Updyke Indicted By Grand Jury, Toomer's Oaks Both Show Poison

((HT: WRBL-TV Columbus))

A Lee County ((AL)) grand jury has indicted Harvey Almorn Updyke, Junior on two counts of first-degree criminal mischief, two counts of desecrating a venerated object and two counts of unlawful damage, vandalism or theft of property from a farm animal or crop facility.

Updyke will be arraigned May 26th before Lee County Circuit Court Judge Jacob A. Walker III in the town of Opelika. He has a tentative trial date of June 20th.

The HQ is of the thought that there will be no plea agreement. But we do, somewhat, agree with Dan Patrick who would sentence "Al From Dadeville" to five years of planting trees and being banned from witnessing any Alabama football game while wearing Auburn University colors...

TBH, when told of the Patrick gambit, said that the first two ideas were fine. But no Auburn person would want Updyke to ever...

And the HQ means EVAH...

Ever wear anything Auburn on his person... them's grounds for fighting...

Alison Flowers puts together one of the most condescending voice-overs with really bad puns that we've heard in quite some time in discussing the trees current state...


And the four former Auburn players who were busted on their burglary, robbery, and theft of property charges...?
They've now got felony indictments hanging over their heads and they're set for arraignment May 26th...

Al From Dadeville Speaks To Pawwwllll... Updyke Talks To Finebaum...

((HT: WIAT-TV Birmingham/Paul Finebaum Radio Network))

Harvey Updyke was a guest on the Paul Finebaum Radio Network Thursday afternoon. Mr. Updyke wanted to talk about the alleged attack at the Opelika, Alabama gas station Wednesday. His attorney, Glennon Threatt, was also present for most of the phone call. Finebaum, through his Twitter account earlier in the day, said the show was looking to have him in studio...

But...

I personally couldn't guarantee Updyke's safety to our studio based on the number of threats he's been getting.

Jason Paul at Bleacher Report, presumably now with numb hands from all the transcription, has the greatest hits...

But here's Updyke's own recap...

"All you conspiracy theories: I stopped at the first station that sold drinks. I wasn't getting gas. I was not at the gas pump. I stopped to get a bottle of green tea. It was a busy place. I was talking on my telephone to Wayne Barnes, telling him what went on at the trial. I parked at the end. I've been back since. When a police officer came later, he parked at the same place i parked. I wasn't around back of the station or back by the bathroom. I was at the side of it. I pulled up and sat in the car for 30 to 45 minutes, was getting out of the car, turned around, and something hit me in the face. I'm not saying it's an Auburn fan. I've had numerous Alabama fans upset as the Auburn fans. The Tide for Toomer's people. I am not accusing anybody. The only thing I'm saying is you can look at my face and tell that I or somebody hit me. Both of my eyebrows are bruised. There's a straight line going from one to the other. I have a gash between my eyes, they said it may need a stitch or two. I have the band they put on your arm at the emergency room. I went in to the ER -- and another thing I'd like to say: I did go in the service station and ask them where the closest emergency room. I didn't go in there in pain or bleeding."

Updyke then says his rent has tripled on a fixed income, and he apologized up and down to everyone about what he did. He knows he's going to prison...

And, of course, he ends the phone call with "Roll Damn Tide".

Updyke said that: 'I don't want this to be my legacy. I don't want to be known as the TREE POISONER.'

The HQ thinks that's a little late in the game...

The interview can be heard in full hyah...

Coverage from WTVM-TV in Columbus is hyah...

More when we know more...

Harvey Updyke, alleged tree poisoner: Beaten or Not?

Tiger Express/Courtesy: habotn.com

Interesting. Brother Jon reported earlier this afternoon (Wed.) on a court hearing for Harvey Updyke, the man accused of poisoning the tree at Toomer's Corner in Opelika, Alabama. We'll use that story as the frame of reference for this one.

Mr. Updyke claims that shortly after the court hearing today, while making his way home, he stopped at a convenience store just outside of town where he alleges he was attacked and beaten by two assailants and taken to the hospital for treatment.

The story from AL.com RIGHT HERE

However, there is some question now filtering out about the truthfulness of that report. In it, Updyke and his lawyer Glennon Threatt are claiming it is true. That Updyke was cut above his head.

However, read the story closely. The store clerk at the "Tiger Express" didn't see anything and said there were no police or investigators at the store.

The blog HABOTN goes even further, revealing the lack of plausibility of both Updyke and his lawyers comments.

You can read their investigation RIGHT HERE

There is tons of speculation this is a stunt to try and get Updyke's trial taken out of Opelika. The belief is they can't get a fair trial and after the prosecution declined today to cut a plea bargain, could've made this a desperation move.

We hope that if this is a fabrication, that authorities throw the book at these clowns. With just a bit of digging it appears that may be the case. This story just gets more bizarre as it unfolds.

Here's Threatt and Updyke outside the courthouse...
((HT: WVTM-TV Birmingham))


Here's an interview with Glennon Threatt that our friends at WBRC-TV had after the alleged attack...

And continuing coverage from our friends at WVTM-TV in Columbus...