No charges in threats against alderman

[SoxFan]

Source: New Hampshire Union Leader

MANCHESTER – Former Alderman Keith Hirschmann says he was just being "sarcastic" when he threatened to maim Alderman Peter Sullivan in a message on an online discussion board.

SNIP

Sullivan, a Ward 3 Democrat, said he interpreted the message as a death threat. The message referred to Sullivan by name and said, "if you could please jay walk near the corner of pearl and elm, i'll do you the favor of not having to kill yourself." The writer then mused about what would happen if a car rammed into Sullivan at 25 mph, saying, "well that (would) put part of you near bridge st."

SNIP

Sullivan said the message crossed a line.

"There are just certain things you don't do," he said. "Threats ... have no place in politics, at any level, whether it's on an Internet discussion board or in a committee room."

Read more: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=39716ff6-12a2-4a99-a736-ab7288d92d26

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Full disclosure: I'm the guy who received the threat.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. And this joker's not being charged?

Watch your back.

I am appalled and horrified that he's getting away with this.

He's obviously certifiable, to my mind anyway.

Sick bastard.

[WatchWhatISay]

2. "The November 2008 message begins, . . . and is replete with misspellings"

This should have been your first clue that it was probably your Republican oppostition. I'm sure the thought must have crossed your mind.

I think you are absolutely right to take this as a serious threat and get the police involved. Even though he won't be charged, he has been exposed as a childish bully and would be the first person suspected if anything happens to you.

Ironic that he refers to you as "unstable".

[Dogmudgeon]

3. The bastard!

Us Sox fans have it hard enough as it is.

Seriously, though -- you did exactly the right thing. But it sounds like the guy isn't so much dangerous as an immature prick. And it sure sounds like what passes for Internet "humo(u)r". None the less, take care. Perhaps a close and productive relationship with a lawyer is in order.

Some of the "commentators" seem to be a lot like Hirschmann -- oh-so-cynical, as long as they're cracking wise about The Enemy.

I'd eventually like to hear why they didn't at least charge him with being a public nuisance and making threats. That's plenty of evidence, and it comes with a strong audit trail attached. In most places, that kind of thing is illegal and such evidence would lead straight to a judge. Please keep us informed if you can.

Best of luck!

--d!
A Philly boy with some serious home team issues -- but a rudimentary grasp, at least, of the law.

[SoxFan]

6. The UI comments

Hirschmann and Levasseur are chronic commenters on UL stories, so half of the responses are probably from them.

[No Elephants]

4. If someone posted that about

Obama, the Secret Service would have been all over him.


What a nut case this guy must be. Typical of a Republican, he tried to make it sound as though Sullivant were in the wrong. Unreal.



"It's a political site where there's a lot of sarcasm and a lot of bantering back and forth," Hirschmann said. He described the November 2008 message as an example of "extreme sarcasm" -- "just a little bantering on a site."

Hirschmann said he believes the only reason Sullivan went to the police was because he thought the message was posted by a political rival, Joe Kelly Levasseur.

"He couldn't wait to get Joe Levasseur in trouble," Hirschmann said.

Levasseur is Hirschmann's attorney. He declined to be interviewed for this article.

The November 2008 message begins, "Dear unstable Raven," and is replete with misspellings. At one point, it says, "let's see @ 25mph how far an (unstable) raven would splatter ... 260pds of sullivan @ 25mph = velocity of 2x2, well that (would) put part of you near bridge st."

It closes, "Forget the math your labotomy won't allow anything more than raising parking fess , you doufis."

[NBachers]

5. They have no more grasp of "sarcasm" than they do of "socialism"

He probably thought he was being real suttle.

You did the right thing by making a complaint, generating paper on this dousif, and bringing his dangerous behavior to the public's attention.