[News] Flames prospect Ferland charged with assault

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by psicodude

^ I don't disagree with any of your points, but recent personal experience has turned me very skeptical of anything the Calgary media prints, so I will reserve judgement until this goes to court. Personally, I think the chances of a reporter sensationalizing the facts a bit are far greater than the chances that this kid is crazy enough to actually punch a guy while he is helping a downed friend.

Fair enough, and it was Eric Francis. But I don't think even Eric would go so far as to lie about what a police officer said.

[Stay Golden]

Sure, Eric Francis would over sensationalize what a police officer or for that matter what anyone would say about anything if it means a bigger headline for him, JMO.

[KeepCalmCarryOn]

Every court case docket I come across at the QB that stem from a bar fight have the crown laying "aggravated assault" charges where there are injuries. Not abnormal for a solid bar fight and nothing for you to get worked up about, flameswin.

Until more details come out, my semi-pro conjecture on the situation is simple bar fight. Hopefully he gets off, learns his lesson and it never happens again, if that's the case.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Sure, Eric Francis would over sensationalize what a police officer or for that matter what anyone would say about anything if it means a bigger headline for him, JMO.

It wouldn't be sensationalizing it it would be flat out lying based on his wording.

[calumniate]

Days like this make me wish it was still the 80's

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Maybe it's where I come from and what I see here, but a native getting into a drunken bar fight is not the slightest bit shocking to me.

You come from Racist-town?

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by moon

It wouldn't be sensationalizing it it would be flat out lying based on his wording.

I chose to word it differently just because alot of people go nuts in general on any forum when the word liar or lying is thrown out there.

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by moon

You think reporter lied about what the police said?

No, but it wouldn't surprise me if the officer said something along the lines of "The victim was tending to his friend lying on the ground when a scuffle broke out. During the course of this scuffle, Ferland struck the victim, breaking his orbital bone." and Francis strategically left out several words to spice things up a bit.

Again, I am just basing this off my personal experience of a story published by the Herald recently and common sense. I mean, you have to be a special kind of jerk to just off and smoke a guy while he is helping a downed buddy like the story suggests. It's not impossible, but it's very unlikely.

[Stay Golden]

Francis on his own history of articles has earned the reputation to lets say "stretching the truth"

[CASe333]

I think what Eric meant to say was:
Police say victim alleges Ferland struck male in the face as the victim attended to a person pushed to the ground. Victim suffered broken orbital bone.

The police were not there so do not know what happened for certain. Unless there are witnesses other then the victim or his friends I'd wager that a couple guys got their asses kicked and now are changing their story to try and cash in. At any rate without any additional details it is way too soon to jump to any conclusions.

[Rasalghul]

Originally Posted by Makarov

You come from Racist-town?

Everytime I read your posts I hear the theme song from the show "cops". I have been to western Canada numerous times and have seen the same thing, some of the less fortunate cities have a higher population of natives. It does not mean myself or Alberta Beef are racist, it simply means we congregate in parts of town where there are more natives. The same thing could be said if I was to go to the core of PEI and say "I see lots of whites fighing"

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by chockfullofgoodness

"Aggravated" is the worst word the Crown can put in front of "Assault" if you are facing a judge.

Personally, I disagree. I think "sexual" is much, much worse. And those are actually the only two words that come in front of assault in our criminal code...

[moon]

Originally Posted by psicodude

No, but it wouldn't surprise me if the officer said something along the lines of "The victim was tending to his friend lying on the ground when a scuffle broke out. During the course of this scuffle, Ferland struck the victim, breaking his orbital bone." and Francis strategically left out several words to spice things up a bit.

I guess it is possible but it certainly doesn't come off as that to me and that is as a guy that hates Francis and his garbage. I think if that was the case Francis would have worded it differently.

I mean, you have to be a special kind of jerk to just off and smoke a guy while he is helping a downed buddy like the story suggests. It's not impossible, but it's very unlikely.

Or you have to be a 20 year old meathead with too many beers in you facing a group that isn't as excited about fighting as you are.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Makarov

You come from Racist-town?

I wasn't aware it was racist to make an observation that there is alcoholism and violence issues amongst the native people in my community.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Rasalghul

Everytime I read your posts I hear the theme song from the show "cops". I have been to western Canada numerous times and have seen the same thing, some of the less fortunate cities have a higher population of natives. It does not mean myself or Alberta Beef are racist, it simply means we congregate in parts of town where there are more natives. The same thing could be said if I was to go to the core of PEI and say "I see lots of whites fighing"

Trust me, I deal with the tragic consequences of social problems in First Nations communities more often then you can likely imagine. However, recognizing that those problems exist, and discussing them in a constructive and respectful way, is completely different than stating that "natives sure like to get drunk and fight." Surely you can recognize that distinction.

[Wedge]

Originally Posted by psicodude

No, but it wouldn't surprise me if the officer said something along the lines of "The victim was tending to his friend lying on the ground when a scuffle broke out. During the course of this scuffle, Ferland struck the victim, breaking his orbital bone." and Francis strategically left out several words to spice things up a bit.

Again, I am just basing this off my personal experience of a story published by the Herald recently and common sense. I mean, you have to be a special kind of jerk to just off and smoke a guy while he is helping a downed buddy like the story suggests. It's not impossible, but it's very unlikely.

Yeah there is an incident that recently made the Herald that makes me have no tolerance for this stupidity. Like possibly lots of us, it sounds like, I got into many fights around the age of twenty and am embarrassed by that now. To me this sounds like a Canucks move. Would Iginla do this at twenty? Would Gretzky? Did Kassian have a similar bar fight experience? Did Burrows have an interesting summer a couple of years back?

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by flameswin

edit: my responses in red

But Chock is kind of wrong, and relying on him does not necessarily strengthen your position...Aggravated assault means the alleged victim got "wounded" (or worse), but in this case, it seems he only got wounded.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I wasn't aware it was racist to make an observation that there is alcoholism and violence issues amongst the native people in my community.

It isn't. Suggesting that, because Michael Ferland is a First Nations person, it is more likely (or more believable) that he was in a drunken bar fight certainly is though.

[KeepCalmCarryOn]

Originally Posted by IamNotKenKing

Personally, I disagree. I think "sexual" is much, much worse. And those are actually the only two words that come in front of assault in our criminal code...

I was enjoying the exaggerated counterpoints he was providing, before I dropped that one-two hook - but kudos to you sir on setting the young man or woman straight!



Sorry - I see this stuff too often so I guess I am a callous jerk.

[Rasalghul]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I wasn't aware it was racist to make an observation that there is alcoholism and violence issues amongst the native people in my community.

Yes it is!!! You can only make those observations about white people, if you say a "native" does so and so or a "gay" does even if you saw it you will be pegged as a homophobe and a racist.

People need to stop with the blind love the same way people do with the blind hate, its really lame. In certain areas the crime rate is higher or certain behaviours are more common with some races or within some cultures. This does not have to do with their race, more so their social surrounding.