Eastern Express Times
PHILADELPHIA — Michael Vangelo said he’s been overwhelmed in the week since he and his daughters were victimized by an unruly Phillies fan accused of barfing on them and assaulting Vangelo.
Calls and e-mails have come in from all quarters.
Earlier this week, Vangelo declined an invitation to be flown to Los Angeles for a taping of “Dr. Phil.”
“I told them I couldn’t do it,” said Vangelo, an Easton police captain from Forks Township. “They’re planning a show on binge drinking in May.”
Vangelo said he has been astonished by the reaction in the wake of the April 14 incident at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The Phillies will treat him and his family this summer to a game, dinner and a visit to the field during batting practice.
“My family and I appreciate the support, especially those who have stepped up and offered to testify,” Vangelo said. “It’s unbelievable to me that total strangers to include police officers, professional athletes, judges and normal, everyday people have reached out to me to offer encouragement and support.”
Vangelo said he received an e-mail from Dan Connor, a linebacker for the Carolina Panthers and former Penn State All-American who captured the 2007 Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s top linebacker.
Connor starred at Strath Haven High School outside Philadelphia and, as a lifelong Philadelphia sports fan, wanted Vangelo to know he was disgusted by the treatment he and his daughters received at the baseball game.
Vangelo replied that he and Connor had something in common: Vangelo caddied for Chuck Bednarik years ago during a golf outing at Saucon Valley Country Club.
“(Connor) was kind enough to say he’d donate some items for our Easton Police Athletic League golf tournament in September,” Vangelo said.
An e-mailer from Washington state offered to take Vangelo salmon fishing. Another from across the world — “Alexander from the country of Russia” — offered words of support.
Vangelo said he’s turned down lots of offers, and many have taken him up on instead making donations of sporting event tickets to the Easton Police Athletic League.
Vangelo said he’s heard from dozens of regular sports fans who simply reached out to tell him he did the right thing, including some who say they witnessed the — ahem, outburst — and have contacted police.
Police charged Matthew Clemmens, 21, of Cherry Hill, N.J., with aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment, resisting arrest and related offenses. A preliminary hearing is set for May. Clemmens’ attorney, Richard Hark of Philadelphia, didn’t immediately return a call today seeking comment.
Clemmens made national headlines last week when he allegedly stuck his fingers down his throat and vomited on Vangelo and his 11-year-old daughter after they had asked Clemmens and his friends to settle down.
Vangelo said he was embarrassed by the attention, in part because he wanted to punch Clemmens’ lights out but didn’t because of his daughters’ presence. Many since have told him his handling of the situation was admirable, he said, including an e-mail from Jack Panella, the former Northampton County judge who sits on the state Superior Court.
“You made many of us here in Easton very proud,” the judge wrote.
Copyright 2010 Eastern Express Times