Gale, Joann Wit

August 30, 2008

Today’s date is August 30th, 2008, time now is 1148 hours. My name is Detective Terry Jones, my Code Number is 6354. I’m with the Louisville Metro Police Department. This interview pertains to File #08-197; it is a death investigation involving a victim Max Gilpin. Also, present is Danny Herald with the security of Jefferson County Board of Education. And, uh, this interview is being conducted at 202 Ridgeway Avenue.

Jones

Okay. This interview is of a Miss Joann Gale. Miss Gale at this time, can you identify yourself?

Gale

Uh, Joann Gale.

Jones

And, your date of birth?

Gale Jones

And, your address?

Gale

202 Ridgeway Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky, 402, 1 s…, 07.

Jones

Okay, okay. Are you aware this interview is being taped?

Gale

Yes.

Jones

Okay. At this time I will ask you to refer back

Page 2 of 15 Statement: Joann Gale / Case #08197(d) August 30, 2008

to uh, August 20th, 2008. At which time you were attending a soccer game. At uh, PRP High School uh, between Waggener and PRP? Gale

Yes, that is correct. Uhm, we left work around 5, we got to the field at 5:30. But, like uhm, we walked through the gate. And, the first thing that I noticed was there was nowhere to sit. It’s pretty hot out, and man I wish we had brung our chairs. Uhm, the soccer game was on my left and the practice uh, football players was on the right. Uh, there’s a strip of grass that you go up between. And, the first thing that got my attention was uh, when I went to walk on uh, in between that patch of grass. Uhm, to watch uhm, I heard a man scream really loud. And, it scared me, because I thought he was talking to me. Uhm, he yelled, are you crazy, are you walking on my field seriously? Are you going to walk on my field, are you crazy? And, so I turned uh, to look at the person that was yelling. I thought at the time at me, but it was not. Uh, I then realized he was talking to the football players. Uhm, so uh, I kinda watched for a second and uh, because they was. He was screaming so loud, it just kinda got my attention. So, uh, I noticed that where uh, running sprints back and forth. So, I turned and watched the soccer game for a bit until I h…, heard more screaming. And, uh, he was just using obscenities at the players. And, uh, to me it was, it seemed very intimidating. If uhm, put yourself in a child’s position. An adult in authority is screaming at you. You’re, it was pretty intimidating situation. So, I just remember feeling bad while it was so hot out. And, uh, so I watched the soccer game and the next uhm. I notice players, I kept turning and checking. Because uh, I noticed uhm, a lot of

Page 3 of 15 Statement: Joann Gale / Case #08197(d) August 30, 2008

screaming and the players, they were just kept running, it was so hot. There was uh, one particular boy I seen bent over. And, he was vomiting, and the coach said uhm, get up and I don’t care. Keep going and basically he was vomiting while he was running his sprints. So, uh, I remember feeling it again. Bad for these kids, it was so hot and uh, I wish I had have (crying)… Said something or done something that you know. If I’d uh, known what I know today, but I didn’t. And, again uh, to say that and you know, you don’t, you don’t bust in on somebody else’s practice at a different end of town. And, you don’t you just figure the people in charge have got. You know control of the situation, and even if. You know it doesn’t seem right to you, maybe this is you know. It’s their practice and he’s the coach. So, basically uh, the next thing I remember is uhm. A blonde uh, young man and he was supporting the weight of an African American player, very tall boy. Uhm, and uh, he had got my attention, I remember say it’s. You know this is bad, and somebody had kept looking around thinking is somebody gonna do something? Because, this kid was gasping for air to the point where. I thought maybe he was having an asthma attack. Because, the uh, the veins around his neck and stuff were constricted. And, he was gasping uh, it’s very uh, disturbing. But, uhm, seen where he couldn’t catch his breath. And, I thought oh my goodness. So, uhm, I watched this little blonde uh, young man support him, and take him off the field. And, put him in the back of a golf cart. Uhm, and basically this young man was the one attending to this player. Uhm, I think finally I, I guessed it as 2 uhm (crying)… Assistant coaches come over and check the situation I. And, uhm, they

