Big Ben: The Aftermath

[Cooley Cadets]

For those interested, the process of finding scape goats has begun as finger pointing is in full swing.

Roethlisberger inquiry bumpy

Highlights:

1. Now it appears the victim never approached the police officer - her friends did that for her.

2. The victim lawyered up quickly - usually it's the other guy isn't it? Considering the family's attitude toward the local PD that may have repercussions on the department depending on just what the "retired" investigator did.

3. GBI pointing finger at the PD for not securing the scene even though they did not do it w/in 4 hrs of being called in either.

4. First I heard about the victim being picky about making the report to just any police officer and it was one of her friends who sought input from a deputy. The victim was also less that accessible to the GBI.

5. This is more detail about Sgt Blash than I came across before - although I have read elsewhere that his comment about the victim was to other officers and not to the victim or the accused.

6. If Blash is to be the scape goat - it appears his assessment of the victim has to be discredited as it is not favorable to her. Seems there is a good start here of doing that (I am not arguing some of it is not warranted)

7. Females intoxicated making a report - Officer telling them they are not making sense - they interpret as him not wanting to take their complaint. Not saying that is an accurate account but I find it easy to believe someone upset and intoxicated misinterpret/hear what they want...

8. The friends who admit not being present were saying more than the victim - maybe I am reading to much into that but it is a factor that would need to be considered.

9. There appears to be more than enough to support that Sgt Blash mishandled the incident if all allegations (or even some) are true. Appears some of those making allegations have a personal interest in diverting attention away from themselves.

10. Prosecutor Bright appears to be claiming he made a deal to release info in return for an interview w/ Ben - he gave and they didn't (more finger pointing?)

11. WHERE did the find this male DNA super-particle?

12. The "unsubstantiated" other report - do I understand correctly any information related to that claim was obtained 3rd hand and NOT from an alleged victim?

 

[Coachnorm]

Yahoo Sports is reporting Big Bens' suspension announcement will come before the NFL Draft.

 

[Phicinfan]

I am not going to respond to Cooley's post bit by bit. This one really looks weird from both points of view.

The few things I want to call out from what he posted are:
How do you NOT do some type of investigation or protect the site after a rape allegation? The Janitor came in 8 hrs AFTER the allegation and cleaned the site. Surely you would do SOME type of investigation in 8hrs??

Both the victim AND Roethisburger were not able to be gotten in timely fashion for follow up statements. Both sides seemed to hinder things here.

In another article posted in PFT, they explained how the girls got into the bar. Evidently you can get in under age. You need a bracelet like you get at a festival or fair to be able to obtain alcohol. All reports state the girls did not have one. So again, I wonder why no investigation is taking place on how the girls were given alcohol in the first place.

As far as the girl reluctant to find an officer and report. It clearly calls out that the victim was worried and embarrased over the incident. Not uncommon at all in these cases. One of her friends contacted a deputy in another area for advice. HIS advice was to find a local city policeman to report it. Then they did.

The officer it was reported to was NOT Blash. Blash was the shift supervisor and took over the case. Not pointing fingers here, but in previous reports I thought it called out Blash as the first contacted. Clearly that was not the case.

The main issues are with Blash's reports. In his initial comments he said the woman gave questionable answers to being raped. None of that was in his written statement, and all written statements supplied by victim and witnesses clearly state the victim said she was forced.

The other issue I have is that it was Blash himself who delivered Roeth and company to capital city bar. He had pictures taken with Roeth to varify this. So I wonder why he insisted on running this investigation?

Net, one defense that Roeth's lawyer used was he heard the statements made by Blash that he didn't believe the girl, and that she was so drunk this is all "BS". That obviously should not have been stated...but I wasn't there, and obviously have no idea what was reported.

Another thing I found interesting was that Ben's security were off duty police officers. One of them a Penn. state trooper...who is now under investigation as well for this.

Net, and this is just my opinion, Ben was purely stupid here. Had he actually done what he originally stated at the bar "which was I avoided and ignored them due to being so drunk" this would not be a case. The fact he admitted finally to the sexual contact shows he was lying. I also think the girl realized she was not going to come out on this without being bludgeoned...which is why she finally went to GBI and said she did not want to go forward with the case.

Alot of issues with this...and I think he will once again make this mistake. I am betting Pittsburgh drops him like hot butter soon.

 

[Cooley Cadets]

Yahoo Sports is reporting Big Bens' suspension announcement will come before the NFL Draft.

With every indication of Ben willing to cooperate I think we will see the commish grandstanding. When there was doubt I think he was weaseling to make it post draft - but then again this could just be sour grapes on my side because I have not been impressed with the commish.

 

[Cooley Cadets]

I am not going to respond to Cooley's post bit by bit. This one really looks weird from both points of view.

Why not Phi?

How do you NOT do some type of investigation or protect the site after a rape allegation? The Janitor came in 8 hrs AFTER the allegation and cleaned the site. Surely you would do SOME type of investigation in 8hrs??

I think my point was missed and that is probably my fault for not making it clear. I am not defending the way the PD investigation was conducted but referring to the finger pointing among agencies after the fact. The police did not secure the scene but neither did the GBI w/in 4 hours of being called in. I think there is enough blame to go around for both departments.

