Copied and pasted from my blog:

Tues night I went to bed about 9 pm, knowing that I had to get up at 5 am to for work the next two days.  About 11:30 pm I woke up to fireworks going off just down the street. 

I got dressed, grabbed my flashlight and headed out the door.  I figured it was likely a juvenile delinquent and I was just going to collar him and take him to his parents' house.

I walked down the street and three young men stood up on their front steps and one of them yelled out to me, "What the hell are you looking at?"  I looked over at them and yelled back, "I'm looking at you".  All three men started running at me at this.  I heard feet scuffling behind me and saw 2 or three more men running at me in the dark from another house.  I turned back in time to crack the first guy with my flashlight before getting overwhelmed.

I woke up some time later with no memory of the event.  Someone had found me laying face up in the middle of the road in a pool of my own blood.  They tried to rouse me and asked me where I lived;  I was told that I just kept asking where I was.  My next memory was waking up in the ambulance and trying to answer more questions from the paramedics.  My mouth was filled with blood and I wanted to spit, but was already in the lobby, so I swallowed it all rather than choke on it.

Once in the ER I was informed of my injuries.  Both of my eyes were black; my left one swollen shut.  I had three lacerations on my face and some on the back of my head, a red footprint on my forehead, lacerations inside my mouth, and an Xray revealed that my jaw was fractured in two places.  I had crusted dry blood in all of my facial orifices and hair.

Several friends showed up, despite the fact that I was going to lay low until I got out (word traveles fast about this kind of stuff) while I was in the hospital.  It wasn't the most dignified scenerio to be recieving alot of attention, but was actually a very good reminder as to just how blessed and fortunate I am to have so many quality people in my life who really care about me.  I had so many calls and visits in that 2.5 days.

I made sure my puppy was taken care of and that my work recieved notice that I wouldn't be there.  Now that my jaw is wired shut and I've been released from Sacred Heart, I'm hanging out with Steve and Sherry for a couple of days.  They have a couple of dogs that get along well with Masa and I know he'll get fed.  Sherry's good with a blender, which is what I'll be eating from for a while.

I went to the detective's office today and picked out a couple of pictures of guys that were involved.  I really hope the law can take care of this adequately.  Yesterday, after getting released, I had my pistol in my waistband and was knocking on doors in the area where it happened and started asking questions, hoping to get some names.

I'm curious to see how this turns out in the long run.  It takes some pretty cowardly men to team up on an individual and work him over while unconcious and helpless.  Depending on how my jaw heals, I may have to retire from MMA competition all together.

2nd blog entry:

So far the Springfield Police haven't picked anyone up. They've questioned several people and they're all staying hushed about it. The detective working this case doesn't sound very optimistic about picking anyone up. I have to walk past these sissies to check my mail. What kind of message does that send us if the police can't get their men?

3rd blog entry:

Some of the guys are living a half block down from me. I can see them if I walk out on the sidewalk. I saw two of them on my way home from the oral surgeon in front of the house. The police told me that earlier in the night (before they jumped me) another person had complained to them about the fireworks. The guy that lives there threatened him and got in his face and the man retreated back to his home before calling the police.
I called the detective when I saw them in front of their house today and told him I could ID them. He chuckled and said he'd "talk" to them, then neglected to show up at all. I waited outside for half an hour after calling him so I could ID them.

What the hell can I do? Five years ago I would have accepted the offers from friends and family to get retribution (I had several offers). The detective had the guts to call me and tell me not to wear my pistol in the neighborhood (I didn't have it concealed and it was legal).

I swear to God I will not let this get swept under the carpet.

James,

I am so sorry about what happened to you... There are getting to be more and more people in this world, and this area, that think that doing harm to another makes them macho and real men... They make me want to vomit...  I will tell you this, your chances of getting any real help from this police dept. are slim to none... They like people like the ones that jumped you...

