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Kootenai County Sheriff, file
Joe Hundley was charged with assault after allegedly hitting a 19-month-old boy who had started to cry aboard a Delta flight.
A man accused of uttering a racial slur and slapping another passenger's crying toddler during a flight has been fired in the wake of the alleged incident.
Joe Hundley, 60, from Hayden, Idaho, was charged with assault after he allegedly hit the 19-month-old boy who had started to cry during the airplane’s descent, NBC station KARE reported.
According to court documents, the child’s mother Jessica Bennett alleges Hundley leaned over and said, "Shut that [N-word] baby up!" before slapping the child. This caused him to bleed and cry even harder, his mother told KARE.
'Offensive and disturbing'
The Boise Weekly reported that Bennett's story was supported by another passenger who was aboard the Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis to Atlanta on Feb. 8. That could not be independently confirmed by NBC News.
Hundley is no longer working for Idaho-based aircraft component manufacturer, Unitech, its parent company AGC Aerospace and Defense said in a statement on its website Sunday:
“Reports of the recent behavior of one of our business unit executives while on personal travel are offensive and disturbing. We have taken this matter very seriously and worked diligently to examine it since learning of the matter on Friday afternoon. As of Sunday, the executive is no longer employed with the company.
“We wish to emphasize that the behavior that has been described is contradictory to our values, embarrassing and does not in any way reflect the patriotic character of the men and women of diverse backgrounds who work tirelessly in our business.”
In an interview with KARE, Bennett said Hundley appeared intoxicated, accusing him of becoming increasingly obnoxious during the flight.
"He reeked of alcohol," Bennett said. "He was belligerent and I was uncomfortable."
Hundley's attorney, Marcia Shein of Atlanta, has said that her client will plead not guilty to the charge.
Shein told Reuters that she has received hate mail over her defense of Hundley, but added that she believes her client has been misunderstood.
"He is not a racist," Shein said. "I'm going to make that real clear because that's what people are suggesting."
"There's background information people don't know about, and in time it will come out," she said.
The Spokesman-Review newspaper of Spokane, Wash., reported that Hundley had denied the allegations.
“I can only say it’s an absolute falsehood,” the Spokesman-Review quoted Hundley as saying.
Leave a Comment:
I suspect it was less the use of the n word and more the being drunk, slapping a two year old child and being arrested that got him fired or more likely suspended. He was after all the CEO of that subsidiary in Idaho. He should not have been drinking when he has some serious anger management issues. Hope he is not around any small children at home.
It is not illegal to make a racial slur. If it is excessive, you may get charged with harassment. That would happen if you were using any curse word. The thing here is this guy was charged with physically assaulting a child.
Stupid MSNBC just drooled over the fact that the guy may have made a racial remark against a black prior. Blacks make these statements very often when assaulting whites. I know, we use to live in Newark NJ and it part of life here. MSN would never make the reverse a story. They are only interested when the minority is the victim which is like 5% of the time….
Hate crime?
Nope.
It may not be illegal to use a racial slur, but in most cases it would be difficult to do it a second time through wired together jaws.
The blacks are gunna start killin whites for this one
Would I get fired if I slapped the person who wrote this headline and article? "Passenger fired" is stupid. Passenger loses his job or fired from his job would at least begin making sense.
And sure if this is true, striking a child and being a racist are disgraceful. But I read articles like this and am reminded of times people have had to sit and watch in disgust as some inconsiderate trash, of whatever race, let their child scream and wail constantly or if older, act like a marauding monkey, without at least trying to do anything about it. And I always wonder if the people who don't at least think of this (you don't have to condone this kind of extreme reaction of course) when reading these kinds of stories are those people f***ing up the entire world with their sociopathic parenting and disgusting kids.
The only reason I say this, when really if this story is true it is not relevant to the context here, is that the inconsiderate trash of the world should be aware of the seriousness of their s**tty parenting. It is far worse for the world than the worst examples of racism. Racists are at least getting the message from the mainstream that they are scum. These people to whom I'm referring still seem to enjoy the luxury of thinking they're human beings.
That's kind of the point, Bill. Supposedly educated people are supposed to know better, and it's questionable if the supposedly uneducated person is capable of doing better. It's called being gracious. Obviously individual circumstances can trump all this, but in general, the obligation of civility is the burden of those who claim to understand what that actually means.
