WHAT'S NEXT

Jonathan W. Blodgett, Essex County DA: Drop all charges against Anthony McKay.
  1. Signatures
    618 out of 25,000
    Petitioning
    1. Jonathan W. Blodgett, Essex County DA
  2. Created By
    S. Renee Langley
    Portland, OR
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates
How We Won

Jan 11, 2012

Anthony McKay is not a violent man. But when the 29-year-old father caught a stranger breaking into his truck that was parked in his home driveway, he intervened. The thief was planning to steal McKay's work tools and was armed with a knife and a night stick. 

When the thief came after him, McKay, fearing for the safety of his wife and young children who were home at the time, took a swing at the man, knocking him out and breaking his jaw. By the time the police arrived to the scene, McKay has subdued the man. 

Strangely, the police and Essex County Distric Attorney Jonathan Blodgett pressed charges against McKay! He was charged with a felony aggravated assault and faced up to 5 years in prison. 

After hearing about the charges, Change.org member Renee Langley started a petition calling on Blodgett to drop the charges against McKay. After more than 650 people signed her petition with many making phone calls to the DA's office, the charges against McKay were finally dropped on January 10, 2012.

McKay is the 29-year-old young man/father who caught a drug dealer breaking into his work truck to steal his tools and intervened.

The bad guy had a knife and a police night stick. McKay had his fists, but that was enough. When the cops arrived at McKay’s house, they found the bad guy on the ground with a broken jaw and McKay safe and sound.

So, of course, they pressed charges...against McKay.

Well, today was the day of Anthony’s arraignment. His lawyer fully expected the Essex County DA, Jonathan Blodgett, to drop the case. Instead, the DA raised the stakes by charging Anthony with a felony—and up to 5 years in prison—for aggravated assault.

In addition, the DA’s office announced that they were going to request the “victim’s” medical records. That’s right: DA Blodgett thinks the repeat drug offending, night-stick-carrying, knife-wielding would-be robber is a “victim.”

Why is the DA pushing this case? Because they want to send the message loud and clear. As a Swampscott police spokesman put it: “We don’t urge anybody to (fight back). We want them to call us.”

The above was copied from:
http://michaelgraham.com/archives/the-ma-attack-on-ldquo-self-help-rdquo-continues/

People should have the right to defend themselves and their property. He should not have had to wait to get through on 911, then wait for the cops to show up and then be told the value is too low for them to file a report and then lose his possessions.

Main office for the Essex County DA:
General Information:
Address:
Ten Federal Street
Salem, MA 01970
Telephone:
978-745-6610
Victim/Witness Telephone:
978-745-6610
TTY:
978-741-3163
Fax:
978-744-9470
Office Hours:
8:30am - 5:00pm
Monday-Friday

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Drop all charges against Anthony McKay.

Greetings,

I just signed the following petition addressed to: Jonathan W. Blodgett, Essex County DA.

----------------
Drop all charges against Anthony McKay.

McKay is the 29-year-old young man/father who caught a drug dealer breaking into his work truck to steal his tools and intervened.

The bad guy had a knife and a police night stick. McKay had his fists, but that was enough. When the cops arrived at McKay’s house, they found the bad guy on the ground with a broken jaw and McKay safe and sound.

So, of course, they pressed charges...against McKay.

Well, today was the day of Anthony’s arraignment. His lawyer fully expected the Essex County DA, Jonathan Blodgett, to drop the case. Instead, the DA raised the stakes by charging Anthony with a felony—and up to 5 years in prison—for aggravated assault.

In addition, the DA’s office announced that they were going to request the “victim’s” medical records. That’s right: DA Blodgett thinks the repeat drug offending, night-stick-carrying, knife-wielding would-be robber is a “victim.”

Why is the DA pushing this case? Because they want to send the message loud and clear. As a Swampscott police spokesman put it: “We don’t urge anybody to (fight back). We want them to call us.”

The above was copied from:
http://michaelgraham.com/archives/the-ma-attack-on-ldquo-self-help-rdquo-continues/

People should have the right to defend themselves and their property. He should not have had to wait to get through on 911, then wait for the cops to show up and then be told the value is too low for them to file a report and then lose his possessions.

Main office for the Essex County DA:
General Information:
Address:
Ten Federal Street
Salem, MA 01970
Telephone:
978-745-6610
Victim/Witness Telephone:
978-745-6610
TTY:
978-741-3163
Fax:
978-744-9470
Office Hours:
8:30am - 5:00pm
Monday-Friday
----------------

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Press Inquiries