Cops Might Charge More Rand Paul Supporters

Former Rand Paul volunteer Tim Profitt is facing potential charges in court after an alleged stomping assault of a MoveOn.org supporter caught on video tape. Kentucky police are considering charges against at least two additional Rand Paul supporters seen on tape taking Lauren Valle to the ground before she was stomped on the head.

Of course after an ugly incident like this is caught on tape, Tim Profitt believes someone is owed an apology -- him. "[Lauren Valle is] a professional at what she does ... When all the facts come out, people will see that she's the one who initiated the whole thing ... I put my foot on her and I did push her down ... [I] would like for her to apologize to me, to be honest with you," Profitt told WYKT, ABC News reports.

After looking at the tape, it looks like those involved could find themselves facing criminal charges such as assault and battery in the Valle incident. For a quick review, an assault is an intentional act intended to cause an apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact to the victim.

Battery, on the other hand, is the unwanted intentional touching of, or application of force to, the body of another person, in a harmful or offensive manner, without consent.

In this case, it appears that both may apply. Stomping on someone's head can create the apprehension of imminent harm and is also an unwanted harmful intentional touching.

It's a noteworthy incident beyond the politics, as it continues to show the power of video, especially now that it is in the hands of the screaming masses. What in the past would have been a "he said, she said" situation, is instead a case with documented evidence ready for court.

Related Resources:

• Stomping victim speaks out (FindLaw)
• Battery Basics (FindLaw)
• Elements of Assault (FindLaw)