Both the victim AND Roethisburger were not able to be gotten in timely fashion for follow up statements. Both sides seemed to hinder things here.

No doubt about it. Ben appears to have actually expedited his departure from M'ville to further hinder the investigation. My purpose is not to claim Ben's innocence, simply cautioning a rush to condemning a Fathead (and not the type you stick to your walls) without sufficient proof.

In another article posted in PFT, they explained how the girls got into the bar. Evidently you can get in under age. You need a bracelet like you get at a festival or fair to be able to obtain alcohol. All reports state the girls did not have one. So again, I wonder why no investigation is taking place on how the girls were given alcohol in the first place.

That may come after the initial focus is off the primary concern which is the sexual assault allegations. My expectation is that since there is so much being questioned about what happened a separate investigation by the appropriate authorities will be conducted against the establishment. I do not think there is enough there for them to go after Ben or his entourage.

As far as the girl reluctant to find an officer and report. It clearly calls out that the victim was worried and embarrased over the incident. Not uncommon at all in these cases. One of her friends contacted a deputy in another area for advice. HIS advice was to find a local city policeman to report it. Then they did.

You may be right and there could be an innocent explanation. The entire emphasis of making the report and doing most of the talking when it is made - about something they admit they did not witness opens up other explanations that would need to be considered. The location of WHERE they made the report (in front of at least their 4th bar of the evening) opens up a question of just how much time had elapsed since and was it AFTER going to the bar, were they going to the bar until her friends saw the police officer...

The officer it was reported to was NOT Blash. Blash was the shift supervisor and took over the case. Not pointing fingers here, but in previous reports I thought it called out Blash as the first contacted. Clearly that was not the case.

There have been so many bits and pieces of information coming out it is hard to tell, at least until recently what is accurate and what is not.

The main issues are with Blash's reports. In his initial comments he said the woman gave questionable answers to being raped. None of that was in his written statement, and all written statements supplied by victim and witnesses clearly state the victim said she was forced.

The other issue I have is that it was Blash himself who delivered Roeth and company to capital city bar. He had pictures taken with Roeth to varify this. So I wonder why he insisted on running this investigation?

There are many issues being raised regarding Blash. His report was pretty bare boned but his alleged comments and statement are pretty consistent with each other. Keep in mind that by the time the GBI investigators became involved and took the girls statements they were more sober...

If there was someone else available then yes I would agree there is at the minimum an appearance of a potential conflict. But who would you assign a matter like this if not your shift sgt who I would imagine is one if not the most experienced officer on at the time? Keep in mind if they were escorting BR as part of their job - that doesn't automatically create a conflict even if it was on friendly terms. My issue is with all the allegations - if he was attempting to empathize and develop a quick rapport with Ben to get him to talk that is one thing. But in the light of the articles I have read which would focus on the worst case scenario - he seems to have gone way beyond that.

Net, one defense that Roeth's lawyer used was he heard the statements made by Blash that he didn't believe the girl, and that she was so drunk this is all "BS". That obviously should not have been stated...but I wasn't there, and obviously have no idea what was reported.

I do not know how the lawyer learned this - I think there are some scenarios that are less damning of Blash than others like the one I mentioned above but that "defense" is more icing than one that would have any teeth in my opinion. At this point it does not appear Blash has done himself any favors but that is why he is retired.

 

[Cooley Cadets]

I haven't done this much typing... ahh who am I kidding, I'm always typing something.

Another thing I found interesting was that Ben's security were off duty police officers. One of them a Penn. state trooper...who is now under investigation as well for this.

I would not read to much into this. That is each of the off duty officers departments doing a CYA investigation to make sure as little of the negative publicity is focused on them. Not sure if there is enough to really do anything with them as it is a bigger question if they did anything than it is with Ben.

Net, and this is just my opinion, Ben was purely stupid here. Had he actually done what he originally stated at the bar "which was I avoided and ignored them due to being so drunk" this would not be a case. The fact he admitted finally to the sexual contact shows he was lying. I also think the girl realized she was not going to come out on this without being bludgeoned...which is why she finally went to GBI and said she did not want to go forward with the case.

No argument from me. He should have learned to be more cautious after the initial complaint was made. I don't make the leap that you did about him making a comment and because he may have done something (another area where there are to many versions for me to have a clear picture) he is lying.

I suspect it is just as likely she was not giving her friends a truly accurate account, the friends pursued this complaint farther than she wanted and before it got even further out of hand she backed out of pursuing charges

Alot of issues with this...and I think he will once again make this mistake. I am betting Pittsburgh drops him like hot butter soon.

No doubt there are a lot of issues. If Ben does not heed the warnings and make changes then he will set himself up again and at some point whether true or not it will come back and bite him.

I have no issue with Pit moving on without him. I do have a potential issue with him being punished for being accused.

 

[derringer007]

The State Trooper with Roethlisberger is under investigation

Pennsylvania state police to investigate trooper's ties to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger - ESPN

 

[cctekguy]

Steelers acquire Byron Leftwich for a 7th rnd pick.

Berry Interesting.

Pittsburgh Steelers acquire quarterback Byron Leftwich from Tampa Bay Buccaneers - ESPN