Milwaukee mayor beaten with metal pipe at state fair

I was in Wisconsin most of today, just over the border in Kenosha. The Marathon Pundit family visited the Bristol Renaissance Faire, where thousands gathered to celebrate that glorious era of humanity when men hacked each other to bits.

But the night before, not too far away in the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was beaten with a metal pipe by a 20 year-old man, described as "a knucklehead," as he was leaving the Wisconsin State Fair.

Barrett was struck in the head and the torso, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, but the mayor fought back, injuring his hand in the process.

But Barrett's brother said although the mayor is suffering from serious injuries, he's expected to fully recover.

Let's hope that's the case.

The knucklehead is in police custody.

UPDATE August 17: The mayor is a here. The Joural Sentinel has more:

Authorities said Anthony J. Peters, 20, was arguing with his ex-girlfriend's mother, whose cries for help were answered by the mayor. Telling his sister to take his two young daughters out of harm's way, Barrett confronted the man and tried to calm him. When Barrett took out his cell phone, Peters attacked him, authorities said.

Barrett's niece stayed behind and called 911.

"My niece stood there while this was going on saying to the guy, 'The cops are coming,' and ultimately he came toward her but took off when he heard the sirens," said John Barrett, the mayor's brother.

West Allis Police Chief Mike Jungbluth described Peters as a "desperate man" who had threatened to shoot himself and others. He had taken a cell phone from the woman who was trying to protect her 1-year-old granddaughter from Peters, the girl's father, police said.

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