Mettler scuffle with protester caught on video
| Saturday, Oct 25 2008 12:41 AM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 12:57 PM
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In this image from a video, Kern High School District Trustee Ken Mettler, in red, is shown kicking at an opponent of Proposition 8. Mettler is head of the local Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. The video was taken by an opponent of Proposition 8.
In this image from a video, Kern High School District Trustee Ken Mettler is shown punching an opponent of Proposition 8. Mettler is head of the local Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. The video was taken by an opponent of Proposition 8.
Ken Mettler, a Kern High School District trustee and Kern’s “Yes on Proposition 8” campaign leader, kicked and punched a protester Friday night during a dispute over stolen signs.
The altercation was captured on video at a rally in southwest Bakersfield where two groups for and against Proposition 8 had congregated at opposite sides of the intersection of California Avenue and Stockdale Highway, according to police.
Mettler, 55, said Friday night that he went to the corner where the Prop. 8 protesters were gathered to retrieve signs he thought his side had left behind. In the video, which was recorded by a Proposition 8 protester, people are shown trying to confront Mettler who is holding a defaced “Yes on 8” sign.
“I was physically accosted and defended myself,” Mettler said. “I was not trying to set up a confrontation.”
But Rob Badewitz, 20, says he was trying to grab a stack of signs Mettler had gathered when Mettler kicked him and punched him in the jaw.
“I thought it was ridiculous,” said Badewitz, who was not injured. “Why do we have to be fighting over this?”
Mettler then walked across the street and said he was attacked first, according to the person who shot the video and provided a copy to The Californian.
Police were sent to area at 7:13 p.m., but neither Mettler nor Badewitz wanted to press charges and no arrests were made, according to a release from Bakersfield police. The demonstrations continued peacefully after the incident, police said.
“It’s sort of scary,” said Proposition 8 opponent and local gay community activist Whitney Weddell. “We should be calling for our troops to be peaceful.”
Weddell said there have been many very angry feelings about signs being stolen, but acting violent will not solve anything.
“I share his frustrations, but I would never hit anybody,” she said.
