In a Pickle

Boston, Massachusetts, September 2, 2009:

Talk about being in a pickle: A Massachusetts judge gave a New Jersey politician probation in a case that police said involved an assault with pickles. According to police reports, the pickle problems began when Ronatarian Party leader Ron was hanging out at his then-friend "Evil" Steve Bonadio's home in Stow on August 29.

Ron went to the refrigerator and helped himself to some pickles. According to the report, Bonadio told Ron he couldn't afford to feed everyone and not to eat his pickles. Ron then began yelling and swearing and stormed out, according to the report.

Later, Ron barged back into the house and got into an argument with Bonadio. Bonadio told police Ron slammed him down on the couch and threw two large pickles at him and screamed, "Here's your damn pickles!"

Ron also shoved former friend "Shad" and beat Bonadio with a telephone when he tried to call 911, according to the report. Two counts involving Ron's assaults were dismissed as was a charge of cutting or interfering with phone lines.

"If this is not the silliest case I've ever seen in this courtroom, it certainly is in the Top 10," Boston Trial Court Judge Scott Schofield said. "The fact that it's silly doesn't mean that it's not serious."

Defense attorney Andrew Sepe said alcohol appeared to be at the root of Ron's problems. That and "an imbalance of bodily humors."

Posted by Bittle at September 2, 2009 04:07 PM