Oct 17 - 46/45 - McCain +01
Gun Pulled On Me In Highland Square
Guest Post By Tim Fitzwater
I asked my good friend Tim to write a post on his experience last weekend in Highland Square. Though the picture is humorous, this confrontation really happened.
Last Friday night my friend Pete and I were walking from his apartment at 37 S. Highland (about 5 buildings from W. Market) to the Matinee when we were approached by two black men probably about 20 years old. Before I knew what was happening Pete had thrown his wallet and cell phone on the ground and said, "I don't have anything" then promptly froze.(In Highland Square I'm so use to being approached by people bumming change and cigs that I usual mumble that 'i don't got it' and keep walking.) As one of the dudes bent down to check Pete's wallet the other yelled at me to "give him everything I got". It was at this point that I noticed the gun. I franticly replied that all I had was one cigarette. The guy than shoved his small silver gun in my face and said, "I don't want your f@#cking smokes I want your shit!" I replied, "I'm broke, I got nothing." The guy checking Pete's wallet said, "these niggas don't have shit" and they quickly walked off turning to point the gun at us a few more times.
A few nights ago a girl was beaten up and robbed in the parking lot of the Highland Square Walgreen's. Last weekend Pete had to outrun some dudes on bikes threatening him. A few weeks ago an aquaintence was robbed on Crosby St. of his rent money by two men. About a month ago a girl was assaulted with a baseball bat in the Twin Oaks parking lot. Last summer Pete was robbed by 5 or 6 kids at ten at night in front of the First Merit in Highland Square. All this along with the rash of robberies at the ATM's last summer in Highland Square. I was sitting in Mocha Maiden a few months ago talking photography with a retired Akron police officer and owner/developer Tony Troppe. Tony pulled out a blown up picture of the officer walking on W. Market in Highland Square taken in the early 80's. I asked the officer why, with the amount of crime in the Square lately combined with the efforts at re-development, there weren't foot patrols anymore. "Money," he flatly stated.
All the Chipotles in the world are going to do nothing for this city's neighborhoods unless people can feel safe walking THEIR streets....... - By Tim Fitzwater
I asked my good friend Tim to write a post on his experience last weekend in Highland Square. Though the picture is humorous, this confrontation really happened.
Last Friday night my friend Pete and I were walking from his apartment at 37 S. Highland (about 5 buildings from W. Market) to the Matinee when we were approached by two black men probably about 20 years old. Before I knew what was happening Pete had thrown his wallet and cell phone on the ground and said, "I don't have anything" then promptly froze.(In Highland Square I'm so use to being approached by people bumming change and cigs that I usual mumble that 'i don't got it' and keep walking.) As one of the dudes bent down to check Pete's wallet the other yelled at me to "give him everything I got". It was at this point that I noticed the gun. I franticly replied that all I had was one cigarette. The guy than shoved his small silver gun in my face and said, "I don't want your f@#cking smokes I want your shit!" I replied, "I'm broke, I got nothing." The guy checking Pete's wallet said, "these niggas don't have shit" and they quickly walked off turning to point the gun at us a few more times.A few nights ago a girl was beaten up and robbed in the parking lot of the Highland Square Walgreen's. Last weekend Pete had to outrun some dudes on bikes threatening him. A few weeks ago an aquaintence was robbed on Crosby St. of his rent money by two men. About a month ago a girl was assaulted with a baseball bat in the Twin Oaks parking lot. Last summer Pete was robbed by 5 or 6 kids at ten at night in front of the First Merit in Highland Square. All this along with the rash of robberies at the ATM's last summer in Highland Square. I was sitting in Mocha Maiden a few months ago talking photography with a retired Akron police officer and owner/developer Tony Troppe. Tony pulled out a blown up picture of the officer walking on W. Market in Highland Square taken in the early 80's. I asked the officer why, with the amount of crime in the Square lately combined with the efforts at re-development, there weren't foot patrols anymore. "Money," he flatly stated.
