Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 5, 1994 TAG: 9403050104
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PORTLAND, ORE. LENGTH: Medium
Nursing scrapes and bruises, Harding was interviewed Friday by police investigating her report that she was attacked as she walked through a park near the apartment where she has been staying in suburban Beaverton.
Harding herself is the subject of an investigation into her alleged role in the assault on rival figure skater Nancy Kerrigan.
But in another twist to the nearly two-month saga involving the 23-year-old skater, Harding said she was attacked from behind about 11 p.m. Thursday by one assailant after she parked her pickup truck across the park from the apartment complex.
Police said Harding's report seemed genuine and that they were inclined to believe it was not a random attack.
"We would lean more toward believing that she was the subject of the attack or the focal point of the attack," Beaverton police spokesman Mark Hyde said.
A subdued Harding, her sprained left wrist wrapped in a bandage, left the apartment with her best friend Stephanie Quintero and Quintero's young son Friday.
"I'm feeling OK," Harding told reporters. "Can't you guys get a life or something?"
Quintero told police that Harding, who had been out to dinner with friends, pounded on the door and screamed, "Help me, help me!" when she got home Thursday night. Quintero said it took about a minute to calm down Harding enough to find out what happened.
Harding could be heard wailing in the background of Quintero's call to police.
"I guess I need someone over here right away," Quintero said. "My best friend was coming walking through the park and was grabbed by someone and she's freaking out."
Harding was "very visibly upset" and suffering an asthma attack when officers arrived. Rescue personnel gave her oxygen. After she took asthma medicine, she was able to talk.
"She said that about halfway through the park, she was pushed from behind, at which time she landed on her hands and knees," officer Lori Betz said in her report. "She struggled a bit and was able to activate her personal security system, which emits a very loud, strong scream."
The sound scared away the assailant, believed to be male, Harding said.
A grand jury is investigating Harding's role in the attack on Kerrigan, who was struck above the right knee in Detroit on Jan. 6.
Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, has pleaded guilty to racketeering for his part in the Kerrigan assault. He says Harding was in on the scheme and gave the final go-ahead.
Harding, who denies his allegations, has told several people that she was concerned Gillooly had been following her, but police said he was no more a suspect than anyone else who has had contact with the skater.
by CNB