Family outraged at beating of disabled man
Updated: January 29, 2013
CLINTON -- One family says the justice system is failing them. The family of 57-year old Mike Evans says he was beaten Monday for walking into someone's yard. Tony Snelling was arrested for battery, but the Evans' say that's not enough. WCIA-3's Megan Brilley finds out more.
Evans has epilepsy, is prone to seizures and can't drive. Walking is his only way of transportation. His family says what is unfortunate is that his simple walking put him in an emergency room Monday.
"Literally, he was on the ground in the fetal position."
Mary Harris woke up to screams in her front yard at 9 am. She ran outside.
"What the heck are you doing?"
Harris says Snelling was on top of Evans, pounding both fists into his head.
"He has broken bones in the right side of his face, big cuts, a big, swollen black eye."
Harris ran inside and called Evans' sister, Katherine Dorsey. When Dorsey got there, she couldn't believe her eyes.
"Heartbroken. That's my family. I love him."
Evans' family says he was walking on the sidewalk and had to avoid a car parked in the driveway. That's when he walked into the yard. And, that's when his family says he was attacked.
"I told him three times to get off my property."
But Snelling's friends tell a different story.
"He was on my property. He was past the fence."
Tracy Bateson says Evans was yelling at them, trying to start a fight.
"He was calling for him to have the problem that he had yesterday."
Dorsey says none of that matters. She says her brother didn't deserve what he got, and says this man's punishment doesn't fit the crime.
"We just don't do this in our country. I just think the charges should be raised."
The DeWitt County State's Attorney couldn't be reached for comment. Clinton police say they're aware of the situation and fully trust the state's attorney's decision.
Evans has epilepsy, is prone to seizures and can't drive. Walking is his only way of transportation. His family says what is unfortunate is that his simple walking put him in an emergency room Monday.
"Literally, he was on the ground in the fetal position."
Mary Harris woke up to screams in her front yard at 9 am. She ran outside.
"What the heck are you doing?"
Harris says Snelling was on top of Evans, pounding both fists into his head.
"He has broken bones in the right side of his face, big cuts, a big, swollen black eye."
Harris ran inside and called Evans' sister, Katherine Dorsey. When Dorsey got there, she couldn't believe her eyes.
"Heartbroken. That's my family. I love him."
Evans' family says he was walking on the sidewalk and had to avoid a car parked in the driveway. That's when he walked into the yard. And, that's when his family says he was attacked.
"I told him three times to get off my property."
But Snelling's friends tell a different story.
"He was on my property. He was past the fence."
Tracy Bateson says Evans was yelling at them, trying to start a fight.
"He was calling for him to have the problem that he had yesterday."
Dorsey says none of that matters. She says her brother didn't deserve what he got, and says this man's punishment doesn't fit the crime.
"We just don't do this in our country. I just think the charges should be raised."
The DeWitt County State's Attorney couldn't be reached for comment. Clinton police say they're aware of the situation and fully trust the state's attorney's decision.
