Why Are Criminal Charges Dropped on Mike Tyson Even after Repeatedly Punching Airplane Passenger ?

Legendary boxer Mike Tyson is getting no punishment following the incident of beating up a man on a plane in April this year. The San Mateo County District Attorney’s office made an announcement on Tuesday. Tyson’s charges are dropped because of the victim’s conduct.

What was the incident?

Earlier April 20, while on a trip aboard a JetBlue aircraft, legendary boxer Mike Tyson was seen first confronting a man verbally and then knocked him down with punches. 

As seen in a video went viral , Tyson was  leaning over his seat and continuously punching another passenger, who was later identified as Melvin Townsend III (36).

Tyson’s representative later explained the incident saying the 36 year old Townsend was harassing the ex-champion which provoked him to punch the co-passenger.

It was also alleged that Townsend threw a bottle of water towards the former boxing champion. Both of them were taken into custody for questioning by the authority of the San Francisco International Airport and later released. 

Why Mike Tyson’s charges are dropped?

Witnesses present at the spot said that Tyson was treating his fellow passengers very cordially but the person sitting behind him was repeatedly annoying the boxer. Tyson asked him cool down and chill before situation got worse.

According to San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe, the case has been dismissed because of “the conduct of the victim leading up to the incident, the interaction between Mr. Tyson and the victim, as well as the requests of both the victim and Mr. Tyson”

It is also claimed that the 36 year old held previous bad conduct records. Initially he was strict on the decision to fight in the court against the 55 year old boxer. Later on neither Tyson nor Mr. Townsend wanted to proceed with the case so, they went into an agreement what the boxers attorneys proposed to Townsend.