Photo from Park Board Website, used under First Amendment Fair Comment and Criticism, blog post by John Hoff
This blog and this blogger is sorry to hear Jon Olson, who sits on the park board, was apparently the victim in the box cutter attack in the parking lot of T Shoppe Bar, which I wrote about in two previous blog posts, click here and also here.
Olson is a public official and therefore an attack of this nature is newsworthy enough to print the name of the victim. The information came from a reliable source, who obtained it secondhand from another reliable source and passed it on within hours. It has been confirmed that Olson was the victim of an attack that disfigured his face, and then that information was matched up with what is known about the box cutter attack, including the initials of the victim, JCO, to determine the victim of the box cuter attack was Olson; albeit the word "reportedly" covers any lingering uncertainty.
We look upon our public officials to be leaders and so it makes sense that Jon Olson, though holding an office concerned with the management of park resources, should take it upon himself to come to the rescue of a woman who was being accosted by a drunk, paying an unexpectedly heavy price. This blogger wishes Jon Olson as speedy and full a recovery as possible.
This blog and this blogger is sorry to hear Jon Olson, who sits on the park board, was apparently the victim in the box cutter attack in the parking lot of T Shoppe Bar, which I wrote about in two previous blog posts, click here and also here.
Olson is a public official and therefore an attack of this nature is newsworthy enough to print the name of the victim. The information came from a reliable source, who obtained it secondhand from another reliable source and passed it on within hours. It has been confirmed that Olson was the victim of an attack that disfigured his face, and then that information was matched up with what is known about the box cutter attack, including the initials of the victim, JCO, to determine the victim of the box cuter attack was Olson; albeit the word "reportedly" covers any lingering uncertainty.
We look upon our public officials to be leaders and so it makes sense that Jon Olson, though holding an office concerned with the management of park resources, should take it upon himself to come to the rescue of a woman who was being accosted by a drunk, paying an unexpectedly heavy price. This blogger wishes Jon Olson as speedy and full a recovery as possible.
Way to violate the privacy of someone that we can all agree was doing the right thing.... Publishing a crime victim's information and photo is irresponsible.
ReplyDeleteHoff, I love your blog, dude, but I think it's crossing a line to publish information on a crime victim in this case, especially one with a rather high profile here in NoMi.
ReplyDeleteJust sayin'.....
I echo your wishes, JNS, for a speedy recovery for JCO, who is a good man. The contrast of Jon's unfortunate experience with the triumphal experience of Councilman Don Samuels, as self-reported in the Strib recently, in dealing pro-actively with the ubiquitous neighborhood riff-raff contains a lesson, I think. When confronting thugs about their abominable behavior, the stand-up, righteous citizen usually has the upper hand, as moral courage counts for something, even among those without any. But, if mind-altering substances are involved, then all bet are off, and downside can be pretty catastrophic.
ReplyDeleteSince Jon Olson is a public official holding office, I believe the public has a right to know and a need to know. It he were not a public official holding office, I wouldn't have published this info in this way though there might be other exceptions, i.e. a prominent musical artist or business owner.
ReplyDeleteNow that the info is out there, I hope some good comes of it.
When you put on the mantle of public service, well, the public needs to know if something like this happens to you. I feel terrible about what happened to the guy.
I would agree with John here. Furthermore, as a public official Olson will be seen in public during his (hopefully speedy and full) recovery. It's not like this will be a secret.
ReplyDeleteSo let's all wish him well and be grateful he's going to be all right.
You need to know the whole story, I know all involed in the incident. It was self denfense by the unmamed. If I was on the ground being kicked by four people, getting my ribs broken I would get up and defend myself too. Why is it one sided like john was the victim? Dont got looking for a fight if you dont wanna take what may come back at you.
