Son of former Twins owner accused of exposing himself

[Parker Hageman]

According to the Pioneer Press, Clark Calvin Griffith, 70, son of former Twins owner Calvin Griffith and now a professor at William Mitchell Law in St. Paul, is accused of "exposing himself" to a 24-year-old female student at a bar.

 

Here are some details of what allegedly went down on January 24:

 

The complaint said the incident occurred Jan. 24 when Griffith and the woman met at a bar-restaurant near the college to discuss a law clinic in which she planned to work with him.

Griffith allegedly urged the student to sit next to him and asked her about how porn affected dating in her generation. According to the complaint, he also placed her hand on his groin area.

After insisting that he walk the woman to her car, he placed her hand over his groin area again, unzipped his pants and exposed himself on Victoria Street, the complaint said. He then reportedly kissed her.

 

Beyond the event that transpired on Victoria Street, likely near the bar Billy's On Grand, additional information emerged from the complaint in which Griffith was not yet familiar with:

 

The complaint, which Griffith said he had not yet seen, contains the following additional details:

After the incident next to the student's car, she drove away, crying and upset, she told police. She called two close male friends and told them what happened. They later corroborated her account of events to investigators and confirmed that the woman had shared information with them previously about inappropriate comments by Griffith.

Despite being told by the law school to have no contact with the student, Griffith "repeatedly attempted contact with (her) via voice messages, text messages, and direct messages on Twitter," the complaint said.

-- The day after the alleged exposure, Jan. 25, the student received a voice message from Griffith. He said, in part: "Any hint of anything here and I get shot. You don't want that, do you? That was amazing, by the way."

-- Jan. 26, after the student reported the alleged conduct to the school, Griffith sent a message via Twitter asking if it was she who complained.

She confirmed that it was. He replied, via text message: "I am very sorry. It is my fault. Instead of a complaint to the school, you need only tell me. Now I risk life, marriage, career and reputation and the hurt my daughters would suffer is too horrible to consider. I don't think you want to do that."

He said if she rescinded the complaint he promised to "be a gentleman" and "(do) what I can to help you....We'll get over this if we keep it contained."

-- During a phone conversation recorded by police, Griffith apologized repeatedly but said, "You kissed me." The woman denied that. He described being in an "absolute daze" when "I unzipped."

 

The Star Tribune's report has some further details:

 

His accuser, identified in the complaint by the initials M.D., told authorities that she had grown concerned about the relationship following comments Griffith had made, but she opted to "remain in contact with him for the clinic because she was not certain whether he was just being a 'nice older guy' or a 'creepy older guy,'" the charges say.

When he texted to say he was ashamed and having a "hard time," she replied: "I understand you're having a hard time, but what about me? You made me touch you with your pants down while people were driving by and walking their dog behind the car!? How do I get over that?"

[Nick Nelson]

Um... Yikes.

[davidjcampbell]

Various articles mention that he is not an instructor any longer, presumably due to the allegations.

[Thrylos]

Various articles mention that he is not an instructor any longer, presumably due to the allegations.

It seems to me that it was a tad too late for that and sounds like the University knew his creepiness against his students and did not act upon first report. Methinks that if there is a lawsuit out there the University would also be liable....

[Seth Stohs]

-- Jan. 26, after the student reported the alleged conduct to the school, Griffith sent a message via Twitter asking if it was she who complained.

Doesn't this just scream that she clearly was not the only one he was being completely inappropriate with? Ick!

[UCLA_YANKEE_COLA]

Terribly story but seems out of place on a Twins message board. This guys dad owned the team 30 years ago.

 

Also :

 

Keith Atherton has a cousin who pooped in someones mailbox.

 

Allan Anderson's daughter stole a car.

 

(both unverified)

[spideyo]

It seems like it would actually be a pretty impressive feat of flexibility, agility, and balance to actually poop in someones mailbox

[Thrylos]

A few more details that the Strib left out (of course) :

 

Griffith was a full time attorney at a downtown firm and adjunct professor (i.e. came in once a while to teach maybe a class every blue moon)

Griffith when his dad owned the Twins was working for the Twins and was part owner. He was the treasurer and in charge of a lot of Front Office things like Scouting and Player Development, Government Relationships and Broadcasting. He was also fundamental in the building of the Metrodome and the move of the Twins there.

 

Not sure why the Strib conveniently avoided to mention all these things. I guess the Twins do not want bad publicity....

[nicksaviking]

His old man was known as the toughest (stingiest) negotiator,

but I don't think even he could haggle his way out of this one.