A Wisconsin father Matt Eddy, 49 who stormed the stage at his daughter’s graduation to stop her from shaking hands with the superintendent explained his actions to the police, and surprisingly, race was not mentioned as a factor.
According to a police report from the Baraboo Police Department, officers questioned the father on the night of the incident. The dad cited a personal history with Superintendent Rainey Briggs, who is Black, as the reason behind his actions.
The documents, obtained by TMZ, reveal that the father admitted to police that he had “past issues with Rainey and disliked him.” He expressed that he did not want Briggs to have the satisfaction of shaking his daughter’s hand.
When probed further, the father remained vague. The officers reportedly reprimanded him for his conduct, emphasizing that his behavior was unacceptable.
The father was asked if he felt remorseful for his actions. According to the police, he expressed regret only for his daughter’s sake, indicating lingering bitterness toward the superintendent.
The police report suggests that the father had premeditated his actions. Consequently, he was escorted off the premises, and a summons for disorderly conduct was issued.
In the aftermath, Superintendent Rainey Briggs filed for a restraining order. The legal documents, also obtained by TMZ, do not delve into any personal history between Briggs and the father. Briggs described their relationship as “random,” suggesting he was shocked by the confrontation.
Briggs recounted the incident, stating that the father shouted, “you are not going to touch my f***ing daughter.” Briggs responded by pushing the father away and warning him to keep his hands off before they were separated and the father was removed.
The superintendent has been granted a temporary restraining order, and a court hearing is scheduled for later this month.
