One Melee: Two Stories

This is the story we pieced together in January 2007. Members of the Yale a cappella group, The Baker’s Dozen, were in San Francisco on tour. They were guests of honor at a New Year’s party in a home at 15th Avenue and California Street. At midnight, they sang the Star Spangled Banner. Members of the group and other people at the party that night told us nineteen-year-old Rich Aicardi began taunting the singers, and threw homophobic slurs at them. When the tensions escalated, Aicardi called his brother and other friends, to come to the home and take on the singers. (No one disputes that Aicardi made that call.)

As they left the party two or three at a time, the Yale singers were attacked; some, knocked to the ground, and punched and kicked. The Yale singers told us they never threw a punch, and made it clear to the “city kids” they didn’t want to fight. Yale freshman Sharyar Aziz had his jaw broken in two places; he had to be rushed back to New York for surgery. And, Bakers Dozen member Evan Gogel suffered a concussion, in addition to black eyes and abrasions.

Here’s the defense’s story, spelled out during the past three days of preliminary hearing. Nothing happened after the Baker’s Dozen sang the national anthem. The tensions began afterward, on the home’s back deck. Nineteen-year-old Brian Dwyer was shot-gunning beer from a 30-pack he brought to the party. The defense claimed some of the Yale students began making fun of him, saying, “That’s gay.” His attorney said Rich Aicardi came to Dwyer’s defense and “push-punched” one of the Yale students. They also admit Aicardi called in reinforcements using his cell phone, but that Dwyer got on the phone during that same call and tried to calm the situation by saying they didn’t need to come – nothing was going to happen.

Both Aicardi and Dwyer admitted to police taking part in the melee outside. Aicardi said he threw “haymaker punches” at two Yale students; Dwyer said he kicked one who had been knocked to the ground. But, the prosecutor could not tie Aicardi and Dwyer to injuries to Yale student Evan Gogel; the judge said the identifications were insufficient. So, Dwyer gets off, and Aicardi faces just one misdemeanor count for punching William Bailey.

Attorneys for the Yale students tell us, the young men and their families are quite upset by the ruling today, and that they’ll now focus on the civil lawsuit.

So, what went wrong? Why weren’t the people responsible for the brutal attacks prosecuted? It’s clear from court testimony and documents reviewed by the I-Team, the police did not take the case very seriously. They detained four young men, including Brian Dwyer and Rich Aicardi's brothers, but let them go after about ten minutes. The police didn’t realize early on that someone, Sharyar Aziz, had been so badly injured. They didn’t bother to take statements from the Yale students that night – didn’t even bother to jot down their names. The police began investigating in earnest about a week later -- only after they learned the I-Team was investigating. And, it looks like, by that point, it was too late to build a solid case.

Comments

[dan]

Did you really become an attack dog for the prosecution merely because the defendants refused to talk to the media???????????

[dan]

This whole time you have been either a co-conspirator or you have been played, and everyone saw it, probably even you.

[dan]

At first the yale students were attacked because they sang the Star Spangled Banner, remember? Only, as it turns out, one of the defendants is a Marine assigned to an anti-terrorism unit in Japan??? Right away you need to say something or you lose all credibility, but no...I hope you keep your looks for as long as you can because I can say with high confidence that you are likely the dumbest journalist on TV and that says a lot. I do watch all the time strangely enough. I guess that is part of the show....ratings must have gone up.

[SFResident]

I can not believe the lengths to which Dan Noyes will go.
First, he didn't "break" or "report" this story, he simply forwarded the story from the Yale families upset that their boys reputation and status would be harmed. I wonder if Dan always dreamt of being a puppet when he grew up. Or maybe he felt his integrity could sit this one out.
Then Mr. Noyes goes on to portray the defendants as children of privilege. While the man pulling his strings, Mr Aziz, is/was a board member for Northwest Airlines, Managing Director of a major financial institution. A man with such high connections, he was able to prostitute his son on Fox news days after his fight to rally the media. And there's Dan...eating it all up..waiting for his turn to dine with the big boys.

And finally, today's report...where he is shocked that charges were dismissed. As if a public relations campaign and an ABC investigative puppet is enough evidence. Mr. Noyes' arrogance and his patronizing tone, that the judge could possibly have dismissed these charges. after all...Dan Noyes "broke" the story

Tell me...what is the going rate for an investigative reporter these days. I don't want to buy one..just use one....Shame on you Mr. Noyes

[MissionHooligan]

All these kids are pampered brats. The local kids got the benefit of the doubt and they got off easy. But sure, they're still a bunch of punks. Thanks, Dan. Keep it up.