Russell Martin Defendant Las Vegas Nevada

LVAC Confrontation with Bob

On Monday Sept. 9, 2019 I went to the gym as usual around 4:30 pm. I walked to the schedule board to add my name to be the next one up to play racquetball. I recognized three of the players listed; Bob, Ken, Paul, and Chris,

I started to add my name to the board when Bob sitting next to the board gave a statement to me, “Russ you’re not playing the next game.”

I asked, “Where is Chris?” 

Bob replied, “He is playing right now.”

I replied,”You know the rules, Bob.” Paul was also playing, so I removed Paul and Chris name and listed Ken, Bob, and my name. Bob replied again, “Russ you’re not playing the next game.” 

I ignored Bob and had no more conversation with Bob about the issue. I just believe he was going to have it his way. I did not make any further comment; I have waited before when Paul politely asked me for concessions of play. But I wanted no problems so I sat down and began to change my shoes. 

I sat quietly watching the game. This new player Chris was getting his butt kicked by Paul.  Paul was running him around the court for fun. The game ended, Paul and Chris exited the court. Chris set down next to me even though there was room for Chris to sit in other places. He looked at me and knew who I was. He said, “Russ take my place. I am tired and need a rest.” 

I said, “It is ok if you want to play again, I will wait.”

 “No you play Russ I need a rest.”

 “Ok,” I replied. I put on my glove and racket. A loop string attaches your racket to your wrist for safety. I stood up to walk into the court. I was blocked quickly by BOB who said, “You are not playing!” in a demanding voice. Bob was inches from my face.

 “You know the rules, Bob.” Bob moves his head close to me and says again, “You are not playing!”

I leaned in and replied to Bob, “Bob, Chris does not want to play, so get out of my face!” 

This statement should have stopped Bob’s aggressive behavior, but it did not! I could hear others behind me telling Bob that Chris did not want to play, but Bob was having nothing to do with the disclosure. Bob leaned in smashing his face into my face and responding again while spitting his words, “You’re not playing!” At this point in my mind, I am concerned and thinking within milliseconds, I do not want this old man kissing me! Son of a bitch is spitting on me. I guess he was wearing a baseball cap because I felt something hitting my glasses and then pushing up over my forehead. I reached around with my left hand to the top of his hat and push Bob back away from me to create SPACE.

This is when everything went BLACK. I felt something hit my head and all around me. I said in my mind, “Shit, you are in a fight, protect yourself!” I quickly raised my arms to bring my right arm over and in front of me. I believe my left arm came to the center. I am not sure because this was within milliseconds. Then, I pushed Bob away from me aggressively to create space. This caused him to fall through the glass court door opening and down to the floor.  I was blacked out from his rackquet striking me on the forehead. I looked at Bob and he was not getting up to attack me again. I started to back up in shock. I felt dazed and my head started to bleed quickly. Afterward, I was attacked again.

Paul rush on me using his body and arms pushing me and trying to tie up my arms. I was not sure if he was attacking me or trying to control me. I quickly guarded myself again trying to protect myself and observing if someone else was going to hit me. Paul realized that his attempts at whatever he was doing were getting too aggressive and out of his control. He replied to me, “Whoa! Calm Down! Come and sit down!” I went to the bench and sat down with Paul realizing he was changing his domineer.

 Paul asked me, “What happened?” 

I replied, “I am not sure.” I was still in shock about this issue asking myself, was I wrong?

When the police came, an officer stopped in front of me as I was the first in his sight to obviously talk to because my head was still bleeding. He asked me what happened. I told him that I think Bob hit me in the head with his racket and that I pushed Bob causing him to fall on the court floor. I talked about the details above but at this point, I am still questioning am I wrong? I do not want to lose my gym membership. This old man has put me in a life-changing situation. All of the other racquetball players are surrounding Bob. The police officer talks to Bob, other members.

I was arrested. I did not use the right words when talking to the policeman. I need to get reports and videos. I realize after thinking about the event that I was not wrong and Bob was hunting for a confrontation with me.

Bob Was Hunting For A Confrontation With Me.

When I lookback at the confrontation I realize that from other events Bob has executed upon me he was hunting for a confrontation with me. Bob is always demanding with me trying to put me in a subservient position to him. He told me that he retired as a fire chief. Bob loved to tell me when my serves were short. Bob always demandedhis calls as the right calls. He loved to dictate to me at any given opportunity. Once I did not put my name on the board but I was the only waiting player. The current game he was playing finished and Bob should have removed himself from the game. But he told me because I did not put my name on the board that I could not play the next game and he remained in the court. I just ignored him waiting for the next game. But now that I looked back upon these events there were clues that something was building within Bob’s mind to confront me.