With assault charges still pending, injured police officer also files civil suit against two former Hoboken gridders
Hoboken Police Officer Patrick Fitzsimmons has filed a civil suit against the three men involved in an off-duty fight with the officer outside of a Hoboken nightclub last month.
According to the suit, Fitzsimmons is alleging that the three men, namely Penn State quarterback Rashard Casey, Syracuse running back Keeon Walker and another former Hoboken football player, Desmond Miller, caused him serious pain and anguish from the incident and will seek damages against the trio.
The civil suit is separate from the criminal charges still pending against Casey and Miller for third degree assault stemming from the incident outside the River Street Tavern last month.
Fitzsimmons is alleging that he was involved in a racially motivated fight with the three former Hoboken grid standouts, after the men allegedly told a female companion that she should be with them because she was black and Fitzsimmons was white.
Somehow, a struggle ensued and Fitzsimmons was apparently beaten to the ground and kicked in the head and face, causing serious facial fractures, cuts and abrasions.
In the civil suit, Fitzsimmons is alleging that the incident has caused him to lose time from active duty, as well has caused mental anguish and physical pain.
Now, what Fitzsimmons stands to gain from the civil suit remains a mystery, because all three men have very little – if any – financial status right now. Even if Casey goes on to have a professional career, which appears to be very shaky at this point, Fitzsimmons will not be able to seek any finances from Casey’s professional contract, because the incident took place before Casey signed any deal.
And, from every police report issued on the incident, Keeon Walker is not only considered an innocent bystander, but witness accounts say that Walker tried valiantly, albeit unsuccessfully, to be a peacemaker in the incident, trying to intervene and prevent the altercation from becoming more heated.
No ruling
Meanwhile, Penn State officials have yet to rule on Casey’s status at the school. Any athlete charged with a felony has their situation reviewed by the school’s legal department and the school’s ethics review committee.
As of press time, Casey’s situation is still currently under review and has not been officially determined. As regular practice is slated to begin within the next two weeks, Casey remains the Nittany Lions’ starting quarterback on the depth chart and will remain there pending some sort of ruling from the school’s administration. It looks as if the incident will not affect his status as the team’s signal caller.
Casey is not slated to stand trial for the felony assault charges for quite some time – more than likely after the football season has been completed. Sources have revealed that the case will probably reach trial in February, if Casey ever stands trial for the charges at all.
Apparently, both Casey’s representative, Dennis McAlevy, and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, are working on some sort of a reduction of the charges against Casey, only after all of the evidence has been reviewed and taken into consideration.
Right now, the situation remains a very sticky one – one that is very far from a final resolution.