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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Hayden Man Charged w/Slapping Tot

In this Oct. 14, 2012, SR file photo, J.R.(Rick) Hundley, president of Unitec Composites and Structures talked about the future of the company in Hayden. Now, Hundley is facing a simple assault charge for allegedly slapping a baby on a Delta flight landing in Atlanta. (SR file photo: Kathy Plonka)

Unitech Composites president also allegedly uttered racial epithet at mother and crying toddler

After demanding that the mother of a crying toddler “shut that (racial epithet deleted) baby up,” a male \passenger allegedly slapped the 19-month-old across the face as a flight prepared to land in Atlanta last Friday evening, The Smoking Gun has learned. The shocking February 8 incident aboard Delta Airlines Flight 721 resulted in Joe Rickey Hundley, 60, being charged with simple assault, according to a U.S. District Court affidavit. Hundley, seen at right, is president of an aircraft parts manufacturer headquartered in Hayden, Idaho. In an interview, Hundley denied striking the toddler or using a racial slur, though he did acknowledge that he “asked the mother to quiet the child.” Hundley, who said he was traveling to Atlanta to visit a hospitalized relative, described himself as “distraught” on the flight, during which he said he consumed a single alcoholic drink/The Smoking Gun. More here. H/T: KXLY (which provided courtesy booking photo)

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D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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