Off-duty bar fight

[DolphinTattoos]

Here's the article :Off-duty officers escort Sgt. Clifford out of jail - Minneapolis News and Weather KMSP FOX 9

The basics are (gathered from numerous media articles as well as the facebook page of the victim's friend who was there with him at the bar) -

Off duty MPD/Clifford was at the bar on the patio. Victim/Brian was there with his wife and brother. Clifford asks victim to quiet down. Brian got a phone call and was talking to friend/Mike who had just pulled into the parking lot. Clifford walks up to Brian and punches him. Brian fell backward hitting his head on the concrete and Clifford takes off running. Mike and Brian's brother chase him, brother gets in fight with Clifford. Clifford's wife pulls up and they leave. Brother gets plate and gives to Anoka Sheriff. They run plate and soon figure out Clifford is MPD.

Brian is rushed to Mercy for emergency brain surgery. He had to have a second brain surgery later that night for another bleed on the other side of his head.

Supposedly, Anoka goes to Clifford's house but he refused to answer the door and they leave. The next day Clifford turns himself in.

According to Mike's facebook page, Brian is doing better and the breathing tube has been removed last night. He was also responding to commands, but not talking yet. As of today, he has not given any more updates so I'm not sure what condition he's currently in.

I'm curious if the victim will be able to sue MPD since he was off duty, I really don't see how he could just curious.

Second question, was the officer required to render first aid since he was at the scene and it was clear the victim needed medical attention - or any reasonable person could have assumed a head hitting concrete would probably require medical attention?

(Just for the record - I'm not condemning, nor condoning, the officer or the guy in the hospital. I wasn't there so I have no idea who's right or wrong - although, I did consider going there that night.... I love that bar!)

[CPL1897]

If what you claim is factual, them it sounds like a drunk-cop with anger issues REALLY screwed up.

And no, the victim can not sue the PD, only the Officer as a PERSON not a cop.

And as far as first aid, if he knocked him on his *** and ran, how would a reasonable not intoxicated person know that he severely injured him.

I would never risk my job like that, but if I were to punch someone knocking them down, I would not assume they were severely injured. Get my point?

[DolphinTattoos]

Thanks, that is exactly what I was wondering.

As I said, I was not there so I do not know what the facts are, just going off of what I read on Fox9 and what the friend posted on Facebook. We will probably never know the while truth.

In reference to the question about rendering aid to him, I find it hard to believe that he (Clifford) didn't know he hurt the guy. I know that a skull hitting concrete is not quiet without sound. My son fell on the sidewalk and it sounded like someone dropped a bowling ball.

Now, again, I wasn't there and I will give him the benefit of the doubt. They did say it was loud, so maybe he didn't hear it.

I just want to make it clear that I'm not taking sides, I was just curious as to what could possibly happen to the cop.

It sucks that this happened. I know a lot of MPD and they're all going to catch sh*t now because of the actions of one who was off duty at the time.

[CPL1897]

If he punched the guy, he was wrong PERIOD. I can only assume he was intoxicated and his judgement was impaired so honestly he probably wasnt thinking of "if he killed the guy", or maybe he did and thats why he fled. Iether way, his carreer is DONE, and he is opne for a civil suite. I imagine his life is in the gutter at this point.

Off duty incidents like this one happen no matter where you work or live, it sounded like a freak "accident" that the guy hit his head and ended up with brain trauma. But it does happen, I watched a old man hit a 25 year old in the jaw, which knocked him down into pavement, hitting his head and he was dead within minutes.

The guy in my story was convicted of agg battery but not manslaughter or murder...

[roadrunner5877]

I dont think the offcier ment to hurt the guy and Im sure it may not be engough to get him fired . I have been keeping up on the storie too

[MikeG]

, but if I were to punch someone knocking them down, I would not assume they were severely injured. Get my point?

You need to work out more . My dad used to hold his fists out and he named them "hospitalization" and "death" and ask which one I wanted.

And I'd bet money the victim sues the PD/City regardless of his status. It's the "Deep Pockets" and they will settle. Sad but true.

[DolphinTattoos]

There hasn't been much in the media about it lately and the facebook page I was watching has now stopped giving much more than just "he's stable and resting". Apparently their lawyer told them to shut up. Bummer!

I have a feeling Clifford is going to be cleared, at least of any felonies. Clifford said the guy was about to stand up and he feared he was going to be hit.

Playing that scenerio out in my mind, I could believe that Clifford was defending himself if he thought the guy was going to stand up and swing.

And I do agree - just because you hit someone doesn't automatically mean they're going to need medical care. It's the part where the head hit the concrete where I think he should have stuck around and rendered aid.

But, maybe he thought he was going to get jumped by the group, or he got scared and had a "uh oh" moment, or, what.. I don't know.

Probably won't hear much more about this until his next court date in July.

[MikeG]

And I do agree - just because you hit someone doesn't automatically mean they're going to need medical care. It's the part where the head hit the concrete where I think he should have stuck around and rendered aid.

Fleeing is the important thing to me. He probably did believe that the guy wasn't seriously hurt and fled what he thought would be a "mutual combat" scenario and left to avoid the hassle. But it wasn't a "mutual combat" scenario.. That state of mind (to flee) usually isn't a "I was doing the right thing" mentality but I doubt he realized the seriousness of the injury. More like he wanted to just end it and leave without a lot of hassle but without serious injury to anyone and avoid police contact. Bar fights happen and people flee and even if they don't it's usually mutual without a lot of charges. This is a case where it wasn't injury free or mutual.

Personally, I would think it would be confrontational if I was standing over a guy telling him to STFU (for the 2nd time) in front of my wife or kids, and they stood up. Standing up means it's on. Compliance is staying seated and saying "okay." Probably a shove to sit back down to listen would be easiest to see what his intentions are (popping hack up from a shove would be a punch, I would think). But standing up is a confrontational gesture. There is no doubt that the guy, by standing up escalated it. His department and the prosecutor will decide if that escalation made it self-defense and within policy. But I think his job is screwed because of the publicity and negativity. Public statements by the sheriff didn't help either.