COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 15, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – An abortion facility volunteer who injured a Catholic priest with her car while attempting to steal pro-life signs during a recent vigil will face formal charges but not for harming the priest.
Michelle Davis is charged with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct and is scheduled to appear in Franklin County Municipal Court on June 6, Created Equal said in a press release Monday. The Columbus City Attorney, however, declined to charge her with assault, saying, “There is insufficient evidence to support probable cause.”
“This decision was made by thoroughly reviewing the totality of the circumstances and applying the known facts to the applicable law,” the City Attorney Office’s May 9 letter to Father Joseph Klee stated.
Father Klee is appealing the City Attorney’s decision to not prosecute Davis for assaulting him, Created Equal National Director Mark Harrington told LifeSiteNews.
Father Klee, a priest for the Diocese of Columbus, was hurt and nearly run over by Davis on April 8 after she had taken his lawfully displayed signs from the public sidewalk in front of Founder’s Women’s Health Center and stuffed them in her minivan.
Father Klee’s hand became caught in Davis’ van grill when he was attempting to avoid being hit by Davis as she tried to drive away with the signs. Another vigil participant recovered the signs from her open vehicle as she prepared to flee.
Video from the incident that was shared with authorities clearly shows what occurred and that the priest was injured. Father Klee was treated at the scene and later in the ER.
Despite Davis not being charged with assaulting Fr. Klee, the group is pleased that she will face charges for her unlawful conduct. “Ms. Davis’ actions are representative of the increase in violent behavior at abortion centers across America,” Harrington said.
If a pro-life supporter had assaulted a pro-abortion protestor or worker, Harrington argued, the response would have been much different.
“If a pro-life advocate would have done similar thing to pro-abortion protester or clinic worker it would have been headline news and that person would have had the book thrown at them,” Harrington told LifeSiteNews.