Former Judge W. Michael Ryan arrested in Northampton MA

On Nov. 14, 2010, Northampton Media obtained a copy of a cruiser video documenting the Oct. 15 arrest of former Northampton District Court Judge W. Michael Ryan, 64, on charges of assault and battery on a police officer and disorderly conduct. Ryan released the video so that "the public can have an impartial view of what transpired and determine for themselves the accuracy of the written police reports and the credibility of the charges pending against me."

Ryan had been helping his law partner, Barbara Jean "B.J." Plante, change a flat tire in the parking lot behind the Hampshire County Hall of Records in downtown Northampton, MA at around 8:30 p.m. when first approached by Patrol Officer Andrew Kohl, who claims in his police report that he was assaulted by Ryan.



Kohl, in his police report, said that Ryan refused to answer questions about if the two had been "consuming alcohol," and about how the car had gotten to that spot.

Officer Kohl wrote "I located his wallet in the left front pocket of his pants. I then removed the wallet from the pocket in an attempt to locate some form of identification for the male." As he did so, Kohl wrote, "the male party quickly turned around and exclaimed, 'What are you doing?' As he yelled, the male party quickly turned around, jabbed at my right hand with his left hand, striking me in the wrist with his left hand. As this occurred, I stepped back from the male party in order to create space. As I did so, the male party stepped towards me and raised his right hand into the air towards my face and began pointing at me and advancing towards me as if to strike me."

Ryan spent the night in the Hampshire County Jail and was released the next morning. He is being defended by Holyoke attorney Aaron Wilson, and will be prosecuted by the Berkshire County DA's office. Ryan is a former DA in the Northwestern Massachusetts district.

Lawyer Wilson, interviewed Sunday, told Northampton Media that the police reports describing Ryan raising his hand to Kohl in a threatening manner do not jibe with a viewing of the video.

Ryan does not drive because of a sleep disorder and was not operating the vehicle.

The police report and other documents can be accessed at www.northamptonmedia.com, a local news site run by reporters David Reid and Mary Serreze.

Ryan submitted this written statement to Northampton Media on November 14:

"The release of police reports relating to my arrest on October 15, 2010 has caused considerable, one-sided, public discussion of my case. Having spent my adult life in the Courts of Massachusetts, I am confident that the ultimate resolution of the charges will be just and I will be vindicated. I do not have the same confidence in the Court of Public Opinion, particularly when only one version of the incident is being presented.

I have lived a very public life in Northampton and cherish my record of community service and my reputation for civic and charitable contributions. It grieves me deeply to be criticized and censured by my neighbors and fellow citizens but it would be unwise for me to publicly discuss the facts of the case.

While I must wait for another day to defend myself, I am today releasing a video of my arrest recorded by the Northampton Police so the public can have an impartial view of what transpired and determine for themselves the accuracy of the written police reports and the credibility of the charges pending against me."

Signed, W. Michael Ryan

Category:

News & Politics

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• Mike Ryan
• W. Michael Ryan
• Judge Ryan
• arrest video
• cops
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• Northampton MA

[boobcube]

Totally overeacted! What is this? Gestapo tactics? A friggin' 65 year old ? I don't like him or the cops, but that's not right. Hope it's a jury trial and I get seated. You're free to go Judge, have a nice day.

[chp1169]

It seems to me if the cops are so worried about the Judge and his law partner assaulting them , WHY, at 3:03, when Plante reaches toward the other officer at his neck, he doesn't react the way officer Kohl does when the Judge raises his hand to gesture to retun his wallet. It seems that her actions at 3:03 should be considered threatening also? Why didn't they react the same way, they knew who he was...obviously one officer showed a LOT more restraint and training in this situation.

[bluecollarcanuck]

@TwentyBelowZero000 And I honestly hope they don't hire any more assholes like you for law enforcement.

[denniscook123]

COPS ARE OUT OF CONTROL THEY ACT LIKE THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW. THE ONLY GOOD COP IS A DEAD COP. WANT JUSTICE? KILL A COP.. SEND THEM ALL TO HELL WHERE THEY BELONG..GOOD HUNTING

[BillyKnockout]

Karma's a mutha .

[getmoira]

way to go noho pd. this is almost as stupid as the boston pd arresting henry louis gates jr. ...

[usaf1199a]

I can't stand all of these Monday morning quarterback youtube idiots. Apparently everyone went to law school on youtube!!! Bottom line none of you were there so before you start pissing all of over the cops which everyone loves to do... of course when they are behind a computer and a cop isn't there - get some perspective first!!!!!

[drinkymcsipsip]

It looked to me like when the officer grabbed his wallet, he went and tried to snatch it out of the cops hand (a big no-no). Then he advanced on the cop. Regardless of what anyone says, the fact of the matter is that police have a use of force chart that they go by. When he tried to grab for the cops hand, he became assaultive and the cops reacted accordingly. Until you've walked a beat in their shoes, you have no right to judge.

[BeefLange]

If there was a shooting, stabbing, or robbery in noho, these aholes would be no where to be found. A 65 year old man? Yup! Jonny law at your service. Reminded me of when Pedro Martinez threw Don Zimmer to the ground.

Forget who "he" is, these officers acted in an obnoxious fashion. Totally over the top.

[4264CAMP]

IT LOOKS TO ME THAT THE POLICE USED EXCESSIVE FORCE WITH THIS MAN.AND IT ONLY LOOKS TO ME THAT HE WAS REACHING FOR HIS WALLET!

I DON'T BLAME HIM!