Says It Appeared There Was "Struggle" Between Corker-Bryant Partisans
posted July 17, 2006
An "assault" incident involving a man in a chicken suit in the Bryant-Corker Senate wars was witnessed by Chattanooga Deputy Police Chief Charles Cooke.
Chief Cooke said he was present just after noon Friday near the election office at Fourth and Lindsay and saw what appeared to be a "struggle" between the chicken and a Bob Corker partisan.
Chief Cooke said he saw Bryan Shannon chasing the chicken down Lindsay Street. He said the chicken was trying to get away from Mr. Shannon.
The deputy chief said Mr. Shannon "was trying to stop the chicken from getting into the Volvo" he was driving.
Chief Cooke said in a police report, "It even looked like a struggle."
He said Mr. Shannon had a cell phone and was trying to take pictures of the chicken.
Chief Cooke said he saw Mr. Shannon get in front of the Volvo. He said he did not see what happened next, but he did observe the Volvo leave the scene with a broken windshield.
Police said the vehicle is registered to James Walne of 145 Hillwood, Collierville, Tn. Police said they "will attempt to gain further information on the suspect."
Mr. Shannon said he was trying to take pictures of the chicken, who had been heckling the Corker campaign, after he took off his hood. But he said he never took it off, even after striking him with the Volvo and wheeling off.
Mr. Shannon said his camera was not working so he did not get any pictures.
He said he was bumped by the vehicle, then hit again and knocked against the Volvo. He said the chicken backed up and hit him again as he drove forward, knocking him against the windshield and shattering the windshield on the passenger side with his hand.
Mr. Shannon told police the chicken had been coming to many rallies, and he said he "was curious to see who was inside the suit."
He said he followed the chicken to 500 Lindsay and "tried to talk to the man, but he refused."
Mr. Shannon told police the man got in the vehicle and struck him twice. He said the impact threw him on top of the hood and windshield, breaking the windshield."
Rep. Chris Clem, a Bryant supporter, said he believes the Corker partisan broke out the windshield with a baseball bat or some other blunt instrument.
He said if it had been done with Mr. Shannon's hand, he would have "broken every bone in his hand. That's common sense." And he said for the window to shatter, the vehicle would have had to have been going at least 20 or 30 miles per hour, not just starting out.
Rep. Clem said, "It was 95 degrees. He was just trying to get out of that chicken suit. And he was stalked by this Corker supporter. He was just trying to get out of there."
Glennice Hegwood said she saw the Volvo strike Mr. Shannon twice. She said it "appeared to be intentional."
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