By Oliver Prichard
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Jason Michaels will not face trial on charges he assaulted a police officer outside an Old City nightclub in July.
In a brief hearing this morning before Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge Thomas Gehret, Michaels, 29, was placed into the district attorney’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program for first-time, non-violent offenders. He was ordered to reappear on Jan. 20, when the conditions of his program will be set.
Typically, if a defendant complies with terms of the program - which in assault cases may include anger management training or community service - charges are dropped and the record is expunged.
After the hearing, Assistant District Attorney Beth Grossman said it was not unusual for someone charged with felony assault of a police officer to be placed into such a program.
Defense attorney Barnaby Whittels said Michaels’ case was “exactly what ARD is designed for.”
“There were no serious injuries, my client has no criminal record, and this was an incident that really was not as serious as it was made out to be,” Whittels said. “Not every arrest deserves a prosecution.”
Michaels was arrested about 3 a.m. July 3 after leaving 32 Degrees, a popular nightclub on South Second Street between Market and Chestnut streets.
When Philadelphia police officers, who were working a security detail at the club, told him and others to disperse, Michaels raised his fists in a fighting stance, police department spokesman Cpl. Jim Pauley said.
He then punched Officer Timothy Taylor, wrestled him to the ground, and ripped his shirt. It took four or five police officers to subdue Michaels, Pauley said.
Michaels was arrested and charged with aggravated assault of a police officer, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person.
Michaels, a native of Tampa, Fla., was drafted by the Phillies in 1998 out of the University of Miami. He made his major league debut in 2001, and in 68 starts last year batted .304 while recording career highs in runs (54), hits (88), walks (44) and on-base percentage.
Philadelphia Inquirer (http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/)