Attacker Disrupts Wedding Celebration

Detroit Now News ^ | 27 august 2003 | Val Clark

[csvset]

Attacker Disrupts Wedding Celebration

Reported by Val Clark
Web produced by Jennifer DiDomenico

	Police say they believe Van Strape's heavy drinking may have led to his violent actions. Video

A Flint area wedding party was horrified when police say a man bit into the groom's thumb, bit off part of another man's finger and knocked a woman out.

Police say that after tussling with someone outside Gigi's Catering
last weekend, Michael Van Strape went back inside and smeared wedding cake on a 9-year-old boy's face. When the boy's father intervened, the attacker took his first bite.

"I saw the guy with blood the side of his lip," eyewitness and catering employee Melinda Hathaway told Action News. "I saw the guy with his first knuckle off," she added.

According to Hathaway, though the finger was put on ice, doctors were not able to re-attach the digit.

The groom also tried to subdue the attacker, sustaining a bite injury to his own thumb in the process. The groom's mother was also knocked onto the floor during the struggle.

Police in the small town of Corunna are baffled as to the reason why Van Strape attacked. "All we can surmise at this point is the alcohol had an effect on him, and it appears he had been doing quite a bit of drinking prior to this," Police Chief Mark Hetfield said.

The attacker was charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm. Police say he is an habitual offender, and was cooling his heels and his temper Tuesday evening at the county jail.

[csvset]

Hold the beer alert.

[wideawake]

What a tough guy, assaulting a little boy.

If I were the father, I wouldn't have wasted my fists on him - I would have caved his skull in with a champagne bottle.

But that's me.

[Dante3]

Maybe he just hated weddings. Would tht qualify as a hate-crime? Or is it a hate-crime only if commited against groups receiving special favoritism under the law?

[Wolfie]

You know how it is. You miss the bouquet, you get a little ticked off.

[csvset]

Police say he is an habitual offender..

Habitually drunk, habitually biting people?

Was he a guest of the bridge or of the groom?

"Hey, we have to invite Mike Van Strape, oh yeah, he's a real hoot, doonch ya' know."

[shiva]

When my Dad drank it took the opposite effect. He was sweet docile, and relaxed. My sister and I used to love to see him 'tippsy'. We would sit on his lap and comb his hair into different styles. When he was sober he was stern and no nonsense.

[MaryFromMichigan]

doctors were not able to re-attach the digit...
Maybe they hould have tried thumb tacks.

[csvset]

The surgeon was all thumbs?

[Destructor]

Great thread! One and a half thumbs up!

[NerdDad]

>>I would have caved his skull in with a champagne bottle.<<

I don't know. I'm seeing something more like a WWF chair match myself.

[Hatteras]

I don't know why I came today
The groom won't shake hands anyway and
I kissed the bride years ago...

[Fraulein]

Maybe they hould have tried thumb tacks.

LOL!

[hellinahandcart]

I'm getting a psychic flash-- wait, it's coming in more clearly now-- the happy couple is mailing their wedding invitations...the girl sees on envelope, there's a name on it she doesn't like...I'm hearing words now...she is arguing with her fiance..."Do we HAVE to invite Michael?"..."Yes, we have to"...

Now I'm getting a picture of them in a resort in Cancun. The man is saying "My thumb is killing me", and his bride is saying "Too #^%&ing bad"...

[magslinger]

If I were the father, I wouldn't have wasted my fists on him - I would have caved his skull in with a champagne bottle.

Do you mean a magnum? ;)

[dennisw]

"All we can surmise at this point is the alcohol had an effect on him, and it appears he had been doing quite a bit of drinking prior to this," Police Chief Mark Hetfield said......

Demon rum always seem to be a factor

[AmericanInTokyo]

it amazing how people can wear crime and evil all over their faces. i see that clearly in the man's facial features, eyes and general expression. where do these people come from??!

[csvset]

..."Do we HAVE to invite Michael?"..."Yes, we have to"...

Now I'm getting a picture of them in a resort in Cancun. The man is saying "My thumb is killing me", and his bride is saying "Too #^%&ing bad"...

Lol

[wideawake]

Hah!

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Maybe he just hated weddings. Would that qualify as a hate-crime? Or is it a hate-crime only if committed against groups receiving special favoritism under the law?

If the bride and groom are of the same sex you may be able to nail him. Otherwise, he is just a drunk on the Atkins diet.