Page 4 of 15 Statement: Joann Gale / Case #08197(d) August 30, 2008

sprinkled him under some water for awhile. And, put some ice on him, there was uh, basically practice kept going. And, it wasn’t stopped and I remember it was very odd. Because uhm, they were trying to cool this player down. But, he was at the end of the uhm, soccer field, football field. But, the soccer game was being played on. And, he was just left out there in the sun; he wasn’t taking into any shade. He was just out on the cart in the sun. And, I thought that was odd. Uhm, I did not see Max Gilpin collapse, I did see him, once everybody gathered around. And, they uh, put them on the cart, and uh. There was I don’t, 7:00 is when the practice I, I you know, didn’t look at my watch. I probably did that (inaudible)…, but I don’t recall the time exactly. But, it was around 7:00 when the practice ended. And, the ambulance I’m guessing showed up between 7:10, 7:15? Uh, and I heard, I did not hear what was said. Uhm, because it was a distance away. Uh, the uh, we stayed until about 7:20, 7:30, because we were waiting on uh, a child to get through with soccer. Uhm, after that coach was talking to them. And, we decided to go on and leave. But, uhm, I never once heard anybody uh; any of the young men say anything. But, I did hear plenty of times the coach say. Uhm, it’s not time for a water break, I just need one person to quit. And, we can stop practice uhm, practice is over when somebody quits. And, I noticed a couple of players actually walk off the field. Grab their stuff off of the bench was uh, where most of their equipment was sitting. And, uhm, appeared to me that they had quit. I never heard somebody said I quit. Uh, and the practice kept going, so.

Page 5 of 15 Statement: Joann Gale / Case #08197(d) August 30, 2008

Jones

So, the time uh, that you arrived was around 5:30?

Gale

Yes.

Jones

And, when you arrived you saw the uh, players practicing or doing some type of drills with full equipment on?

Gale

Yes.

Jones

And, your attention became that way because the coach, you described as a uh, white male coach, with a large hat?

Gale

Yeah, he had a, it reminded me of one of those uh, hats they wear in the Army, with the little strings. And, it’s flappy like.

Jones

Over, oversize hat?

Gale

Like a fishing hat but I don’t know if that’s what it’s called.

Jones

Okay. And, in your opinion he was the one that was calling the shots, as far as?

Gale

Yes.

Jones

The orders and things that he wanted done?

Gale

Yes.

Jones

Including uh, the water issue, as far as, I’ll tell you when to get water?

Gale

Yes.

Jones

Okay. And, what did you specifically hear?

Page 6 of 15 Statement: Joann Gale / Case #08197(d) August 30, 2008

Gale

Uh, I heard him, and I didn’t see why would’ve made the comment. But, I’m guessing somebody asked for, never heard it. He said when it’s time to get water; I’ll let you know when it’s time to get water. And, wanted uh, get back at it, and screaming at ‘em. And, couldn’t believe because they had had uhm, no practice the day before? I remember that.

Jones

Is that what he said?

Gale

Yeah, there was no practice and he couldn’t believe that they performing so badly today. Because, their, they had the day off or something the day before.

Jones

Okay. He said something to the effect?

Gale

Yeah.

Jones

Of, of having a day off?

Gale

I’m sure, yes.

Jones

Prior to this practice? Okay, and when you got there uh, you arrived there with your boyfriend?

Gale

Yes.

Jones

And, what’s your boyfriend’s name?

Gale

Brian Bale.

Jones

Okay. And, it was to attend a soccer game of who?

Gale

Between Waggener and PRP.

Page 7 of 15 Statement: Joann Gale / Case #08197(d) August 30, 2008

Jones

Okay.

Gale

The girls.

Jones

Okay. And, uh, the players was running, they were doing running drills, not hitting drills, correct?

Gale

No, I never seen any hitting.

Jones

And, did you see any water breaks?

Gale

I?

Jones

During the time they were doing running drills?

Gale

I did not see any water breaks.

Jones

Okay. And, you described 3 players uh, walking off the field?

Gale

Yes.

Jones

And, is there a reason why they walked off?

Gale

Uh, I can only assume that they just couldn’t take it no more.

Jones

Well.

Gale

I mean it was, it was hot.

Jones

Well, meaning that you uh.

Gale

Well, but.

