urbanSTL

The murder map the Post had up last week showed only two southside murders so far this year, and only one in what might be called Dutchtown.



WTG Dutchtown!

Was assaulted tonight by a bum. Hit 2x in the face. One SLMPD told me to walk away... This is total BS. Next time I'll be carrying...

NO ONE SHOULD BE ASSAULTED PERIOD. I AM DONE...

Gopher, where was this?

Gopher Wrote:

Was assaulted tonight by a bum. Hit 2x in the face. One SLMPD told me to walk away... This is total BS. Next time I'll be carrying...

NO ONE SHOULD BE ASSAULTED PERIOD. I AM DONE...

I'm truly sorry to hear you were assaulted.



Side note: I know some may want to, but can't blame this on the Annie Malone Parade.

Last night on Washington in front of my place. I took a marine and army guy out for drinks and a bum demanded money, (he got in my face) as we were leaving.



I told him to "get the f*## away from me" and he hit me twice on the chin. I didn't hit him back, had him arrested, and I just got out of the warrant office. Chickensh*t cold-cocked me.



Bum listed his residence as 1411 Locust. Go figure.



That being said, I was on a bit of adrenaline last night the cop that told me to walk away later apologized to me, I think his adrenaline was pumping as well. I have lots of witnesses and they made a statement to the police as well.



I didn't hit him (even though I really, really wanted to) because I knew that I would be the one with the assault charge. So I took it on the chin.



The bum of course was a "model" citizen, who as I learned today, has a "colorful" history with the court system. I will not back down and I sure as hell won't be a victim on my home turf.

Way to go!!! You got a bum arrested. That will surely change the Downtown atmosphere, homeless and mental illness problem. Believe it or not Downtown has been the homeless "home turf" for long before you moved down there and thought it was fashionable. Systematic, political, and social means will be necessary to really make Downtown the crown jewel where everyone can reside. The New Life Evangelistic Center is not the problem. You and your neighbors might take note of the "Real Change" campaign/ordinance enforcement in the Central West End. This program is helping to curve panhandling and your neighborhood could benefit even more from this type of program. Additionally, more constructive neighborhood involvement with your neighbors at 1411 Locust would go a lot further in solving your problems than just complaining and jumping for joy that the bum that beat your a__ is spending a night in jail.



Just suggestions.

Wow that stinks. However I hope it doesnt change your perception of the area and doesnt halt the work you have been doing. Its horrible that he ruined your evening.

So what was I supposed to do? Hit him back? Then I get the assault charge. Or I get sued via the ACLU or the more "liberal types" who defend this type of behavior. There were cops 30 feet away from the incident, so I took a response of taking it on the chin and following proper LEGAL procedures, rather than taking him out. The bum got in my face and demanded money.



Seems so common these days for people to stop taking responsibility for their own actions. Or worse, "it's not their fault, they're mentally ill or homeless, or drug addicts, or their mommy didn't love them enough." At what point do you say enough is enough and stop this crap?



And yes, having them arrested one at a time WILL change the neighborhood as it's one less bum to harass and assault us.



As far as the "Real change" program, yes it's a good one, but we already have aggressive panhandling laws on the books which need to be enforced.



Believe it or not downtown is a neighborhood just like any other and as a neighborhood we should neither be subjected to daily harassment nor be made to feel like victims in our own backyard.

Good 4 U gopher, u did everything right, I don't know if I could have kept my head and not hit back. Hopefully he gets a yr. in jail and maybe he'll think twice about walking around punching people. We really gotta get something done with Larry's place.

Downtown has been the homeless "home turf" for longer? What does that have to do with anything? Does that absolve them of having to follow the law?

Or I get sued via the ACLU or the more "liberal types" who defend this type of behavior.

This is not a liberal vs conservative argument. This is a conversation about more things that can be done to curve the issues raised in this forum. I'm a firm believer that anyone that breaks the law should be brought to justice. However, I also know that not everyone can be locked away. It will take more than preaching to the choir to solve this problem. A strong Downtown neighborhood association in cooperation with the SLPD, City of St. Louis government, and others can institute more far reaching sytematic changes than will really make Downtown what we'd all like to see.

gopher wrote:Last night on Washington in front of my place. I took a marine and army guy out for drinks and a bum demanded money, (he got in my face) as we were leaving.



I told him to "get the f*## away from me" and he hit me twice on the chin. I didn't hit him back, had him arrested, and I just got out of the warrant office. Chickensh*t cold-cocked me.

