2008 Woodie Awards
Partygoers combat violence, police presence first weekend
By: Ellen Walrath
Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: News
A heavy police presence downtown came in handy for one student at about 2 a.m. Saturday when he was beaten by a fellow student.
Mike Ortalda was leaving a house party between West Sacramento and First avenues, near Warner Street, when Jonathon Laplant, 20, allegedly hit him in the back of the head, Ortalda said.
Ortalda was standing on the sidewalk talking with a friend in front of Laplant's house. Laplant yelled at him until they left, then followed him and attacked, hitting him repeatedly, Ortalda alleged.
"About two or three hits into it, a cop was right there and Superman-tackled the guy," he said describing the flying leap Officer Darrin Reichel of the Chico Police Department took to subdue Ortalda's attacker.
Ortalda has two black eyes and needed six stitches to his nose, which was "pretty broken," he said.
Reichel arrested Laplant at the scene for misdemeanor battery. Laplant was issued a citation at his booking and is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 19.
Neither the Chico Police Department, University Police nor Laplant were available for comment by press time.
Fourth-year student Jeff Croshal had a less eventful weekend partying than Ortalda, but more intense than he had in previous years. That's because he's 21 now and could go bar hopping. The mechanical engineering major said the party scene has calmed down.
"The trend has been less intense parties," he said. "That's had a lot to do with police activity; them cracking down."
Ellen Walrath can be reached at
ewalrath@theorion.com.
Mike Ortalda was leaving a house party between West Sacramento and First avenues, near Warner Street, when Jonathon Laplant, 20, allegedly hit him in the back of the head, Ortalda said.
Ortalda was standing on the sidewalk talking with a friend in front of Laplant's house. Laplant yelled at him until they left, then followed him and attacked, hitting him repeatedly, Ortalda alleged.
"About two or three hits into it, a cop was right there and Superman-tackled the guy," he said describing the flying leap Officer Darrin Reichel of the Chico Police Department took to subdue Ortalda's attacker.
Ortalda has two black eyes and needed six stitches to his nose, which was "pretty broken," he said.
Reichel arrested Laplant at the scene for misdemeanor battery. Laplant was issued a citation at his booking and is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 19.
Neither the Chico Police Department, University Police nor Laplant were available for comment by press time.
Fourth-year student Jeff Croshal had a less eventful weekend partying than Ortalda, but more intense than he had in previous years. That's because he's 21 now and could go bar hopping. The mechanical engineering major said the party scene has calmed down.
"The trend has been less intense parties," he said. "That's had a lot to do with police activity; them cracking down."
Ellen Walrath can be reached at
ewalrath@theorion.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Anonymous
posted 9/02/08 @ 3:11 PM PST
Good job by Ellen here.. I definitely feel for Ortalda. I'm one of the most docile people you'll find and I almost got into a fight downtown with some dumbass frat boys a couple of weeks ago. (Continued…)
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