Krendick verdict leaves void

While the debate over yesterday's not guilty verdict is just beginning, the one empty spot I have is that I wish Stephen Krendick had taken the stand.

I realize that in fighting a murder charge, maintaining silence is probably best .. and in this case, the judge agreed with the evidence (or lack of it) without Krendick having to testify.

Still, I wanted to hear his side of the story.

I wanted to know what he was thinking as the struggle in the jail cell two years ago progressed. Why he chose the actions he did. What he and the others were saying to one another as the event unfolded. And to hear him describe how he came to the conclusion that getting Mark McCullaugh under control would take extreme measures.

I've got to believe that Krendick has replayed that night in his head 1,000 times already.

I think we'd all like to hear his side .. specifically why he used pepper spray the way he did. While there was a great deal of testimony about how the large can of pepper spray was designed for riot control and how it had never been used at the jail, did anyone ever testify that they tried to stop Krendick from using it? Does that mean that the other deputies that night realized that they were in an extraordinary fight so Krendick and the others needed extraordinary measures to regain order?

Good or bad, hearing it straight from the person's mouth allows others to see a bigger picture. Again, Krendick's choice to remain silent paid off in court .. and at this point, he may never speak publicly about it and instead focus on trying to get his life back on track.

But I can't help but think that Krendick's testimony might have shed a lot of light for the Monday-morning quarterbacks on why he did what he did .. and only Stephen Krendick can provide those answers.

Paris Hilton's video says it all

Hilarious .. and in many ways, really sums up how silly the Presidential Race has gotten.

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

Krendick NOT GUILTY

Deputy Stephen Krendick has been found not guilty in the death of Mark McCullaugh Jr.

I'm waiting on more info from the courthouse, but in the end the Judge agreed with defense experts that McCullaugh didn't die from the struggle he had with Krendick and other deputies but rather lost his life to some other factor.

More to come ..

Krendick verdict due within the hour

The fate of Summit County Sheriff's Deputy Stephen Krendick should be known in a matter of moments.

Ed Esposito at WAKR tells me that visiting Judge Herman F. Inderlied Jr. has reached his decision in the case that centers on the 2006 death of inmate Mark McCullaugh.

Krendick faces 15-to-life if convicted of murder.

Barack Obama's makes market stop in enemy territory

Sen. Barack Obama's unplanned stop at Stahl's Market near Ravenna was quite a treat for those who work and shop there .. and a surprise as well for the owners, who are Republicans.

WKYC reporter-anchor Chris Tye is on board the media bus that is trailing Obama's events in Youngstown and Berea today .. so Chris was able to cover Obama's market stop for tonight's newscast.

Meanwhile, I was dispatched from my story in Kent to get additional footage of Obama's stop at the market. We arrived too late to see Obama buy some peaches and talk to folks, but I did get a chance to talk with one of the market's managers, Donna Stahlnaker.

When it comes to visits by Presidential candidates, it seems the business's owners are the last to know.

Take a look:

My near-death experience with the Soap Box Derby

So there I was ... suit and tie .. microphone in hand ... surrounded by the best soap box derby drivers in the world ... with an audience of 2,000 including all the parents in the audience.

E.J. Thomas Hall was full of energy and excitement.

With bright lights in my face and special-effect smoke rolling in from the left, I took a few steps forward on the stage to engage the crowd .. as we emcees are supposed to do.

All of a sudden, I stopped .. and my eyesight cleared just enough to see that I was standing near the edge of a stage looking down about 50 feet into the orchestra pit below.

Another step-and-a-half and I'd have been a goner.

What no one told me was that while the orchestra pit was covered at the beginning of the awards program giving the appearance of a solid, complete stage (see diagram) .. the pit was being raised and lowered periodically to make the derby champs rise up like Elton John at Radio City Music Hall.

Again, no one told me .. and with the lights and smoke, I nearly made derby history in front of a few thousand people by falling to my death. I could see it now ... The "EJ" in "EJ Thomas Hall" would forever be stand for "Eric Jumped".

For the rest of the show, I stayed close to the podium and didn't stray towards the front of the stage. Meanwhile, I was keeping a close eye on the drivers that were coming on and off the stage as the orchestra pit kept going up and down.

At one point, Dennis Van Fossen Jr., last year's champ, was on one knee presenting the champ's ring to this year's Rally Champ. While kneeling, DJ was only about two feet from the edge .. I made a point of remarking to the microphone that he should watch his step as he stood up or he too might have tumbled.

Altogether, it was a great show .. and I loved being part of it. Still, while the race has been nicknamed the "gravity grand prix", I didn't need the stress of knowing how close I was to proving the "gravity" part.

Back to work ..

I'm returning to the office -- and the computer -- later this morning .. after a week's break to get some sun. Thanks to all who kept checking the blog in my absence ... hope you had time to catch up on a few topics and weigh in with comments (many of you did).

How is it that I leave for just one week and Firestone makes a deal to keep 1,000 jobs in town, the sewers-for-scholarship project has real points to debate, and the HOF, Golf Classic, and Twins Day all came and went? Oh, and Betsy Kling had her baby (a daughter weighing 8-11) while my colleague Barbara Gautheir up and left for a station in Georgia?

Seems a lot happens in a week.

I'll be reporting in Akron for the first part of today and then heading to Cleveland to anchor the 6 and 7 for Tim White ... plus trying to catch up on 500 emails, 200 phone messages, and 100 faxes all waiting at my desk.

Still, as long as I can make time, I need to blog about my near-tragedy in front of 2,000 people. Later today: How I almost died on the big stage.

Have a great Monday! Eric