Beating victim questions case’s progress

Eleven weeks ago, Jeffrey Medis was assaulted outside a downtown tavern, suffering a broken nose, broken upper and lower jaws, a fractured eye socket, a concussion and a gash on his chin that took six stitches to close.

On Christmas Eve, Lawrence Police said they had completed their investigation and would file a report with the District Attorney’s Office.

The District Attorney’s Office got the report about three weeks ago.

As yet, no charges have been filed. Prosecutors say there’s nothing unusual about the delay; Medis isn’t so sure.

“You have to wonder what’s taking so long — this happened Dec. 6,” said Medis, who at first thought he was attacked because he’s openly gay.

“I’m surprised,” he said. “And it’s frustrating — I mean, whoever did this is still out there, walking the streets, unpunished.”

Adding to his frustration, Medis said, was that Detective M.T. Brown, who conducted the investigation, assured him that homosexuality was not a factor in the attack. Medis said Brown also told him that a suspect and three of the suspect’s friends who were with him the night of the attack had each hired attorneys.

“Does that have something to do with why it’s taking so long? I don’t know,” Medis said.

Brown could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Shelley Diehl, a spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office, said the case still was under review.

She said the police report was “here and it’s being reviewed; it’s getting the attention it deserves. No one is being short-changed.”