NO JAIL for Former MMA Fighter-Turned Cop Who Broke His Girlfriend’s Face

Cleveland, OH — Cleveland officer John Hawk became a cop after spending years fighting in MMA. When he became a cop, however, he didn’t stop throwing punches, he just started aiming them at women.

Hawk was a professional MMA fighter from 2009 until 2016 with the nickname “Big,” according to multiple MMA websites. When he quite the MMA he later joined the Cleveland police department where he continued doling out punches — this time with the protection of a badge.

Earlier this year, police responded to a domestic abuse call at Hawk’s residence. When they showed up, police found Hawk’s girlfriend, Kali Ricci, bleeding profusely from her face, having lacerations to, and broken bones in, her face.

Hawk would tell police that he girlfriend “fell to the ground and hurt herself,” according to prosecutors. However, that was not the case. During the investigation, Hawk would admit to punching the small woman in the face and breaking her nose.

For savagely beating Ricci, Hawk would be arrested and charged with felonious assault and kidnapping charges. However, because likely due to the fact that he is a police officer, he was given a sweet deal. The felony charges which would have landed him behind bars for years were dropped in exchange for Hawk’s resignation from the department and a plea to a lesser misdemeanor charge of assault. He received not a single day behind bars.

Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Brent Kirvel praised the deal and noted that the state had already gotten “essentially what it’s asked for” in the case after Hawk resigned.

“It’s significant, we believe, to end a career in law enforcement, and we don’t take that lightly,” Kirvel said.

By this logic, a Walmart employee who savagely beat his wife, could merely quit his job, never work at Walmart again, and justice would be served, according to Kirvel. Seems legit.

After taking the sweet plea deal, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Deena Calabrese ordered that Hawk complete domestic violence courses, abstain from alcohol and drugs and undergo a mental health evaluation.

“Nobody gets along all the time, but this is beyond anything that would be considered reasonable,” Calabrese said of the attack.

Unfortunately, Ricci — like many other battered women — came to the defense of her abuser and told the court that Hawk needed another chance.

According to Cleveland.com, Ricci, told Calabrese during Tuesday’s hearing that she and Hawk have a newborn son together, and she wanted to give their relationship another shot.

Despite not sentencing Hawk to any time in jail, Calabrese still said she is afraid of what Hawk might do and kept a restraining order in place that bars Hawk from seeing Ricci or his son.

“I’m afraid for both of you,” Calabrese said. “I’m afraid Mr. Hawk that you’ll lose your ability to keep yourself under control. I’m trying to craft a resolution that is best for both of you.”

No matter that resolution, Hawk certainly got what he wanted, which is staying out of jail.