Mr. Hundley and others like him is a good reason to have another seating section on commercial airplanes.
My suggestion: First Class, Business Class, Economy Class, No Class.
Let's put folks like Mr. Hundley in the "No Class" section!
Or better yet...in the cargo hold!!!
lol...funny! Yep, mr. Racist belongs in the no class section,you know...the section out on the wing?
What a bunch of crap . The pressure caused the child to cry in the decent.
What did the five fingers say to the face? Slap B****
I'm Rick James B****
We have all had bad moments and bad days and have said things we later regret. That is no reason to be vilified or fired from a job because of it. An apology and some anger management should be in order instead.
Oh, okay, let's adopt a "one free infant slap" policy. That'll help.
For my mere hourly paycheck, I was REQUIRED to maintain a professional and decent composure at ALL times, 24-7-365 or else face disciplinary action or discharge!
I feel that ALL high-salaried persons, execs and professional athletes included, should be even MORE obligated to do so.
He should not have said or did what he did, but I have felt his frustration. Was at Cosco the other day and a Mother let her snotty kid poke at all my food, without doing a thing, I think she thought it was cute. I gave most of it back to the cashier - even the cooked chicken - ugh! It seems that parents now think we all need to put up with their brats - and they will wonder where they went wrong when the spoiled rotten kid turns out - ah.... to be a spoiled and rotten adult.
Despite the fact that he lost his job and reputation, this fool should be thankful the father of that child wasn't there. He would be eating with dentures and sucking his booze through a straw!
agreed. Ya just can't fix stupid sometimes eh?
Why isn't he in jail? If that were my kid he would be -- after he got out of the ICU. I'd probably be one cell over waiting on him.
Because we have a process in the U.S....Innocent until proven guilty, jury of your peers, sentencing by a judge. Not just, MSNBC is publicizing that a racial slur was made and a black victim was struck by an evil white person so, lock him up…
This isn't just MSNBC reporting - this hit all media (newspapers, Internet, World News Tonight) and the content was quite consistent.
Correct!! This site is so biased and pc this incident probably never happened anything like has been written. Kind of like Carnival Cruise, not nearly as many people were upset or disgusted as this site try to make people believe. BUT,you do have the low life's that will sue at any opportunity. If this ankle biter were white the story would never had been written. This is just another story to get the libs guilt feelings worked up. It's save a negro day for the libs!!!
gunowner, if this site is so biased, why not stay over at "Fair And Balanced" Fox. I'm sure you wouldn't be missed.
gunowner is following the Fox News mantra of changing the news to suit preconceived ideas of "how the world really is."
Look at how many ways your comment does not make sense, gun owner. You have no evidence about the "non complaining" Carnival cruisers .... just your twisted beliefs. This moron's employer would not risk a wrongful discharge lawsuit if the story were not true. If the "ankle biter" were white the racist would not have called the child a "@!$%#." Your beliefs about the media notwithstanding, there are plenty of racists in this country in action every day .... it is not necessary to invent any news to make the point. And I think it is important for you to understand that the "libs" do not have any "guilt feelings." The "libs" did not insult anyone. The racists do not have any guilt feelings because they think it's OK to act out their bigotry.
Something else to think about, gunowner ........ in your opinion, is the opposite of "lib" a racist?
There are reports that Mr. Hundley was 'drunk' when he boarded the plane. Maybe the airlines need to educate their flight staff as to how to CUT OFF someone who is ordering way too many drinks during the flight. Reports stated he was ordering 'double vodkas throught the flight'. I know the airlines are 'hurting' for money-but that's not the way to pad the coffers. Mr. Hundley is a class-A-one JERK. I wouldn't be surprised if some of his co-workers (EX-co-workers, btw) come forward with stories of how Mr. Hundley treated others at his workplace (especially his 'minions', since he was the President of the Corp.!!). I do hope that little boy forgets this ever happens (as long as his parents don't keep bringing it up as he ages).
plainyjainie: The plane was descending--the flight was going to be over in just a few minutes. The precious little boy was suffering from the effects of the air pressure (it sure bothers MY 61-year-old ears when I fly). What if it was YOUR child?? Do you have any children? Are they ALWAYS perfect? Never cry? Never has trantrums? Never stomp their feet? Never talk back? This child was just 18-months-old. Since when does a slap or a hit ever 'shut up a child'??? It makes them cry MORE--you idiot! I know--I was slapped by my stepmother whenever I cried--did it stop me?? Of course not-the hits hurt; I cried even more.
