Across the Nation

SAN FRANCISCO — A renowned rock climber and author who scaled peaks around the world fell 500 feet to his death in Yosemite National Park, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Todd Skinner was rappelling Monday after he and a partner worked on pioneering a new route near Bridalveil Fall, said Adrienne Freeman, a park spokeswoman.

It was not immediately clear why Skinner, who claimed on his Web site to have set climbing records in 26 countries, fell.

"We don’t know whether it was a climbing harness failure or a problem with his equipment or an error,” said Steve Bechtel, Skinner’s former climbing partner and friend. "He’s a larger-than-life climbing hero and it’s a great loss to the entire community of climbers across the world.”

Skinner, 47, of Lander, Wyo., was celebrated for having climbed hundreds of rock faces from Canada’s Yukon Territory to the Himalayas using a technique called free climbing, in which climbers ascend upward using no artificial aid to climb — only a rope to protect against falls.

"He was the first person to think it was possible to free climb,” said Ann Krick, a friend who hired him as a motivational speaker. "He always said that the most dangerous thing was to pick an easy mountain. As a climber he said he needed to pick hard enough climbs because those are the walls where you’ll learn the most.”

In the world of rock climbing, those who successfully pioneer first ascents are admired for pushing the boundaries of their sport, said Hans Florine, one of the world’s fastest rock climbers.

Man who claims off-duty officers beat him says he’s trying to forgive them

MILWAUKEE — A biracial man who sued a group of police officers he accuses of beating him outside a house party said Tuesday he’s struggling to forgive them.

"I have anger inside of me because of what they did to me and also with my son always asking me, ‘Are they going to do that to me?”’ Frank Jude Jr., 28, said in a telephone call from the Oshkosh Correctional Institution.

Jude said a group of white men who identified themselves as off-duty officers kicked and punched him, brandished a knife and jammed a pen in his ears as he begged for mercy outside an Oct. 24, 2004, party at an officer’s house. He had a broken nose, bleeding ears and severe facial cuts and needed reconstructive surgery.

The officers accused Jude of stealing a police badge, but no badge was found and he was not charged with theft.

Federal prosecutors charged eight current and former officers earlier this month with violating Jude’s civil rights. Three have agreed to plead guilty and testify against the others as part of a deal that will keep them from facing state charges.

Three other officers charged federally were acquitted by an all-white jury of most state charges in April. The panel was unable to reach a verdict on one count against former officer Jon Bartlett, who is to be retried.

The police department fired nine officers and disciplined four others, though two of the fired officers appealed and won back their jobs. Jude said he was encouraged that Chief Nan Hegerty was improving screening and training for recruits.

Jude and two women with whom he attended the party sued the officers and the city in federal court Monday, alleging that their civil rights were violated.

Jude said he has healed, although he has facial scars, two swollen fingers and breathing problems. He said he has flashbacks and nightmares and it’s hard for him to talk about the beating.

"Whatever I lost I want back. ... My dignity, my respect, my financial losses,” he said. "It put a toll on my life.”

Jude, who had been convicted of obstructing an officer in an unrelated case, had his probation revoked in November 2005 because of a domestic dispute with his mother. His attorney, Jonathan Safran, said he expects Jude to be let out within a few months.

Jude said he comes from a law enforcement family and still believes most officers are good.

"I am not biased by Milwaukee police officers at all,” he said.