Things got ugly at a Tea Party protest in New Port Richie, Florida. But it wasn’t any right wing extremist who caused trouble. It was an angry woman who decided to drive into the crowd.
The problem, troopers say, is the driver pulled right into this afternoon’s “tea party” protest at Gulf View Square.
Melanie M. Schrey, a 23-year-old from New Port Richey, was driving south on U.S. 19 in the righthand turn lane, according to an FHP report, when she tried to turn right into the driveway of Mel’s Diner at 9223 U.S. 19.
But the driver pulled into a group of about 50 protesters standing in the driveway access, the FHP said. The front end of her 1994 Chevy struck protester Joseph D. Sprowls, according to the report.
I heard from a witness who said Schrey was yelling and cursing at the protestors before driving into the crowd. Thankfully, Mr. Sprowls only suffered minor injuries. Charges may be pending against Schrey.
If a conservative had driven into a crowd of war protestors there is no doubt in my mind that A: the driver would have been charged immediately; and B: this would be the top story on the news for a week.
Update: I found out a little more information from someone who was there. The witness said Schrey had her window down and threatened to drive into people before actually driving into them. That doesn’t sound like an accident to me. Also, the diner has been closed for a year so why would she have been turning into that parking lot anyway? Rather than give Schrey a sobriety test or investigate the incident, the police scolded the crowd for being too close to the road.
If you follow the link above you’ll find comments from other witnesses who pretty much tell the same story as the witness I spoke to.
I was at this Tea Party. For the number of people in attendance, it was well organized and the mind set and behavior of all was very good. This young women should have been the one to get castigated for her outrageous behavior. I hope that the man who she hit, files charges. I too,heard from others that she was carrying on before she made her turn,and unless she was there for the party.. what other reason would she have to go into a parking lot of a business that is closed and has been closed for sometime now?
I know earlier in the day in New Port Richey at Veterans Memorial, the NPR Police were there and the crowd was well behaved. I sent big Kudos’ to the NPR Police. I think that the police in Port Richey should have investigated further and given the woman a sobriety test. Shameful that she deliberately injured someone!
The Mall owners had given someone permission to hold this rally. We all were there for a reason, so if this young woman shouted out that she would drive into the crowd and then did.. clearly is sounds intentional and she should have been arrested!
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Isn’t it odd that nobody in the national media has picked up this story?
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I was there also and after the woman who drove into the crowd was allowed to drive off the police made a comment to someone in charge of the rally that even though there were many witnesses that the crowd was biased and so their testimony didn’t count.So I hope if I get attacked I will not have friends,family,etc around because according to the NPR police those people who may think like me or know me will not be viable witnesses.One policeman actually appeared to be smirking at those of us who were watching them.It was blatantly unfair.I did not know much about the NPR police but after that experience I am disappointed.It would be nice to have faith in your local police officers. Things have gone sadly down hill all over.Cheryl
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Thanks for weighing in, Cheryl. Again I have to wonder, why the media silence?
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