Jones

Did you see why they walked off, or did you

Page 8 of 15 Statement: Joann Gale / Case #08197(d) August 30, 2008

hear anything or why they walked on? Gale

Well, I heard the coach say, I just need one person to quit, and this practice will be over. Uhm, I seen the two players uh, one carted off the field by the young man. And, there, this was 3 different players that I seen leave the field.

Jones

Other than the 3 who had physically walked off on their own power? They, they just walked off the field?

Gale

Yes.

Jones

And, the first individual was a black male player?

Gale

He was uh.

Jones

Tall?

Gale

Supported off the field basically.

Jones

Okay.

Gale

By another young man.

Jones

And, what would happen to him when he got escorted off the field, or taken off the field?

Gale

They put him on the back of a golf cart, and they uh, just left him out in the sun basically.

Jones

Was he able to get water?

Gale

I never seen him drink water, I seen them put uh, I guess what was ice bags? And, they ran him underneath, they drove it around, ran it

Page 9 of 15 Statement: Joann Gale / Case #08197(d) August 30, 2008

underneath a sprinkler sitting there for a little bit. And, then took him back out and he sat up in the front. I don’t know if it was because, there was a shade tree, only one. They didn’t sit him under that, which I thought was odd. Because, it was, it was scalding out, I mean maybe that’s because the ambulance had been called. And, they thought it was s…, you know, going to be there. But, it seemed, it seemed a lot longer and maybe it was. But, uh, I’d say at least 15 uh, after 7 is when the ambulance arrived. Jones

And, and you had been there.

Gale

He was but he had, this practice uh, went on till like 7. I’m guessing it was like quarter till 7 when this player was actually taken off the field.

Jones

Okay. And, was the soccer game still going on?

Gale

Yes.

Jones

During this time and the soccer game had breaks, and a halftime period, at which time?

Gale

Yeah, they had uh, they played for two 40 minute uh, halves. They get a break in between, it’s about uh, 10, 15 minutes.

Jones

Okay. So, let me ask you this. When the players or at least the first player, started having uh, some type of physical problem or breathing problem? Was this after the sprints or during the sprints?

Gale

During the sprints.

Page 10 of 15 Statement: Joann Gale / Case #08197(d) August 30, 2008

Jones

During the sprints. And, the players that had walked off the field, the 3 players you described? Was this before, during or after the sprints?

Gale

It was during the sprints.

Jones

Okay. And, the coach continued to make comments as of, as to what effect?

Gale

Uh, he screamed out basically uhm, I took it as intimidation. And, uh, ridicule ‘em in front, to make ‘em look to me, stupid in front of their peers. Basically you know, to keep ‘em going, basically it’s like. You quit you know, you’re gonna look stupid. And, this is just my interpretation of it.

Jones

And, how close were uh, could you have been to the coach and the players?

Gale

The players I could’ve reached out and grabbed them, they were that close to. I kept thinking I was gonna get uhm, ran over. They were running back and forth and uh, they were walking. So, there wasn’t a whole lot of room in between the two fields. And, between where people were standing and sittin’. Uh, I could’ve reached out and grabbed the players. The coach he, he kinda stayed in the middle of the field. He walked up and down and back and forth.

Jones

Did you hear any comments from any of the players why, while that close to ‘em?

Gale

I did not hear anything, I seen looks on their faces? I seen them bent over gasping for air, vomiting? But, I never heard a cross word from

Page 11 of 15 Statement: Joann Gale / Case #08197(d) August 30, 2008

any of ‘em. Jones

Okay. Uh, now the full gear is what you observed them practicing in at first, correct?

Gale

Yes, the helmets, their shirts and pads.

Jones

And they, did they eventually remove the gear and come down into their uh?

Gale

Yes, by the end of practice they were just wearing their pants and no shirts, no helmets.

Jones

Did you ever see uh, the victim in this case, the deceased victim Max Gilpin?

Gale

If I seen him I don’t, I couldn’t remember that day. Like I, I would’ve paid more attention if I’d uh, known this was gonna happen. And, maybe done something (inaudible)…

Jones

So, you never saw him collapse or being ta…

Gale

No.

Jones

Being attended to?

