"Retired 4-star Army general accused of assaulting Chinese food delivery man, resisting arrest"

RallyPoint Shared Content — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 10:08:18 -0400

From: The Washington Times

A retired four-star Army general was arrested Saturday on charges of assaulting a Chinese food delivery man when he refused to take a check for the bill.

Retired Gen. William “Bill” Livsey, 84, ordered food from The Royal Chef China Bistro in Fayetteville, Georgia, which boasts a four-star review on Yelp. The restaurant told police that Gen. Livsey tried to pay for the delivery with his debit card, but it was declined, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

He then wrote a check for the $80.60 bill but Ryan Irvin, the delivery man, told Gen. Livsey the restaurant didn’t accept checks and that he would have to take back the food, police said, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

By then, the general had reached the end of his patience and he’s accused of pushing Mr. Irvin against the fridge, police said.

Meanwhile, two others in the home took the food and began eating it. Mr. Irvin left the house without payment or the food.

Mr. Irvin then reported the incident to police. When the officers arrived at the home, Gen. Livsey told police he ordered the food and consumed some without paying for it and said the delivery man had pushed him when his debit card was rejected, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

When officers tried to arrest Gen. Livsey, he resisted and sustained a small cut on his arm during the struggle.

When police tried to handcuff him again, Gen. Livsey tried to “punch one of the officers and kick another one all while making threatening and disparaging remarks,” police said.

Gen. Livsey told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he felt mistreated by the officers saying, “It’s the first time in my life I’m ashamed to be an American. They took me away without my shoes, glasses or medicine.”

He added, “I fought for this country so hard, and I’ve tried to do good all my life.”

Gen. Livsey was charged with robbery, misdemeanor obstruction, theft of services, simple assault and terroristic threats. He was released from the Fayette County jail on his own recognizance by a judge on Tuesday, the newspaper reported.

Gen. Livsey was a platoon leader in the Korean War and later commanded an infantry battalion in Vietnam. He commanded the U.S. Army from 1984 to 1987.

He received many awards and decorations during his military career, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross, the newspaper reported.

In October 2008, a portion of Highway 314 in Fayetteville was named in Gen. Livsey’s honor.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/19/retired-4-star-army-general-arrested-assaulting-ch/

Bill Livsey, retired 4-star Army general, arrested for assaulting Chinese food delivery man

A retired four-star Army general was arrested Saturday on charges of assaulting a Chinese food delivery man when he refused to take a check for the bill.

Response by TSgt Marco McDowell made Aug 22 at 2015 9:10 AM

TSgt Marco McDowell — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 09:10:28 -0400

Look,the fact that an 84 year old vet is still kicking arse and fighting off the cops is enough to see him free and record expunged. Hahahaha, ate the food after all that too. Get some sir!

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Aug 22 at 2015 6:01 PM

SSG Robert Webster — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 18:01:06 -0400

There appears more happening here than meets the eye after a quick read of the article. I believe that the General has more problems than just the assault and theft charges. Note that in the article that it said that he attempted to pay with a debit card and it was declined, and then he offered a check. If the debit card was declined, the check would probably been bad also. Seems that he may need additional assistance, that he may not want.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Aug 22 at 2015 9:21 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 21:21:52 -0400

I was reading a thread on Facebook and I was surprised at how many people blamed this on the police. They responded to a report of someone who stole the food and according to them, the General resisted arrest. If that is the case, he is to blame. It doesn't make a difference if he is 84 and/or a retired 4-star General. He had several other people in his house, I cannot imagine that none of them had a credit card or money to pay for the food. For whatever reason this happened, if he assaulted the delivery man and resisted arrest, he is to blame.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 2:49 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 14:49:42 -0400

I just don't think it happened how it was depicted. Apparently the delivery guy didn't want to press charges and neither did the restaurant. In fact they specifically said a lot of the events didn't happen as the police report indicates.

Further why on earth 10 cops? The man is 84...

Response by SFC William Farrell made Aug 26 at 2015 4:49 PM

SFC William Farrell — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 16:49:02 -0400

I just posted same article, my apologies as it didn't show up when I looked. As CW5 Charlie Poulton indicates, I seem to think there was alcohol involved. But the general did act like a criminal, assaulting police officers and the delivery man. This is more than a bad moment!

