City councilman convicted of flinging ham

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) _ A city councilman was convicted and fined $250 Tuesday for smacking a store clerk in the head with a flying one-pound package of sliced ham.

A judge found Paul Riddick guilty of assault and battery in the incident Nov. 16.

Lynda Doss testified that Riddick came to the store where she works to return ham that was spoiled. Ms. Doss said that when she put a package of fresh ham on the counter, Riddick shouted, ``Don’t throw that ham at me!″

The councilman then threw the package, hitting her in the side of the head, knocking off her glasses and bruising her nose, she said.

Riddick testified that the woman had ``slung″ the ham onto the counter, snarled, ``Take your damn ham″ and called him an ``SOB.″

Ms. Doss said after the verdict: ``Nobody should be able to do that. I don’t wish anyone bad luck, but he got what he deserved.″

Riddick had no comment but immediately appealed.