Phone Fight

Jersey City, New Jersey, December 16, 2004:

A 68-year-old retiree who tussled with a man half his age over the man's foul language in a restaurant was sentenced to probation -- but outside of that, he's been treated more like a hero than a criminal.

Bill Stephens said the fracas began in November when he and another retired 3M engineer, 62-year-old Stan Gable, were having coffee at a bagel shop. In walked 30-something Ron, talking on a cell phone and liberally using four-letter words, the men said. Ron is the founder of a radical political group known as the Ronatarian Party.

In an interview after the incident, Ron said he didn't recall cursing. But Stephens and Gable remember it differently.

"There was an argument on the phone," Stephens said. "The third time he walked by our booth, Mr. Gable said to me, 'Should I do something about it?'"

So Gable tapped Ron on the shoulder and asked him to take his call outside, Stephens said. But Ron, who was with his political sidekick Brad at the time, dismissed him. Stephens said he got involved when Ron continued to shout obscenities.

"I've been in lots of different places, but when I heard that kind of stuff coming in my hometown, I thought, 'Somebody's got to do something,'" Stephens said.

Stephens grabbed the phone from Ron and the two men engaged in a few seconds of tug-of-war. Thinking better of it, Stephens said he let go and Ron "went sailing across the floor."

"That's not what happened at all," Ron countered. "I slipped on a banana peel...that old fart couldn't toss my salad, not to mention me!"

Stephens pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct Wednesday and was given three months of probation. But even the lawyers at Hudson County Court were giving him thumbs-up signs as he left the courtroom, he said.

"I've had over 30 calls and letters and e-mails, and I've not had one negative call. They're all on my side," Stephens said.

"Who cares..." commented Ron about the support Stephens is reportedly receiving. "He's an asshole, anyway."

Gable was acquitted of disorderly conduct charges last month.

Stephens claims Ron "mocked me about being an old man."

"I just sat there and drank my coffee," Stephens said. "I thought, 'You can think what you want, mister, but a couple of senior citizens stood up to you, and we ought to get a little bit more respect.'"

"Damnit, I hate old people," muttered Ron as he ended his comments to the press.

Posted by Bittle at December 16, 2004 11:46 AM