Anthony Peters: Family Speaks Out

Anthony J. Peters

The family of Anthony J. Peters, the 20-year-old arrested for beating Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, is talking to the media.

From 620 WTMJ:

Anthony Peters was arrested for beating up Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett after Barrett tried to call 911 about a domestic dispute. Peters' family now wants their side of the story heard.

Peters' older brother, who does not want his face shown or name used, said that 20-year-old Anthony was upset because he wanted to see his 14-month-old daughter.

"It's something that could have been avoided," his brother said. "If he was able to see his kid it wouldn't have gone this far."

The Peters family said Anthony is not allowed to see his daughter as much as he would like, and that is what he was fighting with his daughter's maternal grandmother about it when Mayor Barrett tried to help. The family feels the mayor shouldn't have stepped in.

Perhaps Peters' lengthy criminal record has something to do with the fact that he isn't allowed to see his daughter as much as he'd like.

"Somebody got involved that really shouldn't have gotten involved," the brother said.

Peters was threatening to shoot himself and others.

Intervention was definitely in order.

The family also feels if it had been anybody but Mayor Barrett that stepped in, Anthony would not have been arrested.

"Now it's this big issue," the brother said.

That is absolutely ridiculous.

Of course, Peters would have been arrested for beating someone so severely it required hospitalization.

Granted, the country wouldn't be talking about the incident. Obama would never have called the hero who intervened to help the woman. But there is absolutely no doubt that Peters would have been arrested.

Of course, it's a bigger story because Peters' victim happened to be Milwaukee's mayor. I guess Peters is just an unlucky guy.

The family claims Anthony is not a bad man, and only reacted the way he did because he was fighting for custody of his daughter and was caught in the heat of the moment.

"He's not violent like that. He's young, he's still a boy, and he doesn't know how to handle situations," the brother said.

Peters is young, but he's not still a boy.

He's the father of a 14-month-old. He's a man.

And obviously, Peters is "violent like that."

His actions speak for themselves. This alleged "boy" has a lengthy record. He's no stranger to police.

Peters is not a victim.

If convicted of this violent crime, he'll see his daughter even less.
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