Gale

I did not see him collapse, and I did not see him. I did see them put him up on the cart when they ambulance come in. But, I don’t know what they did to him.

Jones

Okay. Which, which (inaudible)…, are we referring to?

Gale

(Inaudible)…, Max and the other player, they were there together.

Jones

Okay. But, the player you saw being put

Page 12 of 15 Statement: Joann Gale / Case #08197(d) August 30, 2008

upright he was described as a white male player? Gale

Yes, but I don’t know?

Jones

And, but at that time you didn’t know if it was the uh, Mr. Gilpin or not, correct?

Gale

No.

Jones

Okay. Danny?

Herald

All right. Uhm, excuse me for a second, (inaudible)…, some notes here uh.

Jones

Okay. I think you, I’ve asked you about the description of the coach, and you described him as a large white male…Coach wearing a large hat like the, what kinda had did you describe?

Gale

It was like a fishing hat or one of those military hats with the little cords.

Jones

Okay. And, any other clothing description?

Gale

He just had on a tee-shirt, and shorts.

Jones

You recall the color of the tee-shirt?

Gale

No.

Jones

Okay, okay. So, in your observation uh, there would’ve been other parents that would’ve herd and saw what you saw?

Gale

There were plenty of people sitting from uh, the beginning of the soccer or practice field for football, all the way down. Uhm, so I’d say

Page 13 of 15 Statement: Joann Gale / Case #08197(d) August 30, 2008

pretty much that whole practice field, there were parents lined up all the way down through there. And, other spectators that should’ve heard a whole lot of things. Jones

Okay. And, when you learned of what actually uh, that the victim had actually died? Uh, you and your boyfriend decided to tell someone what.

Gale

I said, somebody needs to know about this.

Jones

Right.

Gale

Somebody needs, because it came out uh, on the news, and it had said they had 3 water breaks. And, it was, it was an early, the times were you know. I was like well that’s not the right times. And, that this player was in the hospital. And, uh, I was like oh my gosh are you kidding me. So, I said somebody needs to know, that’s not the truth.

Jones

Right. And, this is not based on what you heard or what you. This is based on what you physically saw?

Gale

This is what I seen, yes.

Jones

I mean, what I mean heard is not what you heard from other parents?

Gale

Oh, no.

Jones

This is.

Gale

No, actually no other parents except for the group of people that I was with were. You know we were, we kept turning around going,

Page 14 of 15 Statement: Joann Gale / Case #08197(d) August 30, 2008

are you kidding me? You know, they’re not. Jones

Right.

Gale

He was like a Navy drill sergeant or something and?

Jones

I’m sorry?

Gale

He was like a Navy drill sergeant (inaudible)…

Jones

Now, he was, who was?

Gale

The coach.

Jones

Okay.

Gale

(Inaudible)…, and again I don’t know that that’s Coach Stinson. But, I just assumed that that is the head coach doing all the?

Jones

And, this is based on your personal?

Gale

Yes.

Jones

Feeling and, and, and, and hearing the coach himself?

Gale

Yes.

Jones

Or, hearing a coach?

Gale

Yes.

Jones

Okay. And, not, not your words identified as the head coach is Stinson?

Gale

That’s correct.

Page 15 of 15 Statement: Joann Gale / Case #08197(d) August 30, 2008

Jones

Okay. Uh, but if you see him, if you saw him again you’d pos…, possibly could identify?

Gale

Maybe, like I said.

Jones

Coach.

Gale

If I’d uh, known that day I would’ve paid more attention. But, I think if you put him in front of me, I might be able to identify him.

Jones

Okay, okay. Well, Danny any follow up?

Herald

No.

Jones

Okay. I don’t think we have anything else uh, Miss Gale. And, uh, again this tape, this interview was being tape recorded. And, you’re aware it was being recorded, right?

Gale

Yes.

Jones

Okay. And, uhm, I, I imagine if I have any follow up with you, I will get with you at a later time. But, I think we’ve covered everything. But, to conclude is there anything else I didn’t ask you, anything important that we didn’t cover?

Gale

Not that I can think of at this time.

Jones

Okay, okay. Time now is 1205 hours, we will conclude the tape.

END OF STATEMENT File #08197djones-dl