Man Farts On Cop...Charged With Battery

[Ash]

I've actually thought about doing this to my old boss.  You know, get her while she's sitting at her desk.  Walk up to her, stick my behind in her face and let one rip.  


Apparently, this guy got charged with battery because he farted on a cop while being booked at the police station.

http://www.policelink.com/news/55422-man-farts-on-officer-charged-with-battery

What do you think?
Does farting on a peace officer constitute "battery"?

[ghouck]

Battery implies harm or intent to harm, so no, no matter how they chalk it up, it doesn't fulfill the definition of battery. If farting on someone is considered battery, then so should making faces at a person.

On a related note, a trick some of the inmates in soliatry have pulled is to act like they can't get their foot into their shoe, and when an officer reaches down to help, they drop a log on the officer's hand/arm. This is possible because in solitary they wear a gown that is made of a nearly indestructible material so they can not tear it up and make something to hang themselves with.

[Psycho Circus]

That's just "fresh air deprivation"  not battery  , I'd be doing alot of jail time right now, 'cuz of all the people I've farted on if that were the case!

[Menard]

Does farting on a peace officer constitute "battery"?

If he had diarrhea, would that be a "leaky battery"?

[Rev. Powell]

Battery, at least common law civil battery, is an intentional harmful or offensive touching of another.  The standard for what constitutes criminal battery will vary from state to state, and often it's higher than what would be required for a civil battery case.  Since farting on someone would be offensive to the reasonable person, its possible that it could constitute battery.  The problem is more with the touching element than the harmful element; it seems to be stretching the definition to say that propelling gas in someone's general direction constitutes a "touching." 

Yes, it's possible, depending on the law of the state, to charge someone with battery for intentionally farting on someone else.  If I were a prosecutor, would I want to stand in front of a judge and try to argue it with a straight face?  Naw, the whole thing stinks.

[Rev. Powell]

Does farting on a peace officer constitute "battery"?

If he had diarrhea, would that be a "leaky battery"?

That reminds me, whatever happened to Menard's virtual karma thread? 

[Patient7]

That sounds like something I'd do.

Karma for Menard.

[Trevor]

Does farting on a peace officer constitute "battery"?

If he had diarrhea, would that be a "leaky battery"?

Virtual karma, Dr M. 

[ervin]

if convicted he could get gas chamber       should cops hire him as his own exicutioner 

[AndyC]

Aside from whether it's technically battery, charging the guy makes the cop sound like a wuss. Apparently, he never had an older brother growing up.

[Trevor]

[quote author=Rev. Powell link=topic=121181.msg216810#msg216810 date=1222307252}

Yes, it's possible, depending on the law of the state, to charge someone with battery for intentionally farting on someone else.  If I were a prosecutor, would I want to stand in front of a judge and try to argue it with a straight face?  Naw, the whole thing stinks.
[/quote]

This sounds like something that Denny Crane might want to tackle.

[Newt]

Is there something sad about the state of my entertainment if I am looking forward (with a giggle) to this thread title one day appearing next to this one?:

Brother, Can You Spare Some Gas?