Bet he wouldn't have jacked you if you didn't swear at him first. That doesn't excuse his actions, but just sayin' it likely triggered his reaction.

gopher wrote:Last night on Washington in front of my place. I took a marine and army guy out for drinks and a bum demanded money, (he got in my face) as we were leaving.



I told him to "get the f*## away from me" and he hit me twice on the chin.

I don't know you personally but I think it says a lot about your attitude when you say what you said to, as you say, a "bum." You are obviously thankful to the two military folks you so nicely took out (as we all should be) but then turn around and say something so disrespectful to another human being? Just say "no" or walk away -- I have had folks get aggressive with me (I am not saying it's a fun thing) but I just walk away from the situation. I am so thankful that I have a home and have had some breaks in life. Not everyone is so lucky (and so many homeless folks are vets, just like the folks you took out). I am not short-changing the fact that I have worked hard for everything in my life (which, I am guessing, many of us have done). But I do get angry at the general disrespect that I see people giving other people. Your language reflects the kind of person who I don't want to be living next to. I am sure you will write me off as some liberal-type, but I believe in a general respect among all of us humans (even the people I disagree with). Your anger isn't going to do much to make the homeless situation any better ...

Bronte 16 Wrote:

I don't know you personally but I think it says a lot about your attitude when you say what you said to, as you say, a "bum." You are obviously thankful to the two military folks you so nicely took out (as we all should be) but then turn around and say something so disrespectful to another human being? Just say "no" or walk away -- I have had folks get aggressive with me (I am not saying it's a fun thing) but I just walk away from the situation. I am so thankful that I have a home and have had some breaks in life. Not everyone is so lucky (and so many homeless folks are vets, just like the folks you took out). I am not short-changing the fact that I have worked hard for everything in my life (which, I am guessing, many of us have done). But I do get angry at the general disrespect that I see people giving other people. Your language reflects the kind of person who I don't want to be living next to. I am sure you will write me off as some liberal-type, but I believe in a general respect among all of us humans (even the people I disagree with). Your anger isn't going to do much to make the homeless situation any better ...

I agree totally. Provoking a homeless person that likely has had a very unfortunate series of circumstances occur in his life are not the actions I would expect from a decent human being. We all make mistakes, but given the context coming on this forum with I got hit in the chin "woe is me" argument is a bit disingenuous. One may gather that you at best provoked this guy so you could go on your antihomeless rant or at worst you made it all up. Those that knowingly manipulate a situation involving the least of us is down right shameful.

Wonder how much alcohol was involved with the bar patrons. In my fifteen years downtown, nobody has ever come up and immediately "demanded" money. Someone is a total ****-disturber and in this case it may or may not be the "bum".

innov8ion wrote:

gopher wrote:Last night on Washington in front of my place. I took a marine and army guy out for drinks and a bum demanded money, (he got in my face) as we were leaving.



I told him to "get the f*## away from me" and he hit me twice on the chin. I didn't hit him back, had him arrested, and I just got out of the warrant office. Chickensh*t cold-cocked me.

Bet he wouldn't have jacked you if you didn't swear at him first. That doesn't excuse his actions, but just sayin' it likely triggered his reaction.

Agree 100%. When you are dealing with individuals like this you gotta think about their mental state and how they might react. I totally agree that the guy still needs to be charged for assault, but the incident probably could have been avoided had the victim sucked it up and ignored the guy.

Maybe one of the exurban churches that drop off food in Lucas Park would be willing to take in this individual and rehabilitate him. (Probably not)

the incident probably could have been avoided had the victim sucked it up and ignored the guy.

...or the other guy hadn't been panhandling in the first place...blame the victim much?



Just another aspect of city living right? That's how inappropriate behavior is explained away on this forum if I recall.

^ So what? With the frequency that you post P-D comments like these, one would think you depend on them to sustain your mojo.

olvidarte wrote:

the incident probably could have been avoided had the victim sucked it up and ignored the guy.

...or the other guy hadn't been panhandling in the first place...blame the victim much?



Just another aspect of city living right? That's how inappropriate behavior is explained away on this forum if I recall.

I'm not blaming the victim. Just pointing out that it's possible or likely the incident could have been avoided. Actions have consequences for ALL who are involved. Certainly I want the panhandling ordinances to be enforced, and I applauded the decision to charge the panhandler for assault.