TZ Protester Arraigned: Says Stunt 'Felt Cathartic'
Man who dangled off Tappan Zee Bridge to blast Rockland county government is charged with several misdemeanors, traffic violations.
Michael Davitt—the 54-year-old Rockland County man who hung off the Tappan Zee Bridge on a rope ladder to protest county government last week—was arraigned in Greenburgh Justice Court Thursday afternoon.
Davitt is facing five misdemeanor charges: reckless endangerment, criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct, obstruction of governmental administration and resisting arrest. He is also facing two vehicle and traffic law violations. A third—abandoning his motor vehicle on the Hudson crossing—has been withdrawn.
Davitt faces no felony charges, and was freed shortly after the Nov. 7 stunt on $500 bail.
After Judge Doris Friedman read through Davitt's charges and rights, she asked if he could afford an attorney. "I'm impecunious at this point," he responded, adding he is unemployed.
Davitt is, however, collecting a pension of about $17,000 a year.
"I apologize for the problems I caused in the town," he continued. "I'm not adverse to pleading guilty to some of these charges [with certain conditions]."
Friedman cut off Davitt before he could name his conditions.
"I won't let you plead without the advice of an attorney," she said.
Davitt was consequently assigned legal aid—attorney Richard Vercollone, who had no comment on the matter.
Davitt arrived at the court a few minutes prior to his case in a three-piece suit and fedora, eager to discuss his protest and the repercussions.
"It's surreal to me," he said, reflecting on the three hours he spent dangling between the Tappan Zee Bridge and Hudson River. "It was cathartic—when I hit the water I was born again. Not in a religious sense, but in a sense that all my efforts thus far had not been for nothing—because I survived."
Davitt has been openly protesting Rockland government since 2008, when he lost his job as a substance abuse counselor with the county. He says some family members currently are not speaking to him because of his stunt.
Davitt also discussed his recent dealings with the county—on Wednesday night, he was ejected from the Rockland County 2012 budget hearing for being disruptive, authorities said. Davitt has a different take on the event.
"I felt like Cool Hand Luke; I went in there and I was top of the world," he said.
But when people trickled out before he had a chance to speak, Davitt said he was let down.
"I felt abandoned," he explained.
The sheriff's department escorted Davitt out Wednesday night before he had a chance to speak.
Davitt's case Thursday afternoon was adjourned, and will be reopened on Dec. 9.
suzanne schatzle
4:44 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2011
d
Cadeyrn
5:12 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2011
Anyone see any loose marbles?
Kevin Meegan
5:36 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2011
Sharp as a marble....Someone call the men with the white coats for this guy
Glenn Radcliffe
6:06 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2011
I know exactly how he feels. When I was, initially, in college, my mother was in the hospital for 3 weeks. After she was discharged, we were home, decorating the Xmas tree. Her boss, of 13 years, was on his way to his church to play Santa Claus. Dressed as St. Nick. He fired my mother. I had a butcher knife in the kitchen. I should have used it. This was 34 years ago. Another employee was dying of Hodgkin's Disease and asked for the vacation pay that was due to pay medical bills (not to go to Bermuda or anyplace). Again, that SOB showed his true colors and refused to give the employee the $ that was due him. The big hypocrite then had the audacity to show up at my mom's wake and the other employee's burial. Hid idiot son started from Day #1 with 47% of the business.
The happiest day of my life came 9 years ago when I heard that SOB died. (The day after my wedding anniversary). The SOBs of the world deserve to be dealt with. Hooray for this courageous man!
Walt
8:00 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2011
You also have issues.
Cadeyrn
7:28 am on Friday, November 18, 2011
Lots of issues.
BG7
2:38 pm on Friday, November 18, 2011
How is anger, hate and holding on to a feeling of being hard done by, working out for you so far?
Robert Solari
11:56 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2011
You got to admit that besides being a nut he also has brass balls.
gail burlakoff
8:46 am on Friday, November 18, 2011
Wonder how cathartic it would feel if he were somehow made to pay, at least in part, for what it cost to rescue him?
Wonder if he would have felt abandoned if he'd simply been left dangling or had finally fallen into the river and left there?
Maureen
1:52 pm on Friday, November 18, 2011
All I can say is God Bless America. This country was built on these types of "crazies". I'm sure people said similar about the "Boston Tea Party". I'm glad to see Americans being Americans and passionately exercising their right to fight for what they believe in. Occupy Wall Street, protest the war, fight politicians who give themselves raises (Vanderhoef) and then add more people to the unemployment lines - enough is enough!
JJ
2:37 pm on Friday, November 18, 2011
Maureen............
"Stunts" like this are NOT noble.
You most certainly have the right to protest in America but there are limits when it adversely impacts public safety, health and the general well being of the innocent.
It's time we stop making "heroes" out of Kooks; the real heroes are in Afghanistan , Iraq and other places around the world.
It's their service and sacrifice that gives these people the right to do what they do.
Freedom isn't free and it's always someone else's kid who is paying that tab ; not people who dangle from ladders or people who sleep in public parks in $900.00 cold weather tents.