Autograph Seeker Says Jackson Choked Him Until He Fainted

An unemployed office worker who was refused an autograph by baseball star Reggie Jackson said today that the California Angels player choked him until he fainted in a downtown tavern over the weekend.

“I guess I was upset” when refused the autograph, Donald Weimer told Milwaukee County Dist. Atty. Michael McCann at a hearing. “I was embarrassed.”

Weimer, who appeared with a cut above his left eye and stitches on his chin, said he tore up a Jackson autograph given to him by a bar employee and tossed it on Jackson’s table as he was leaving the bar.

“I remember Reggie’s face in front of mine. I got pulled back to the table. He ripped off his watch and started to choke me,” Weimer said.

McCann said that he has no power of subpoena but that he invited Jackson to make a personal statement. Jackson’s attorney, Gerald Boyle, said he didn’t think Jackson would object to that.

Jackson has denied injuring Weimer. Boyle said he thought Weimer had invaded Jackson’s privacy.

Today’s hearing ended without a determination of charges and McCann said he could not predict how long the fact-finding process would last.

The incident occurred at Major Goolsby’s, a popular eating and drinking hangout for sports fans across the street from the downtown hotel where the Angels were staying.

Reggie’s version, Part III, Page 10