Retired Corrections Officer Kirk Culik and his spouse stay in Hillsdale County, Michigan. Hillsdale County is the house of Hillsdale Faculty, identified for its strict adherence to the USA Structure. It is usually the place Culik not solely needed to defend himself from three attackers but additionally needed to defend himself from an overzealous prosecutor.
In Could of 2022, Culik, a U.S. A. Hockey U18 coach, was unloading groceries together with his spouse from his automotive when a youngster approached him. In keeping with Mr. Culik and proof introduced in courtroom, the teenage chest-bumped Mr. Culik earlier than one other sucker punched him. A 3rd teen got here up from behind Culik and smashed a wine bottle over his head, giving Culik a concussion. The three teenagers repeatedly punched and kicked him as he was on the bottom. Mr. Culik believed his life was at risk.
Mr. Culik said he didn’t know the teenagers finishing up the seemingly random assault however believed they could be attempting to steal his truck. He was not and nonetheless is not sure, however he knew he was in deep trouble. Mr. Culik had the nice equalizer. He was armed, and having educated at MDFI, he knew what he needed to do to probably save his life. He managed to succeed in his gun, firing one shot and hitting and killing one of many attackers. The others fled the scene.
Earlier on, the three teenagers went on a criminal offense spree. They stole a ship and a automotive. Additionally they vandalized a park, all of the whereas doing medicine and consuming. Mr. Culik informed his spouse to name 911 after defending himself. He thought his ordeal was over, however as soon as police arrived from the small police pressure, they arrested Mr. Culik on the spot. He didn’t need to invoke his proper to stay silent as a result of the police didn’t ask any questions. Lower than an hour later, he was indicted for homicide.
The most cancers survivor confronted an extended, onerous highway forward of him, however he refused to plead responsible. He would combat for his freedom in courtroom, however the ordeal would price him. Mr. Culik was denied bond for 90 days and despatched to jail, the place he could be positioned in solitary confinement for 102 days. In these 102 days, the lights had been by no means turned off. He was informed he was in solitary confinement due to “COVID.” The three-time most cancers survivor was additionally denied medical remedy for a similar excuse for 72 days
Ultimately, the bond could be set, however to everybody’s shock, it was the very best in Hillsdale’s historical past. Mr. Culik’s bond was set to a mind-blowing $400,000. Not solely that, however the choose demanded that or not it’s paid in full in money. Most bonds work by somebody developing with 10% of the bond worth. The choose insisted each penny be put up on this case. Fortunately for Culik, his household got here via. His sister mortgaged her home to get the cash, and after spending 703 days in jail, he was out and able to combat again in courtroom. That’s, if he may get a good trial, which was unsure since he couldn’t get even the speedy trial promised by the U.S. Structure.
Shortly after the trial started, Mr. Culik’s lawyer was tipped off by somebody within the Michigan State Police that legislation enforcement had given over proof to the prosecution within the type of drone footage. The prosecution didn’t flip over proof to the protection despite the fact that they had been required to till the protection demanded it. With out the tip-off, it might have by no means seen the sunshine of day. The drone footage not solely confirmed what occurred but additionally that the prosecution’s two star witnesses weren’t current in the course of the assault.
It additionally got here to mild that the choose held ex parte conferences with out the protection being current. An analogous state of affairs occurred within the Younger Thug case in Atlanta, main many to imagine that the case might be overturned if the rapper is convicted of homicide. This example was very comparable.
Whereas the case continued, Mr. Culik’s spouse needed to depart their house because of loss of life threats. Their lives had been being turned the wrong way up. The ordeal wouldn’t be fast. Lastly, on April 23, 2024, Mr. Culik heard the phrases he was ready two years to listen to, “Not responsible.”
The media lined the preliminary incident, however when the information of the case began popping out, those self same papers remained silent. When the narrative was a couple of 62-year-old man gunning down a teen, the media had been taken with reporting the information, however when it grew to become a clear-cut case of self-defense, the protection dried up.
Mr. Culik was free, however the technique of his punishment was pricey. Culik didn’t have any hid carry insurance coverage and spent over $200,000 on his authorized protection. An harmless man was pressured to promote all the things he owned to combat for his freedom, however the of us at MDFI are stepping as much as assist.
MDFI has a program known as “Operation Skywalker.” It’s an alum program that helps these in want, and Mr. Culik is a kind of alumni. The objective is to lift $100,000 to assist Mr. Culik get again on his toes, though that solely covers half his authorized payments. When there’s injustice, we should assist these affected.
If you want to donate to assist Mr. Culik, you are able to do so by donating at https://www.givesendgo.com/OPERATIONSKYWALKER
Guys, I do know occasions are tight and we’re all counting each greenback however I wished to submit this hyperlink to help a fellow Michigander.
Kirk Culik trains with @TrainMDFI, a Michigan based mostly firearms coaching firm we’ve been coaching and dealing with for years. He was concerned in a… pic.twitter.com/sWWJG2Omgo
— Feni Ammunition (@FenixAmmunition) June 4, 2024
About John Crump
John is an NRA teacher and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed individuals of all walks of life, and on the Structure. Mr. Crump lives in Northern Virginia together with his spouse and sons and will be adopted on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
