Gift pleads not guilty to attempted murder

Seventy-one-year-old Scappoose man now in county jail

By Stover E. Harger Iii

The South County Spotlight, Nov 25, 2009 (3 Reader comments)

Stover E. Harger III / The South County Spotlight

Mark Gift — pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charge.

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Mark H. Gift, the 71-year-old man who was Tasered last month by officers who say he tried to run over his son-in-law, is in custody until he can post a $5,000 security deposit.

The life-long Scappoose resident pleaded not guilty Monday to two counts of attempted murder, two counts of attempted first-degree assault and second-degree criminal mischief.

Until last week, Gift was unaware that a grand jury had changed the charges against him from hit and run, reckless driving, resisting arrest and recklessly endangering another person to the much more serious allegations.

Before the arraignment, Gift, the president of Rock Fork Timber, raised questions to those around him as to how anyone could believe that he tried to kill a relative with his truck on Oct. 18 (see The Spotlight, Nov. 18 issue, “Tased and confused”).

That day, Gift said earlier this month, he went from having an argument with his son-in-law to being forced on the ground and shocked with a Taser by a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office deputy.

A grand jury, based on their interviews with witnesses, alleges that Gift attempted to commit murder and a Sheriff’s Office report states that Gift had to be restrained and Tasered because “he was ready to fight.”

Gift was originally arrested and released on Oct. 18.

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Reader comments

Re: Gift pleads not guilty to attempted murder

I think a lot of police officers are want to be bullys and when they get a badge and have others with them that feel the same they slart to act like sharks in a feeding frenzy. what ever happened to the cop who is your friend.

"Rawlins Will"

(email verified)

Thu, Nov 26, 2009 at 05:45 PM

I think

Some people open their mouths (or write things) on blogs without having all the facts, and end up looking like fools. I'm willing to wait for Gift's day in court, even though I've heard this isn't the FIRST time he has resisted the cops.

Of course, the cops weren't there looking for trouble. They were called to the scene after Gift supposedly tried to run his son in law over with a truck. If Mr. Gift is found guilty, it won't be the cops' fault.

"Ed"

(email verified)

Sat, Nov 28, 2009 at 05:37 PM

Re: Gift pleads not guilty to attempted murder

The article iteself was a hachet job. It takes the general tone that the taser should not have been used, and that Gift was bullied by "untrustworthy cops." This from a reporter who was not there and has an obvious dislike for tasers and the police. The writer's "271" dead by taser figures come from Amnesty International which is about as Left thinking as the ACLU. The fact is that there have been zero reports of death by taser registered on autopsy reports. Over the years it has been my experience that writers who print such a partisan piece have an axe to grind; maybe the writer received a ticket or was thrown in jail for DUII or ..., whatever the case, this author gets no respect from me for this insult to journalism 101.