Five time former Congressman and current Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was attacked last night in front of his family while leaving the Wisconsin State Fair. Barrett interjected himself in a domestic dispute between a known criminal and his estranged girlfriend over a custody issue. The woman called for assistance and Mayor Barrett was attempting to assist her when he was bludgeoned with a pipe by the boyfriend.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was recovering Sunday morning after beating beaten with a pipe after leaving the Wisconsin State Fair with his family Saturday night.
The mayor is said to be in good condition this morning.
The incident occurred at about 10:45 p.m. in the 8800 block of W. Orchard St. in West Allis, according to a joint statement from the West Allis police and Milwaukee police.
Barrett and his family were returning to their car when they saw an altercation and heard a woman shouting that someone should call 911. Barrett began calling 911 when the suspect who had been attacking the woman, ran toward Barrett and began striking him with a metal pipe.
Tom Barrett Wikipedia
Thomas M. "Tom" Barrett (born December 8, 1953) is an American politician, former Congressman from Wisconsin and the current mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Tom Barrett was elected Milwaukee’s 38th Mayor on April 6, 2004, and won a second term in 2008 with 79% of the vote – the largest percentage a Mayoral candidate has received in 40 years.
Tom Barrett grew up on Milwaukee's West side, attended Marquette University High School, graduated from college and law school from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was a member of both the Wisconsin State Assembly, and Wisconsin State Senate, and was elected to five terms in the United States House of Representatives.
Barrett and his wife, Kris, live in Milwaukee's Washington Heights neighborhood with their four children: Tommy, Annie, Erin and Kate.
Here is a politician who is truly a good guy. This probably isn't even a constituent. Talk about better Democrats!
I think I've found my candidate for next Governor of Wisconsin.
UPDATE I Just found this on Google Cache from last week August 7, 2009:
Ensuring public safety is one of my top priorities as Mayor.
Mayor Barrett walks the walk...
UPDATE II Despite the discussion in the comments that this was not political, some right wing nut has decided to spin this into a talking point for... (wait for it) CONCEALED CARRY!
Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer in a community blog at Living Lake Country
All this aside, I hope that the mayor recovers. And maybe this incident will make him do some soul-searching and wish he had been carrying a gun.... Gosh, what am I saying?!?....How foolish of me! Barrett is a true-blue liberal down to the core. He'd never acknowlege that having a gun may have served to protect him, his family and the victim being beaten. He'll never admit that a speedy dial finger isn't quite the same as being armed. He could have ended the incident with one quick flash of a weapon...
No, unfortunately in the future, all I can see is Mayor Barrett sitting down for a beer and peanuts to discuss the incident with his attacker..... Kumbaya!
Disgusting!
UPDATE III h/t to mdboma from the comments:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
A suspect has been arrested in connection with Saturday's beating of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, according to a report from a dispatcher over the police radio.
The police chiefs of Milwaukee and West Allis will hold a joint press conference at 2 p.m. to discuss the status of the case.
(snip)
Patrick Curley, Barrett's chief of staff said the mayor was resting at the hospital Sunday morning. Although he could not give details on the injuries, Curley said there were "no signs of major trauma."
"He's exhausted obviously, but he's resting," Curley said. "All his vitals are good - he can carry on brief conversations."
UPDATE IV Final Update Police have released the name of the suspect in the case:
Again... Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
Milwaukee police arrested Anthony J. Peters about noon Sunday near 17th St. and State St., Flynn said. Peters has an extensive arrest record, including other assault charges, and Barrett stepped in while Peters was threatening other violent acts, West Allis Police Chief Mike Jungbluth said.
(snip)
Jungbluth described Peters as a "desperate man" who, according to witnesses, appeared intoxicated and who had threatened to shoot himself and others. He had taken a cell phone from a woman he was confronting, Jungbluth said.
Barrett was with his sister, two daughters and a niece, his brother said. He told his sister to take his two daughters out of harms way. His niece stayed behind, witnessed the incident and called police.
(snip)
Patrick Curley, the mayor's chief of staff, said the suspect hit the mayor in the head and torso with a metal pipe. Barrett apparently fought back, fracturing his hand when he punched the suspect.
"I think he hit the guy," Curley said. "I don't know where, but it was hard enough, whatever he hit, to fracture his hand."