BY: Emil Whitis
sanduskyregister.com
Sandusky
Sandusky police administrators on Thursday released documents that shed new light on a weeks-old confrontation between Officer Mel Burns and members of a motorcycle club.
The first document: Burns’ official report on the incident.
The second document: A complaint a motorcycle club member filed against Burns.
The two documents offer different views of the Aug. 16 incident at Margaritaville bar, where Burns reportedly confronted members of the Outlaws motorcycle club.
In his report, Burns said he was working traffic detail outside Margaritaville at about 8:30 p.m. when he got a phone call from Bob Laws, a fellow Warthog motorcycle club member.
Laws told Burns seven or eight Outlaws members tried to start a fight with him, the report said.
Burns approached the Outlaws members at the bar, his report said.
“Once they were conversed with and advised of the complaint (I) left the area,” his report said.
Days later, Outlaws member Christian Miller filed a citizens complaint that offered a different perspective.
“A member of the Warthogs was winking and blowing me kisses,” Miller wrote. “After two or three minutes, I approached him and told him I wasn’t sure what his problem was, but he had better stop.”
Miller’s report said Burns walked up and shouldered him.
“(Burns) said ‘I heard you boys gotta problem with one of my boys,’” Miller wrote. “I replied ‘I haven’t talked to a cop, unless you’re boy is a Warthog.’”
Miller asked Burns if he was a member of the Warthogs, and Burns said, “Maybe,” according to the complaint.
“(Burns) replied to my brother, ‘You know who the (expletive) I am and you better keep your boys on a leash,’” Miller wrote.
An Outlaw member then challenged Burns: “‘You want to step into the motorcycle world or are you a cop?’” the complaint said.
According to the complaint, Burns replied: “Game on.”
In his report, Burns also referenced two incidents where Outlaws members reportedly shredded banners that provided information on an Andrew Dunn poker run.
Burns’ report said employees at The Pump Bar and Grill told him the Outlaws damaged the banners, but witnesses were too scared of retaliation to come forward.
“Based on that information (I) also advised the group of Outlaws to leave the police banners alone,” Burns’ report said.
Despite the two reports offering new details on the confrontation, meanwhile, it remains unclear what criminal charges authorities may pursue against Burns.
Sandusky police Lt. John Orzech is conducting an internal investigation for administrative purposes, but police Chief Jim Lang also asked Erie County Sheriff’s office to perform an outside investigation.
The sheriff’s investigation could result in possible criminal charges against Burns, who was placed on paid administrative leave shortly after the incident.
Sandusky officials must still choose a special prosecutor to review the case and determine which charges, if any, Burns will face.
City law director Don Iscman said Thursday he hasn’t had time to devote his full attention to finding a prosecutor.
“We may get Stuart O’Hara,” Icsman said. “Maybe it will be Bill Lang. We’ll just have to see who’s available.”
The first document: Burns’ official report on the incident.
The second document: A complaint a motorcycle club member filed against Burns.
The two documents offer different views of the Aug. 16 incident at Margaritaville bar, where Burns reportedly confronted members of the Outlaws motorcycle club.
In his report, Burns said he was working traffic detail outside Margaritaville at about 8:30 p.m. when he got a phone call from Bob Laws, a fellow Warthog motorcycle club member.
Laws told Burns seven or eight Outlaws members tried to start a fight with him, the report said.
Burns approached the Outlaws members at the bar, his report said.
“Once they were conversed with and advised of the complaint (I) left the area,” his report said.
Days later, Outlaws member Christian Miller filed a citizens complaint that offered a different perspective.
“A member of the Warthogs was winking and blowing me kisses,” Miller wrote. “After two or three minutes, I approached him and told him I wasn’t sure what his problem was, but he had better stop.”
Miller’s report said Burns walked up and shouldered him.
“(Burns) said ‘I heard you boys gotta problem with one of my boys,’” Miller wrote. “I replied ‘I haven’t talked to a cop, unless you’re boy is a Warthog.’”
Miller asked Burns if he was a member of the Warthogs, and Burns said, “Maybe,” according to the complaint.
“(Burns) replied to my brother, ‘You know who the (expletive) I am and you better keep your boys on a leash,’” Miller wrote.
An Outlaw member then challenged Burns: “‘You want to step into the motorcycle world or are you a cop?’” the complaint said.
According to the complaint, Burns replied: “Game on.”
In his report, Burns also referenced two incidents where Outlaws members reportedly shredded banners that provided information on an Andrew Dunn poker run.
Burns’ report said employees at The Pump Bar and Grill told him the Outlaws damaged the banners, but witnesses were too scared of retaliation to come forward.
“Based on that information (I) also advised the group of Outlaws to leave the police banners alone,” Burns’ report said.
Despite the two reports offering new details on the confrontation, meanwhile, it remains unclear what criminal charges authorities may pursue against Burns.
Sandusky police Lt. John Orzech is conducting an internal investigation for administrative purposes, but police Chief Jim Lang also asked Erie County Sheriff’s office to perform an outside investigation.
The sheriff’s investigation could result in possible criminal charges against Burns, who was placed on paid administrative leave shortly after the incident.
Sandusky officials must still choose a special prosecutor to review the case and determine which charges, if any, Burns will face.
City law director Don Iscman said Thursday he hasn’t had time to devote his full attention to finding a prosecutor.
“We may get Stuart O’Hara,” Icsman said. “Maybe it will be Bill Lang. We’ll just have to see who’s available.”