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 26 at 2015 4:51 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 16:51:07 -0400

Sounds like dementia to me.
.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Aug 26 at 2015 4:58 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 16:58:21 -0400

Not exactly sure how/what to comment on this... But yes, he should have been arrested, and fortunately, he wasn't injured worse.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 4:58 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 16:58:58 -0400

It's a sad event, but looks like the grumpy old man just lost it. Had this been any other 84 year old, it would have gone without much notice.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 4:59 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 16:59:42 -0400

That is a pretty wirery 84 yr old to grab a throat and hair and pin someone to a fridge. What I dont get is why would the people in the house begin eating the foot during the altercation instead of stopping it. If that is the case, then they should be charged with accessory after the fact. This is going to come down to a he said/she said and which facts can be proven.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 26 at 2015 5:02 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 17:02:24 -0400

I'm trying to phrase this in the best way possible.

Ignore the fact for a moment that he's a General.

He's an 84 year old man. Not quite my grandfathers' age (were they alive). But still proverbially "older than dirt."

Yes, he did wrong. There is no doubt about that. But when you get to be that age, you make allowances for age, and one of those allowances is, letting an old man put on his shoes. Walking him down to the car, with as much dignity as you can, and treating it like an "administrative affair" as opposed to an arrest. The General likely tipped the cops hands, and forced them to escalate up. I do not blame the cops at all in this.

I think we will likely find there is much more to his state later in the story.

Response by 1LT David Moeglein made Aug 26 at 2015 6:10 PM

1LT David Moeglein — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 18:10:02 -0400

General Livsey is 84 years old. I know some that age who are congnoscent of their actions, but I know many who are not. No 84-year-old should be treated this way, let alone a war hero.

Response by LCpl Todd Houston made Aug 26 at 2015 8:56 PM

LCpl Todd Houston — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 20:56:05 -0400

A thug is a thug. Period. If he got to be a four star general and isn't better behaved than this and can't deal with a situation better than a four year old, screw him. However, I do not know the entire story either.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 26 at 2015 9:06 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 21:06:25 -0400

He probably yells at the clouds.

Response by SFC Norman G. Mayers made Aug 27 at 2015 1:39 AM

SFC Norman G. Mayers — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 01:39:28 -0400

Absolutely not, much less treated as a common criminal. My guess is that the cops had very little interpersonal skills and couldn't handle the situation accordingly. If an 84 year old man is such a significant treat that it takes 10 officers for what seems to be a clear misunderstanding, then how many officers would it take to deal with a real treat. The article doesn't provide a lot of details to really make an assessment of what really happen. The restaurant management attempted to drop the charges; but, the cops wanted to make it happen any ways. It also states that he sent his assistant to pay the bill and gave a tip. If things The incident should have ended there. This shows the level of respect they have for veterans and the service to the country.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Aug 27 at 2015 10:30 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 10:30:29 -0400

How the mighty have fallen

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2018 12:37 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 12:37:39 -0400

This is truly regrettable. Considering his age and the unusual behavior for a general officer, I must wonder if he is in full control of his faculties. Dementia is no respecter of rank and neither is Altsheimer's Disease.

Response by 1stSgt Nelson Kerr made Mar 17 at 2018 5:48 PM

1stSgt Nelson Kerr — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 17:48:11 -0400

Sometimes people need assistance at that age.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Mar 17 at 2018 8:58 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 20:58:05 -0400

Now I know how that young airman in my squadron who floated a check at the commissary the day before pay day felt. Seriously, yes a crime was committed but think the police overreacted. Sure protocol calls for handcuffing when someone is arrested and the general defiantly was out of line, but sounds like the police had no interest in talking things out with an 84 year old man.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2018 9:32 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 21:32:39 -0400

84 year old man. Prominent member of the town. They couldn’t just even up the debt the next day. Sir, can you stop by the restaurant and pay up? But hey, he’s dead now. I would think the yelp rating should drop.

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Mar 17 at 2018 10:16 PM

MSG John Duchesneau — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 22:16:31 -0400

From what I understand General Livsey is a Veteran of Korea and Vietnam and can be rightly called a "Real American Hero". Even with all that he is, he is still a citizen and has to obey the laws. Even though playing the general and war hero cards may have its place it is no excuse for assaulting a delivery man or a police officer. Leaders should lead by example.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Mar 17 at 2018 11:22 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 23:22:19 -0400

Community Service washing dishes at the Chinese take out

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Mar 18 at 2018 9:32 AM

Capt Tom Brown — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 09:32:31 -0400

This was posted 3 yrs ago. Any update on what happened to/with him? Hopefully, someone appeared at the restaurant to pay the bill and he was released from jail. This is a good example of what can and often does, happen to us when we get older. Despite our best intentions, our minds give out and we start doing stuff like that. Glad he was not hurt in the altercation and his family is now taking better care of him.

Response by SPC Charles Keiser made Mar 24 at 2018 6:18 PM

SPC Charles Keiser — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 18:18:32 -0400

RHIP DOES NOT WORK WITH ANY CRIME STARS OR NO STARS , DON'T DO THE CRIME IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THE TIME !