller claimed: “A security guard just attacked a kid for no (expletive) reason. The security guards just tried to shove a kid out of the mall. He was going back in there to buy a drink and I guess see his girlfriend and he just got attacked. Right by the food court.”
The third caller told the 911 dispatcher: “Yeah, this kid just got his ass whooped.”
According to a statement from Browne, the three security guards and Jason Rawlins prevented Sharp from escaping.
“Pollock is a small guy, but the other two security guards are huge, body-builder types, and Jason Rawlins is a very large man,” Browne said. “They may have outnumbered Kyle four to one, but they probably outweighed him seven to one. He missed several weeks of work because of his injuries.”
All four defendants are being represented by Richmond attorney Jerry Gilbert.
“I’m unable to comment on the civil complaint that was filed,” Gilbert said, who had not had a chance to read the suit as of press time.
The suit seeks: “Judgment against the defendants, in an amount that will fairly and reasonably compensate the plaintiff for the damages caused by the defendants’ actions; punitive damages against the defendants; for pre-judgment interest; for trial by jury; his costs expended herein, including reasonable attorney fees; and any and all other relief to which the plaintiff may appear entitled.”
The defendants will appear again in Madison Circuit Court on July 14.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 6698.
Local News
Mall guards, another sued for alleged attack
- Local News
-
-
‘She wasn’t just a teacher’ : Lambert retires after 43 years at Berea
Scroll to the bottom of the story to read "Love for Lambert: Berea graduates share memories of their teacher," as well as a list of other Berea retirees this year.
Writer’s Note: Brenda Lambert is the reason I write articles today (Class of 2000).
Years ago, a little blonde-haired girl from Rockcastle County gathered her friends to “play school” in a 10-by-10 foot playhouse her father built.
Even at 12 years old, Brenda Lambert knew she wanted to be a teacher one day.
“I always felt like an old person trapped in a young person's body,” said Lambert, who is retiring after 43 years of service to Berea Community School. -
Special Olympics return for 18th year at EKU
Next weekend, the Special Olympics Kentucky State Summer Games return to Eastern Kentucky University campus. This is the 18th consecutive year EKU has hosted the event.
The games will be Friday through June 2. About 1,300 athletes will compete this year. -
Assault charges reduced, dismissed by grand jury
Two men arrested in connection with serious assaults had their charges reduced, and in one case dismissed, by a Madison grand jury.
Jerry Wayne Edington, 34, of Berea Road, was charged Jan. 19 with second-degree assault after an altercation at the Blue Moon bar on East Irvine Street, according to a Richmond police report. -
Dump of the Day
The Dump of the Day is a recurring series the newspaper publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Page A7 in Sunday's paper to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.
-
Paradise Cove open through Labor Day
Opening day of Paradise Cove Family Aquatic Center coincided with a spike in temperatures Friday which reached 90 degrees. The facility, located in Richmond’s Lake Reba Park, will be open through Sept. 3. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
-
Dump of the Day
An old mattress, a car seat and other debris sit Friday afternoon on North Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets where it was first spotted Thursday. The “Dump of the Day” is a recurring series the Richmond Register publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Sunday’s Richmond Register to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.
-
Undefeated academic team brings pride to Madison Middle School
Madison Middle School 6th and 7th grade academic teams have been undefeated for the last two years.
The 8th grade team also has done well, having some students qualify to compete at the state level. -
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
-
Man is indicted on additional sex charge involving teen in 1998
A man already accused of sex abuse in November 2011 has been indicted on a charge of first-degree rape involving a child in 1998.
Charles W. Peyton, 63, of East Irvine Street, was indicted Wednesday by a Madison grand jury. He used “forcible compulsion” to have sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl between March 1 and May 1 in 1998, according to the indictment. -
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
Officers responded to a call in the 1000 block of Scaffold Cane Road about a man trying to break into a home, according to a release from BPD Public Information Officer Jake Reed. - More Local News Headlines
-
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
