Jackson-Incident Interviews Continuing

It will be at least two weeks before investigators conclude their inquiry involving Reggie Jackson and a Racine, Wis., man who claims he was assaulted by the Angel player last weekend, the Milwaukee County district attorney said Wednesday.

“We want to be fair to everyone,” E. Michael McCann said.

McCann said his office will not finish interviewing local witnesses until late this week or early next. McCann said he also wants to speak with Angel players Donnie Moore, Rob Wilfong and Rick Burleson, who were with Jackson at a Milwaukee bar last Saturday when Jackson allegedly struck Donald Weimer after Weimer dropped bits of an autographed ticket onto their table.

Once that is done and several other out-of-state witnesses are interviewed, McCann will determine if Jackson will be formally charged with misdemeanor battery.

Weimer suffered a chipped tooth and facial cuts during the incident. He also claims that Jackson applied a chokehold and pushed his head on a table top, a charge that Jackson and his attorney vehemently deny.

Until the investigation is completed, Weimer’s attorney, Alan Eisenberg of Milwaukee, a man noted for his flamboyance, is making the most of the situation.

A sampling:

--”My position is that (Jackson) may play for California, but he’s no Angel.”

--”I understand now why he’s called a designated hitter.”

--”He may have gone 0 for 5 last Saturday, but he didn’t go hitless.”

Asked if his client’s charges would reach court, Eisenberg said, “There’s no chance of it never getting to it . . . it’s going to court. What (Jackson) did is serious.”

Notified of Eisenberg’s one-liners, Milwaukee attorney Gerald Boyle, who is representing Jackson in this case, called the comments “absolute cornball.”

Boyle said: “What a simple kind of thing to say. He’s trying to avoid the real issue.”

Boyle contends that Weimer was under the influence of alcohol, thus forcing Jackson to deal with him differently than he would a sober autograph seeker. Weimer, in an interview with reporters Monday, said he had drunk nine beers that Saturday, but that they were spread over the course of the day.

“I’m confident that 95% of the men in America would have done the same thing Jackson did,” Boyle said.

Asked if he agrees with Eisenberg’s assessment that the case will reach court, Boyle said, “I’m hoping this goes where it should go--absolutely nowhere.”