Apparently the little boy is already traumatized and is afraid of strangers. It's not the parents place to repress what happened to him, but to get therapy so that he is not afraid of strangers for the rest of his life.
From what I have seen on TV-the little boy looked just fine with reporters and camera crews all around him. He was smiling and laughing, and showed no 'fear' of anyone in the room. I am sure he, most likely, has forgotten what happened. The parents just may be stating he is in a worse psychological state than he is so to further their lawsuit against the drunkard, and maybe the airline!! Believe me, I do think what happened to that precious child was wrong and I do hope Mr. Hundley is punished severely.
I read a prior report that stated both the mother and the father of the little boy were on the flight. This report implies only the mother was with the boy.
If the father was on the flight, I don't understand why he apparently did nothing! If that were my child, that drunken slob would left that plane in a body bag!!
Cannot get out of your seat during the descent and landing. Obviously, they did not have seats together. I suspect the attendants got him off of the plane in a New York Minute so that the dad wouldn't have the opportunity to pound the guy.
Don't be a bigot. What if it was a lesbian couple??
Another report said that the baby is now traumatized and is afraid of strangers.
My heart breaks for the mother and child.
It's awful that he didn't see this child as a human being but rather a N!gger!
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident.
I love how all the liberals compare him to conservatives, just goes to shows you who the true haters are. On the subject of this story, this man is a disgrace to human beings period. I don't care how much you've drank there's never a reason to use a racial slur for any reason and if he'd slapped my kid he'd of been leaving in an ambulance.
He just looks like another member of Obama's Cabinet. Old ,White, Grey headed & drunk .
deerhunter, You just can't leave it alone, can you. No matter what, the POTUS can't do anything right if your opinion means anything (which it doesn't). If he had blacks in his cabinet, you'd bitch about "The n*****rs are taking over our country". He has whites in his cabinet, and you make this comment. You are a racist of the worst type. It's time for you to join the 21st century. It's not the 1850s when you could whip a black man, or the 1950s with the wonderful Jim Crow laws.
We don't seem near done with racism.
We will NEVER be done with racism. Balance won't happen for thousands of years, If ever.
Because there will always be ignorant fools who need to feel superior because they are LOSERS. That's what racism is all about: trashy, stupid LOSERS looking to make themselves feel superior because their lives suck.
I agree. I have been a victim of racial slurs and attacks all my life from black people. But for some reason no news organization ever makes a story of it. It seems the victim has to be a minority for the news to publicize it. Why is that?
You are correct, but thing is the racism is a result a racism society. Some can filter it better than others.
SomethingSaid, What nationality are you ?
European American.
SomethingSaid, Most people are European. What country do you come from ? For instant, I am Italian and hear stupid remarks but no more then any other nationality.
Ray - That is my point. You hear raciest remarks against being Italian American (white) where are these stories in the news. Unless the victim is a minority, especially black, it never makes the news??
SomethingSaid, With what you said whites can't do half what the blacks do without being called a racist. For instant BET, try that with a white only channel. This is one of hundreds of things black get away with.
Racism doesn't have to have anything to do with color. Many nationalities have been subject to racial slurs. A few that comes to mind- Micks, spicks, kykes, chinks, gut eaters, wops, krauts, crackers. Not trying to be offensive, just making a point. By the way, most of these are used primarily by whites toward other whites.
The point is that far too many people put far too much importance on meaningless words.
There's ALWAYS a liar who comes back with" I've been racially harassed by blacks all my life".
That's BULLSH*T.
This punk and his son continuously kicked the back of my Dad's seat on a plane flight. I met my Dad at the airport after the flight arrived, he pointed out the perps, I confronted them, and they apologized rather than get the living sh*t beat out of them. It's easy to pick on the helpless, but most bullies are pussies who when challenged by somebody their own size, put their tails between their legs and cower in fear like the cowards they are. My guess is that loser and his son had to change their underwear the second they got out of the airport.
Bottom Line: lucky I wasn't on that flight for the old fart from Idaho. I'd have planted him like a tulip!
The guy was from Idaho stupid! If you had the balls you would have planted him like a potato.
