Man accused of beating at Wal-Mart posts bail (Thread 3)

Chicago Sun Times ^ | December 28, 2003

[Cubs Fan]

Man accused of beating at Wal-Mart posts bail

December 28, 2003

BY DAVE NEWBART Staff Reporter Advertisement

A Broadview man said Saturday he "was trying to protect my kids'' during an incident in which he was charged for allegedly assaulting two people on Christmas Eve at Wal-Mart.

Lennell Greer made his comments after posting 10 percent of a $10,000 bond set Saturday at Cook County Circuit Court in Maywood.

During the hearing, prosecutors alleged Greer and a 15-year-old boy assaulted a man and woman with a baseball bat after a dispute over a place in line at the Forest Park Wal-Mart.

The victims were "punched, kicked and beaten with a baseball bat while they lay on the ground,'' Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Sandra Blake said. She also said Greer gave a written statement admitting involvement in the incident, which has attracted national attention.

But Greer's attorney, Samuel Adam, as well as several relatives painted a different picture of Greer and the incident. They said Greer has been married for 16 years, lived in Broadview for 11 and worked for the same trucking company for five. "He is a family man,'' Adam said.

Adam asked the judge to preserve security videotapes from Wal-Mart. He claims the tapes will show the victims in the case, 22-year-old Matthew Baures of Berwyn and a 28-year-old Chicago woman, started the fight by trying to cut in line in front of Greer's 11-year-old daughter and hitting her with a shopping cart -- charges Baures denies.

They also said Wal-Mart security scolded Baures for the fight inside -- which Baures does not dispute.

Greer's wife contends Baures and his companion continued the argument outside the store, where Lennell Greer was waiting for his family. But Adam admits "no [physical] threats'' were made toward the family.

Baures said Saturday he thinks Greer, who didn't witness the argument in the store, might have been given false information by family members on what took place, leading to the attack. "I would have beat somebody too for hitting my kid,'' Baures said. "But it never happened."

[Cubs Fan]

But Adam (attorney for Greer) admits "no [physical] threats'' were made toward the family.

In other words the violent attack was in retaliation for a verbal argument that contained no threats.

*BUZZ* you lose, go directly to jail.

[Cubs Fan]

Previous two threads

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1046909/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1047280/posts

[KantianBurke]

They also said Wal-Mart security scolded Baures for the fight inside -- which Baures does not dispute.

huh?

[Cubs Fan]

They said security scolded baures, but did they? More than likely security didn't know what the argument was about and told both sides to chill out.

[Kevin Curry]

If the "victim" intentionally rammed a shopping cart into the girl, the "victim" should be prosecuted for assault as well.

Send both to jail.

[CindyDawg]

Just guessing but they both may have been hurrying to be next in line. Shopping is my sport and Walmarts is my playing field but I stay away from there during holidays. It can get very ugly:')

[Hannity4prez]

Kudos to you for keeping us freepers up to date. I had enough trying to 'splain right from wrong to the apeasers on the first thread.

My favorite part was reading them type about how the bat was a toy. Like a couple of guys robbing a bank with an old gun. Is the old gun just a collectors item until fired? Sheesh

God luck, LOL

[Cubs Fan]

If the "victim" intentionally rammed a shopping cart into the girl, the "victim" should be prosecuted for assault as well.

Like I said on the other threads I know someone who works at that walmart, they've seen the tape. There was a verbal argument, with both sides shouting, but nobody hit anyobody with a shopping cart.

[CJ Wolf]

I rained blows down upon that man

Blood poured from my closed hand

He would not have that doll

I swore never to return to the mall

Happy Festivus!

[Dallas59]

After Thanksgiving my sister and I went to Frys. There was a line around the side of the store. Just as we were walking up to the front the ?Manager opened a another front door to start another line. We were first. From the other line we and others were called several names. When we went into the store, I saw better looks from mass murderers. I WILL NEVER go to a after Holiday sale as long as I live.

[Kevin Curry]

Now it's time for the traditional "airing of the grievances."

Jane, you ignorant slut . . . .

[SkyPilot]

Was race a factor in this dispute?

[Cubs Fan]

Kudos to you for keeping us freepers up to date. I had enough trying to 'splain right from wrong to the apeasers on the first thread. My favorite part was reading them type about how the bat was a toy. Like a couple of guys robbing a bank with an old gun. Is the old gun just a collectors item until fired? Sheesh

Its sad that even here we have some people (thankfully only a few) who will do whatever it takes to turn criminals into victims. But Yeah, you're probably right you can lead people to the truth but you can't make them accept it.

[Kevin Curry]

I still remember a traumatic incident from my youth in the candy aisle of a KMart. Just as I was about to reach for a Butterfinger a voice on the intercom said, "Attention KMart shoppers, we have a blue light special on Butterfinger candybars . . . ." I was bowled over and nearly crushed by a woman who bore more than a vague resemblance to Mike Ditka in drag. And she was just the vaguard of the mob.

Not only did I not get a candybar, I barely escaped with my life. I still bear psychic scars.

[Cubs Fan]

Was race a factor in this dispute?

I don't know about early on but once it going it looks like it was.

Once the fight commenced with the black family hitting these white people with bats and fists. Other blacks, seeing a chance to get a few free shots in on whitey, joined in to help.

[robertpaulsen]

Same thing happens when they open a new checkout at the store or a bank teller window. I say, at that point, it's a free for all.

How about this one? Long line at the movie theater -- you drop the family off at the end of the line and park the car. By the time you get there, they've moved way up in the line and you join them. Is this OK? Or is it Louisville Slugger time?

[Cubs Fan]

How about this one? Long line at the movie theater -- you drop the family off at the end of the line and park the car. By the time you get there, they've moved way up in the line and you join them. Is this OK? Or is it Louisville Slugger time?

If the family behind you is named Greer it is. After all you "dissed" them.

[CindyDawg]

Depends. Are yall going to pay together or is each one buying their own ticket? It really irritates me when I get behind one person and then the entire family starts showing up. It wouldn't be a problem if they were shopping together but they aren't. Sometimes, I end up with 5 or 6 people ahead of me when I thought there was only one.

[Daus]

lived in Broadview for 11 and worked for the same trucking company for five. "He is a family man,'' Adam said.

And perhaps.. a Teamster? They are known for their work with the baseball bat.

[ChiMark]

Broadview is almost all black. What the Sun Times is now doing is to spin the story. The first story tells that Bauers allowed the girl to go ahead in line and then she let her "relatives" cut in front of her. Two men waitng in the parking lot beat the couple with a bat. Now if the tapes actually show this to be a black on white beating why can't this be called a hate crime? Almost certain if the roles were reversed. This incident may have nothing to do with race but it seems the Sun Times is trying to soften the facts.