San Francisco sheriff Ross Mirkarimi was arrested for domestic violence. Now the funny thing (“funny oh no!”, not “funny ha, ha”) is he wasn’t sworn in yet when the incident happened. He was elected in November, the incident happens in Dec, he gets arrested in Jan, and still San Francisco saw fit to swear him in as sheriff. Unbelievable!
Apparently Ross got into a heated argument with his wife Eliana in front of his young son and a neighbor saw Ross grab his wife and bruise her. The neighbor videotaped the incident and later had a text message conversation with the wife about the incident. The neighbor’s videotape and phone were taken as evidence by the police.
Now Sheriff Ross denies the incident, of course, saying at his swearing in “It was a private family matter.” Ah yes, those lovely “private family matters” that do so much damge physically and mentally to our families.
The victim is now saying, “I don’t have any complaint against my husband. It was taken out of context.” Indeed! And just what context is getting man-handled and bruised okay?
The charges against the sheriff are domestic violence battery, child endangerment (because the son witnessed the incident) and dissuading a witness. Hmm. I wonder which one? His wife, the neighbor, or his son?
After a hue and cry in San Francisco from the press and DV groups the sheriff was finally charged and an emergency restraining order issued to protect his wife and child.
But again, a public figure gets so much more leeway. He wasn’t charged right away and he was still sworn in as sheriff!!! And because of his position and the fear of what it might do to his livelihood, and possibly threats from her husband, the victim is once again backing down.