And sure Jimmy...beating up on someone after the fact, or even during the fact for a, yes, annoying issue but not harmful, sure is a great way to solve the problem....
I would call YOU the bully in that regard.
Your dad didn't notify the flight attendant why?
Jimee
Millions of people are very lucky that you are not on their flight, in their neighborhood or even in their state. People like you, not crying children, make public interaction such as airplane trips unpleasant.
Another example of inappropriate behavior and too much freedom. I'm glad he got called on it. Having other passengers get in a riot or kicking his butt is illegal and 2 wrongs don't make a right. The guy got in trouble and even got fired and rightfully so. Those trashing our President should suffer some consequences too. Freedom of speech is our right but when it becomes borderline racist, hateful and sounding like a terroristic threat, don't scream when the Secret Police come knocking. Show some class in this very free society.
Two wrongs don't make a right but in this case, slapping this old fart hard enough to leave a handprint on his face would have been JUSTICE.
think wise you see a racist behind every white face and every criticism of president obama. Could it be that there are many level headed intelligent people who just disagree with his policies, that is not racism. It is critical thinking you should try it some time you'd be surprised what you might learn.
I don't agree with Obama because I feel he is wrong. I don't agree with anything he stands for. It has nothing to do with race, there are scores of black people that I would vote for in a split second over Obama. But yet when someone disagrees with him, you get called a racist. So I guess any one of color that disagreed with Bush was a racist too? You can't have it both ways.
Deer
People get called racist not because they disagree with the President but because they use racially tinged language when they do so.
if he really slapped the kid then he was inappropriate and deserves what he got
He is supposedly a president of a company, but looking at his picture he looks more like a janitor, although in this country today that may be the standard.
Standard?
hychuck, chuck, chuck. Thought all you libs had no prejudice. Are you mad because he is white? Welfare check late?jack
There are more Rep., on welfare than Lib and you might be one of them. They are less educated and getting gov help. So know your FACTS.
I certainly do not condone his behavior, to whatever validity of truth there is in this story which I am sure there is some, it was very stupid and wrong of him. But what stood out to me most is that he was on a personal flight/vacation, not on the flight for any work related business of any sort. What a person does in there free and personal time, should have no affect on there job whatsoever unless it is somehow about that job. (Like me starting a blog about my hatred for the company I work for would be bad). So I think it's a little disgusting that his company just up and fired him for something that had nothing to do with them, and I am even more curious how they came to be involved to begin with, which makes me think that he did something bad and instead of handling it with him specifically they are tearing apart his life. Concerning is all.
Only costs a little more to go 1st Class.
I've taken plenty of flights where someone - and not always a kid - annoyed the heck out of me. The difference is that a child isn't doing it on purpose, doesn't even know he's being annoying. And in this case, the baby only started crying during the descent, because he didn't know how to clear his ears. The only thing he knew was that he was in pain. If the plane was descending, this dip$hit was only going to have to listen to it for a few minutes. God only knows what would have happened if it had been at the start of a 22-hour flight...! My mother always had some soft candy (like Tootsie Rolls) in her purse when she flew with us. The act of chewing and swallowing would've cleared the poor kid's ears right away.
There's NEVER any excuse to strike a child that young. Like a puppy that's hit with a newspaper 15 minutes after he piddled on the living room rug, he has no idea why you hit him. All he learns is that big people hurt you.
I diligently looked through all the posts here, and I was surprised. I was SURE one of the Conservidiots would come up with some reason to blame this on President Obama...
It's a real shame when the public cannot travel in peace and quiet after having bought a ticket to do so.Anyone bringing an unruly child to board PUBLIC transportation should be turned away.We all know that today's parents are way too liberal when it comes to metering out discipline to children today.Everyone loves a well raised child with manners,but these type children have become RARE. Probably CHILDREN having CHILDREN. Parents try using all manner of excuses for being TOO LAZY to raise their child. And all too early ,the POLICE have to do the job of the parents.
James - families are not barred from air travel, period. If you don't like it, why don't you drive or take a train? And oh, by the way, parents run the risk of child abuse charges if they "discipline" their children in public. Kind of between a rock and a hard place.
Child abuse is child abuse. If a parent had done that to their child they would get locked up. He should get the max. On top of being an abusive person he is a racist. Creep.