Goddard's wife accused of domestic violence
06/17/03Stephen Hudak
Plain Dealer Reporter
Medina - TV weather icon Dick Goddard showed up at the Police Department about 2 a.m. Friday with a split lip, saying he was frustrated with his emo tionally stormy wife.
"The only reason I did this is it had gotten so bad," said Goddard, 72, whose wife of six years was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of domestic vio lence early Friday. "I just didn't want it to go beyond, 'Hey, officer, would you talk to my wife. I'll go with you. We've got to stop this stuff.' "
Amber Goddard, 47, who married the dean of Cleveland meteorologists in December 1997, pleaded not guilty yesterday. Her lawyer said she "vigorously denies committing any il legal act."
Her husband said he had not wanted her arrested and didn't want to prosecute her.
"I love my wife. We need to get assistance," he said. "She is so much towards aggression and I'm not. I tried to defend myself as best I could. We got into a little World Wrestling Federation match there. Finally I said, 'This is it. I've got to go to police on this one.' "
Goddard said his wife was throwing objects at him. "I for got to duck," he said.
He said he didn't realize state law required police called to a domestic disturbance to de termine and charge the aggres sor, even if the other party was uncooperative or unwilling to prosecute.
Medina Township police would not provide a detailed re port of the incident Friday at the Goddard home, but the weather man had "apparent injuries" to his face, Sgt. Todd Zieja said.
Goddard accepted a temporary protection order preventing his wife from returning to their home, but he signed a note later Friday at Medina Municipal Court asking that the order be dissolved.
"Please allow my wife to return to our home at any time," he wrote. "I believe she will not be a threat (without truly knowing)."
Amber Goddard, who is stay ing with her parents in Medina, did not return a phone message left there yesterday seeking com ment. Her father posted her bond of $5,000. She was at the county jail less than an hour.
Her lawyer said he was un aware of any history of abuse be tween the couple.
"Both Amber and Dick have ex cellent reputations in the com munity, and this public airing of their relationship is troubling to both, I'm sure," defense lawyer Michael Hennenberg said yester day. "We hope that a resolution of this matter can be found short of a jury trial."
Goddard, a TV weatherman for 43 years, is on vacation from WJW Channel 8 but is expected to return to work next week, said Mike Renda, station vice presi dent and general manager.
"Dick's fine," he said. "He's re ally just trying to deal with the personal aspects of it."
The Goddards met about six years ago during a fund-raiser for the Medina County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani mals. Amber Goddard has served as president of the organization.
The marriage is the second for both, according to Medina County probate records.
Domestic violence is a first-de gree misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine up to $1,000.
© 2003 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission.