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Eye-gouging attack began chain of events
Suspect could be held liable in cop's death
Jaxon Van Derbeken, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, June 13, 2002
©2002 San Francisco Chronicle.

URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/06/13/MN201088.DTL

The domestic violence suspect whose arrest led to a fatal police car crash allegedly gouged out his girlfriend's eye during a savage beating, police said.

Monte Haney, a 29-year-old felon, was arrested Wednesday night just two blocks from the police car crash at 17th and Dolores streets that killed Officer Jon Cook, 38.

Haney was expected to be booked on many charges. Authorities were trying to determine today whether the suspect could be held liable in Cook's death.

Police said Haney hit Margie Holmes in the head with a radio and video recorder Tuesday, then hacked at her back and thigh with a cleaver before ripping her eye from its socket.

Haney left a grisly scene, with blood on the walls in the bedroom, living room and bathroom, according to the police report.

"He cut my eye out and has my eye in his hand!" Holmes, 36, screamed after the attack, which happened in a Turk Street apartment complex run by the San Francisco Housing Authority, police said.

Holmes was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where she was under police guard. Hospital officials would not disclose her condition, but police said her injuries were not life-threatening.

Holmes told police she was hoping to get out of a 10-month relationship with Haney. At 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, when she tried to leave the apartment she shares with her grandmother to get food stamps, he flew into a rage, she said.

"I'll kill you, I'll kill you," Haney yelled as he stabbed Holmes, she told police.

Holmes' grandmother told police she awoke to find Haney, cleaver in hand, demanding that she give him money.

"She didn't give me no money, you better give me some money," Haney said, the woman told police. Just after the grandmother left the apartment for cash, she heard Holmes scream, "He took my eye out!"

The grandmother reported the attack to security guards, who spotted Haney as he left the building.

"You don't have to call the police, dog, I'm leaving," one guard quoted him as saying.

Another witness said Haney yanked the phone from a security guard and told him not to call police.

Haney's criminal record dates back to 1991, and includes burglary, theft and drugs. He and Holmes had one previous incident of domestic violence, which was not documented, according to the police report.

E-mail Jaxon Van Derbeken at jvanderbeken@sfchronicle.com.

©2002 San Francisco Chronicle.   Page A - 22