ReplyDeletewhite guy gets stabbed in north minnapolis looking for drugs? you will not publish the truth on whites but will harrass the hell out of blacks. you are a racist. why no mention of the possibility of drugs? you claimed my brother shouldn't have been over north and that he was into drugs and he wasnt. hes black. fuck you
ReplyDeleteWow really drugs were not involved in this situation at all why dont you learn your facts you sound ignorant as fuck..
DeleteIn regard to the various factual assertions that are being anonymously asserted here about what happened...
ReplyDeleteI think it's time to invoke Northside's Law, as follows:
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WHEN anonymous commenters cite facts known only to themselves to prove a point and these cited facts are not provable by linking to some source on the internet, OR WHEN anonymous commenters claim to be experts or professionals in a certain subject as proof of what they are saying but they can't, when challenged, provide convincing proof they are actually experts or professionals in that subject, THEN the odds what they are saying is actually true becomes less than 50 percent.
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I think it's time the Minneapolis Police internal affairs division investigated where Johnny Northside gets these insider tips that would only be known to the police.
ReplyDeleteReleasing non-public information is a crime, and this needs to be investigated.
That sounds like a great story. I will be sure to cover it when it happens. Oh, wait, you know what? Don't you think the FBI needs to be involved, too?
ReplyDeleteScream, scream little troll. NOBODY CAN HEAR YOU IN SPACE.
You, Johnny Northside, don't give a rats ass about Olson's health. All you care about are headlines. You have no respect for someones privacy. You are a self proclaimed media manipulator, and a media whore; you just love attention. And now that you got a mention in the Strib, it will go to your head, and you'll consider it a validation of your sleazy ethics.
ReplyDeleteI hope the cops do investigate you. I hope Olson files some kind of complaint.
There is supposed to be an apostrophe on "someones" in your comment. Don't you have spell check? Don't you see that "someones" without an apostrophe doesn't even pass the "spell test?"
ReplyDeleteYou also missed an apostrophe on "rats ass." Note it is the ass of the rat, therefore possessive, THEREFORE it requires an apostrophe.
Riddle me this. If the Strib thought it was newsworthy enough to print the story late, and saw fit to credit this blog, where is the violation of journalistic ethics?
In regard to wishing Olson well, I truly do and his account of the incident in the Star Tribune, if it holds up to further factual scrutiny at the trial of the perp, makes Olson a hero of moral courage. He might even be mayor material one day. God bless that man. But what does an anonymous shit talking troll know about moral courage anyway? About as much as you know about possessive apostrophes.
Wow Johnny Midnight, if that's your real name. I only had to read this far down before it became obvious you're a colossal bag. You chose to correct spelling, which is unnecessary if you understand enough to correct it, while making your argument. It's childish. Anyone can sense that you don't really care about this stuff further than it benefits you. I'll never read your Blog again so I hope your successful in your nessary suicide. Come on just do it already.
DeleteAnon 11:13 is Jim Watkins; I can tell from his phrasing.
ReplyDeleteFirst Off.... How is it self defense when Ellis was the person you cut Jon first? Jon was on the ground and NOBODY started kicking Ellis, he shouldnt have pulled out a box cutter anyways!!! He was so intoxicated he couldn't tell left from right or up from down...
ReplyDeleteSecond..... So self defense is out of the question! Why do people insist on always talking about this there were only 5 actual people who witnessed this, Tony, Jon, the girl who got cut and the other two who were standing clear, so how about you shut up with your wanting to defend Tony ass! He was in the wrong and I hope and PRAY he gets as much time and fines as possible!!!
Eye Witness said......Jon Olson came looking for a fight and found one.I guess if you stick your nose where it doesn't belong you might get it cut off. Now it really shows how two faced he really is.There's a bottom half and a top half. SWEET!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIf you weren't there, how do you know how it went down? Because your best friend told you his version?
ReplyDeleteTo Eye Witness: no one believes that crap about Jon Olson coming out looking for a fight. It just makes no sense. A LOT of people know Jon Olson and his track record will show Jon is not the type of person to come out looking for a fight. Period. If he was, he'd have some what of a history of getting in fights, being beaten up, having crim records of disorderlys and assaults and whatnot.
