MAD MEL BEYOND THE LAW?

If you're like me you don't pay too much attention to those tabloid stories. I really have no idea if O.J. did it; I didn't watch it on TV. Another thing I didn't watch was "The Passion of the Christ". Some said it was anti-Semitic; a friend of mine disagreed.

Though I'd rather not concern myself with celebrity justice, Mel Gibson's arrest the other day was worthy of the attention of this Jewish liberal blogger for a few reasons.

First, the quote. LA County Sheriff's Deputy James Mee's hand written report, leaked to TMZ.com said that Gibson, "continually threatened me saying that he 'owns Malibu' and will (three words were illegible) to 'get even' with me. Gibson blurted out a barrage of anti-semitic remarks about 'fucking Jews.' Gibson yelled out, "the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.' Gibson then asked, 'are you a Jew.'"

Second, the coverup. TMZ reported that the Sheriff's department sought to cover up the anti-Semitic remarks. "Sources say Mee was told Gibson's comments would incite a lot of 'Jewish hatred,' that the situation in Israel was 'way too inflammatory.'" Was the Sheriff's office looking out for LA's Jewish community or for Mel Gibson who has appeared in their commercials and once gave $10,000 to a fallen deputy's stepdaughter?

Third, the second quote. Back at the station, Gibson said to a female sergeant, "what do you think you're looking at, Sugar Tits?' Back in December I blogged about Mr. Gibson because there were some folks trying to get him to run for Governor. Californians don't seem to mind that Arnold Schwarzenegger's been accused of groping women, why should we worry about Sugar Tits?

And the Sheriffs don't seem that worried either. Of course they're denying the coverup, but why did this source feel so compelled to leak that report?

Deputy Mee said that he offered to forgo handcuffing Gibson if he cooperated and got in the squad car. I don't know anyone else afforded that kind of respect by the sheriff's deputies who routinely cruise the Malibu beaches sniffing people's cups and writing alcohol tickets.

It took until today for them to release Gibson's mug shot, which is public information. Steve Lopez of the LA Times pointed out yesterday that they gleefully published Nick Nolte's image right away in 2002.

Lastly, what kind of alcoholic is Mel Gibson? The report says that his blood alcohol content was .12, barely over the legal limit in some states. What kind of Hollywood celebrity goes off on a rant like that with only a point-one-two? He doesn't even look buzzed in that mug shot! Bukowski is rolling over in his grave.

You can't say the booze wore off, either, Deputy Mee found "a 750 ml bottle of 'Cazadores tequila'" in a paper bag "within easy reach of Gibson..."

At least he drinks the good stuff.

Hollywood Liberal, Dec. 7, 2005: Conan vs. Braveheart:
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=15697913&postID=113402024600562676

Steve Lopez on Hezbollah Mel:
http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-me-lopez31jul31,1,6600949.column?coll=la-news-columns

Thanks for the report, TMZ:
http://www.tmz.com/2006/07/28/gibsons-anti-semitic-tirade-alleged-cover-up/

TMZ's pdf of the partial report:
http://cdn.digitalcity.com/tmz_documents/gibson_wm_docs_072806.pdf

That's Mad Mel's mug shot from the LA County Sheriff. I found it on TMZ.com.