I had a prowler around my house some time back... So, I called the police, like they tell us to do... I was told that it would be about 20 minutes for someone to respond... WHAT A JOKE! So I said to the person on the phone, that that was ok, because I AM ARMED!! If the prowler breaks into my house, I will be in fear for my life, and the PERP will NEVER walk out... The person on the phone said, " OH,,, DON"T DO THAT!!"  The cops were here in about 2 minutes with a K9 unit. They followed the perp over my fence and down the ally, but claimed their dog lost the scent...

So James, Our police force is a joke, unless there is money in it for them... Yes we do have to take care of ourselves... To many people think the police are here to take care of us... That isn't true... They are only mandated to protect the PUBLIC as a whole, not us individually... That is why they always show up after the crime, and rarely preempt a crime...

Take care of yourself, do what you must... Yes you can carry a firearm in your belt, or in a visible holster, if you do not have a concelled carry permit... I would suggest you look into getting a concelled carry permit... I think you might enjoy the classes...

Cassandra

James,

After my last entry, I got to thinking about what you said about telling the detective that you could ID two of the men that beat you, and the detective, never showed up... If I were you, I would get in touch with a attorney that deals in suits agains the City... When you told him you could ID 2 of them, and he never showed up, that sounds like dereliction of duty... You need to speak to a lawyer, you may have a case agains the City of Springfield, the Springfield Police Dept. and that Detective as a individual... It would be worth checking into, you sound like a fighter willing to stand up for yourself... Good luck...

Cassandra

James, I'm very sorry to hear about your terrible ordeal. That's a terrifying story and a powerful reminder of just how dangerous our community has become. The Springfield Police Department is a quality organization, with a first-class reputation that extends well beyond Oregon. Jerry Smith, the chief, is a decorated Marine who has been a committed police officer ever since his return from Vietnam. If you don't feel like your case is being treated appropriately I would encourage you to call or write the chief directly. He cares and he'll get to the bottom of it and hold people accountable if they're not doing their jobs.

In the unlikely event Chief Smith is unable to help you, call the DA, as he is the top law enforcement authority in Lane County.

I wish you the best and share in your recognition of the blessing it is to have fine family members and friends who are willing to step up when you need them most.

Good luck -- and heal quickly!

"Spanky"

P.s. Don't buy any of that negative nonsense about the police. While it is true that many of the police officers in Lane County have developed a "siege mentality", the vast majority of them are good competent people doing their best to do their jobs in a community that doesn't support them and doesn't care about public safety.

Lane County has the lowest per-capita police officer density in the entire USA, and all of the other system components necessary to support the police have been systematically slashed (Parole/probation/DA/jail, etc, etc). BUT, Springfield has consistently supported it's police, and the officers and the whole public safety community see the difference. Springfield officers know their community supports them and they consistently do a very fine job. Because of that tradition of comittment I believe they will do a good job for you if you're able to give them what they need (like identification of the bad guys.). I'm much less optimistic about what will happen following arrest, as felonies have to go to the DA, and he's still losing staff every time the community gets to weigh in. (The DA lost three more positions this year due to budget cuts -- and after 25 years of slashing his office was already the worst-staffed DA's office in Oregon.) I understand that the county is contemplating yet another round of lay-offs in October as part of a mid-year budget correction to balance the next round of budget reductions, and Commissioner Fleenor and Commissioner Sorenson both want to take the cuts out of the DA/law enforcement again.) The good news is the Springfield jail is being built, so the criminals who did this to you can be forced to serve a bunch of jail-time on misdemeanors even if the county has no jail to hold them on felony assault charges. Thank goodness for Springfield. It's the only part of the county willing to support law enforcement at all. In a few years it may be the only place in the county with patrol officers, detectives, and the ability to arrest and hold people who do violent crimes like this.

p.p.s. There is no tort claim called "dereliction of duty", so I wouldn't expect to win the lottery on the back of the city of Springfield. Sheesh.

You have every right to demand a thorough police investigation - but threatening a frivilous lawsuit is silly, for at least dozen reasons. It will not make you feel any better or any safer either. Let's hope they can get the bad guys!

hi

Apparently this all worked out as we would have hoped...