ReplyDeleteNope. Just doesn't make sense. . Doesn't add up and isn't the truth.
So get used to the fact that you, or your loved one, is the assailant of a wonderful, stand up guy who is well known and extremely well loved in the community and any trash talking you do will be dismissed as bullshit because people know Jon Olson better.
Good day, asshat.
The Jon Olson I've met sucks. Kind of a slimeball. Likes to gossip more than most. Seemed like he thought he was pretty tough. Likes to stir the pot. Guess he found out he's not so tough. Guess he'll have a reminder of that for the rest of his life. I try to feel bad for him but just knowing what I know about him makes it hard. Sorry his hero statis & track record as a civil servant didn't save his face. I know alot of people that just aren't buying it!!! Others might want to think again.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for the trial. When the phone records show that Sara called him up there to shut up Tony's big mouth, that he was more than happy to ablige. I bet he wishes he didn't answer that call.
ReplyDeleteConcerned Citizen........I believe that crap. I hope he loses his job as Park Commissioner.
ReplyDeleteHes always harrassing people at that bar, him and his friend john s. Jons best buddy john jumped ellis out back and broke his teeth. These two have been targeting ellis for a year. They badmouth the gays, blacks etc, they are horrible people. Jon got what he came looking for, a private investigation will finally bring witnesses forward for court so ellis may hopefully get a fair shake.
ReplyDeleteHey i have an idea, why dont you dig up the records of the white guy like you do to any black guy? I want to know of any offense he may have committed in his life and what the hell a white guy was doing in North Minnepolis at a shabby bar anyhow. you, sir, are a tried and true racist and shit can change for you in a minute!!!
ReplyDeleteYour right eyewitness, jon is two faced. ive seen him several times driving drunk up to the tshoppe from haleks to harass peoole and look for trouble. The paper left out the fact he choked ellis before the atrack in the bar in front of everybody threaten to kill ellis. Its shameful because hes a public figure he can spin this for his gain. Ellis deserves equal time in the media to bring his story of events as witnessed by the bar patrons. Jon is not the person you think if you think hes a hero.
ReplyDeleteThese two big girls were comming in and out of the bar all afternoon that day harrassing ellis, one of the girls punched ellis in the face. They were bulling him all day long.
ReplyDeleteRe: First off, Second off.....Your an idiot.
ReplyDeleteOK, I have had it with the trolls who come here and make up anonymous crap. I published the last batch of CRAP simply because I hadn't made this announcement yet, but now I am making it.
ReplyDeleteI will no longer publish this made up, stupid CRAP about Jon Olson. Comparing the events described in the criminal complaint to the story in the Star Tribune, plus what I hear from TRUSTWORTHY people, Olson is a hero who stepped up to defend a woman and the guy who assaulted him is a dirtbag who deserves to go to prison. Though the T Shoppe is a dive bar, a lot of decent people hang out there and the place even sponsors a kickball team.
Do I have concerns about the safety of that bar in light of this incident? YES. Plenty of decent people love "dive bars" but the atmosphere of a dive bar encourages lawlessness. It's always fun until somebody gets assaulted. But in regard to the assault on Jon Olson...
The facts will come out at trial and I doubt if the anonymous, made up factoids seen in the comments here will ever manifest in actual witnesses. So, trolls, you don't have to go home but you can't stay here. I am cutting you off at the bar and your anonymous comments about Jon Olson from this point forward will be rejected without commentary or notice.
Johnny Northside you are an idiot. Do not silence the real people of the Northside. People who have been here much longer then you. We will haunt you
ReplyDeleteKeep shining a lite on these roaches ( slum loards, drug dealers ) JNS. I lived on the north side sense the 1960,s and the creepy people hate the fact u are bringing the truth to lite. From a real north sider. What does it say about people who want u to be quite? Humm.
ReplyDelete