Maybe it's me.

 

If a person is allegedly assaulted, do you release his/her name before all the facts are in?

 

Do you print what appears, on its face, to be a slanted story in favor of the alleged perpetrator?

 

That is what the Bradenton Herald did when it came to an incident that purportedly took place at Desoto Superspeedway last Friday night and the Manatee County Sheriff's Department was summoned to the race track by the visiting touring series, the American Speed Association (ASA).

 

I tend to look at this from a rape victim's point of view. An allegation is made and until the legal process has run its course, the name of the injured party should be kept out of the papers.

 

Depending on the jurisdiction, certain facts of the case may be available for public consumption through their web sites should anyone want to delve into it, however, the victim's name should be redacted in any event.

 

In the original Offense Incident Report by the Sheriff's Department, it was not although that does not give a Herald license and privilege to publish her name and where she is from, especially when no one spoke to her for comment. And even if she was interviewed, her privacy should have been protected at all cost.

 

I appeared on the Florida Short Track Report Radio Show Monday and reported the facts I had gathered to that point. I also made it clear that it was not my position to release the name of the alleged victim.

 

I had a lengthy conversation with the Public Information Officer (PIO), Dave Bristow, from the Sheriff's Department and he faxed me the original report.

 

He also told me that the case was being referred to the Florida State Attorney's Office for further action, something the Herald conveniently omitted.

 

Let's be clear. The alleged perpetrator, track owner John Sarppraicone, has not been charged with any crime to date, but the story by John Lembo lacked a few pertinent facts that would have made his report more balanced.

 

Responsible journalism would have had the author attempt to interview witnesses to the incident, pro or con, and as there were many people in the immediate area, none were sought out.

 

Responsible journalism would have the author doing a little background work on Mr. Sarppraicone who has had a history of verbally assaulting officials, drivers and families of those drivers and their crews.

 

It is not such a big leap from verbal to physical assault, not that I am making an accusation in this regard, but it would have been nice to see an attempt made.

 

Responsible journalism would have had the author try to follow-up on a rumor that Mr. Sarppraicone had used his influence as track owner to quash any investigation by responding Deputies because it was a minor incident in the pits and that they (the track) were taking care of things.

 

If true, that would have constituted an Obstruction of Governmental Administration, a serious charge and that should have been raised in Mr. Lembo's conversation with the PIO. Apparently, it was not otherwise it would have been included in the story.

 

Responsible journalism would have refrained from using the following quote by the so-called director of marketing and promotions of Desoto without a response from the ASA:

 

"You're supposed to be big people and not act like 5-year-old children," he said. "You don't leave the fans . . . (ASA) just picked up and left."

 

The Bradenton Herald family should be ashamed of themselves for allowing the publication of such drivel. It reeks of an advertiser getting special consideration to what could blow up into a state and/or industry-wide monster.

 

Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead, even when all the facts are still out there waiting to be fished out of the pond.

 

Speedway: No assault took place

Race official hasn't filed charges against Desoto track owner

 

Yellow journalism. Thy name is the Bradenton Herald. Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst would be proud.