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Stickin' It Out 03/29/01 - by Gwen Shaffer - City Paper Even testimony from Police Commissioner John Timoney failed to sway a jury it should convict political protester Matthew Berghs. He was acquitted March 15 of allegedly whacking a Philadelphia police officer with a 7-foot bamboo stick during the Republican National Convention. Matthew Berghs, a 19-year-old Indiana University student, was cleared last week of a felony assault charge and three misdemeanors -- simple assault, obstruction of justice and recklessly endangering another person. Following Berghs' Aug. 1 arrest, he was held in jail for three days with bail set at $50,000. The defense introduced photographs of a bruised and battered Berghs, snapped by his mother five days after the arrest. Public defender Shawn Nolan argued that his client was the victim of police brutality, not the other way around. While on the stand, both the arresting officer and Timoney denied Berghs was roughed up during his arrest. But the defendant told jurors that he was running to get out of Center City on Aug. 1 because of the mass arrests taking place, particularly of suspected "anarchists." Berghs was dressed in black and feared he would be targeted. He testified that Officer Thomas Donahue grabbed from behind with a billy club, jamming it across his neck and collarbone. Donahue clubbed Berghs in the head, near the shoulders and on the calves, the defendant testified. On the stand, Timoney said he saw Donahue chase Berghs. But the commissioner acknowledged he never witnessed Berghs assaulting an officer with the bamboo stick. The prosecution did not offer fingerprints or other evidence -- just Donahue's testimony -- to prove Berghs touched the stick. Common Pleas Judge John Young presided over Berghs' trial, which marked the second RNC felony acquittal in two weeks. Nine more RNC felony defendants await their day in court. |
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