A Hummelstown tavern is coming under fire for agreeing to host a fundraising pig roast to benefitLisa Mearkle, the police officer charged in the Feb. 2 shooting death of a South Hanover Township man.
“It’s ridiculous. It’s a slap in the family’s face,” said Connie Condran of Hummelstown, one of the commenters on Chick’s Hummelstown Tavern’s Facebook page regarding the Aug. 2 benefit planned by Hunt for Justice.
“I think it’s horrible to even consider it,” Condran said, adding she believes the bar will lose business.
Lonnie Blough, owner of the tavern for the past eight years, said he has been a personal friend of Lisa Mearkle for more than 12 years.
“As a friend I’m doing it for her. I’m fortunate enough to have a place to hold the people and do a benefit,” he said.
Dale Kassick, brother of the late David Kassick, said of the event: “I find that to be appalling.”
He said the tavern didn’t allow the family to hold a meeting there in February for Justice for David NOW, an organization raising money for David Kassick’s family.
Blough said the family “never approached me. They decided to post it on Facebook without approaching me about it.” Blough said he “preferred not to” allow them to hold the event at that time.
“My parents owned a restaurant – I understand what he was saying,” Dale Kassick said. But for the bar to hold a Mearkle benefit, he feels, “is a complete slap in the face. I can’t believe he’s doing that.”
Regarding the negative comments the event is drawing, on Facebook, Blough said, “I don’t do social media. But people are entitled to their opinions.”
Asked how many people he anticipates may come to the pig roast, Blough said another recent benefit for Mearkle elsewhere drew 200 people. He said Chris Hunt, one of Hunt for Justice’s team members, is planning to attend.
Money raised will be for Mearkle’s legal fees, and for her personally, Blough said. “She lost her job, she’s not getting paid. If it would happen to any of my other friends I’d do the same.”
As to whether this might have a negative impact on his business, Blough said those upset with the pig roast “can do what they want. They don’t have to come here.”
Hunt for Justice, a nonprofit organization that provides support to law enforcement personnel in legal defense, says “Come out and pig out,” on the event’s flyer. The pig roast is described as “family friendly,” and those attending are encouraged to “bring the kids.”
The social media comments aren’t all negative, with a few posting messages of support on Chick’s Facebook page.
“FINALLY, an organization recognizing police officers instead of bashing them! Thank you Chicks, for supporting officer Mearkle!” wrote Melissa O’Brien.
Hunt for Justice’s web site says it raises money for law enforcement officers “who have experienced hardships as a result of on-duty related incidents.”
Mearkle is listed as a client/cause of Hunt for Justice, along with Darren Wilson, the Ferguson, Mo. officer involved in the 2014 shooting death of Michael Brown. The organization’s first client was Chris Hunt, a deputy sheriff in St. Charles, Missouri, who was later exonerated of burglary charges in connection with a 2009 meth lab arrest. Hunt is now a director of the organization.
Hunt said he was contacted by the Fraternal Order of Police in Pennsylvania for assistance in raising funds for Mearkle’s defense. He said there may be more events in addition to the pig roast in an effort to raise as much as possible for Mearkle’s defense.
“We think it’s important that justice cannot be for one side alone. Officer Mearkle deserves a fair trial, and we want to do everything we can to make sure that happens,” Hunt said.
Criticism of the event doesn’t surprise him. “I’m from the St. Louis area, and we experienced Ferguson,” he said.
“We know this is a polarizing issue, and people feel strongly about what they believe in. We feel just as strongly about supporting Officer Mearkle as they feel about the other side,” Hunt said.
So far about $600 has been raised on the Justice for David NOW web site, Dale Kassick said. The family is planning a memorial service in Hazleton, where David Kassick will be buried this summer with his parents, Dale said.
The Kassick family’s attorney, Christopher Slusser, has said they plan to file a wrongful death suit against various parties involved in the case.
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/06/hummelstown_tavern_to_hold_pig.html#incart_2box
https://youtu.be/jTGhK_BY6lI
The word on the street about all this is that the officer had been previously involved romantically with the deceased.
Pigs roasting pigs?
haha Hey Sharon that’s what i was thinking. 😆
“bring your kids”
yeah like i want to risk their lives , you wouldnt find the rat i trapped in my barn there for this
“As a friend I’m doing it for her. I’m fortunate enough to have a place to hold the people and do a benefit,” he said.”
A BENEFIT? FOR A MURDERER??? WHAT ABOUT THE VICTIM?????
You’re as big a POS as your murderous pig friend, scumbag.