All the Chipotles in the world are going to do nothing for this city's neighborhoods unless people can feel safe walking THEIR streets....... - By Tim Fitzwater
By Kyle - 7/27/2007
57 Comments:
Sorry to hear what happened. I thought Highland Square was safe. Shows you what I know.
To the left of where Tim and Pete are standing is where I usually park my car when I go to meet them for a drink. Countless times I have walked to my parked car alone to head home. Scary shit. I'm glad nothing happened and my friends are safe.
Sorry to hear about that. Patty and I got held up once by gun point in Argentina on my birthday...not fun.
It's funny, some family members are worried about me getting shot here in New York City, but I'd bet $100 that my new neighboorhood is way safer than cozy, old Highland Square.
I really hope they clean HS up.
Terra and I were discussing what if's. What if you guys had a gun, like some people suggest--all people should have guns. If you guys were carrying, then wouldn't you have pulled your gun? What happens next? I assume shots are fired. So would it have solved anything if you guys were carrying. I suggested to Terra that the only way a gun is going to solve this hold-up is if the gun is a big-ass Jesse Ventura Predator gun--a gun people can clearly see. So I suggest the government hand out big-ass automatic rifles to everyone. There, see if anyone in Highland Square pulls a gun on you then...oh, wait, everyone would have a gun pointed at you. Also, I'm glad nothing too violent happened, cuz I think Chris would leave his family and accept a life as a vigilante in Highland Square.
You guys always make it sound like Highland Square is a great place, but it sure as hell sounds like it sucks to me.
Damn. Tim...as much as you and I disagree on things, all I can say is that I'm glad you are okay.
My girlfriend lives in Highland Square and I'm going to pass this post along to her. It's too bad the crime in that area is so high...it's a cool neighborhood.
Damn Tim/Pete. that sucks.
Now, I am going to get cynical....
How many cops do you think were in the midst of processing someone for drugs? or how many cops were investigating DUIs for people that had 2 beer? All the while, sitting at the station or in their car writing a report, when they could have let that stuff go and focus on real victim crimes.
not the individual cops fault, but a failure of priority. and unless the people demand better, it aint gonna happen.
Oh...and you spelled acquaintance wrong.
Did you guys file a police report and look at mug shots ?
Tim told me he did file a police report.
Double Buns,
I can't speak for other gun advocated here at TCS, but if I lived in a neighborhood that I felt unsafe in I'd buy a gun which I'd leave in my house simply so that I could protect myself in the case of a home invasion.
Personally, I would never feel comfortable carrying one around all the time, cause I think that it'd get me in more trouble than it's worth. I'd drop it or accidentally shoot myself in the balls when I put it in my belt or something.
But...
Let's talk a second about this awful world where citizens sometimes carry guns and sometimes shoot back...does it solve anything? Of course it does.
Those two kids would be a lot less likely to prey on pedestrians if they knew that some were packing heat (or that the witnesses across the street might be). Many muggers are not really prepared to pull their triggers, the gun is just a prop. When I was robbed I could tell that the gun was some 50 year old piece. I highly doubt it worked. It might have even been a replica. If I'd have had a gun I'd have definitely pulled it out, no question.
These thugs are looking for easy pickings, as soon as it ceases to be easy they'll go elsewhere. Street patrols or armed citizenry will have the exact same effect: decreased muggings.
Chuck -
I agree with your sentiments on cops using their time up on drug charges, but I rarely if ever feel they are wasting time dealing with DUI issues since a fairly high number of people are killed by drunk drivers each yaer. It is one thing to reason that a person in possesion of drugs is relatively harmless but a whole different position to say that is the case for someone driving drunk or impaired.
Tim - that sucks. It is miserable to not feel safe in your own neighborhood. I had a guy pull a knife on me out here once and I had to sit and weigh out whether or not i could out run him or just give him my stuff - you obviously can't do the same when someone points a gun at you.
and people wonder why there is an exodus of people from the cities. Tim I wish you would have shot both of them dead. People don't feel safe and are unable to protect themselves so they go elsewhere. I can think of no other option than citizens arming themselves until there is an adequate police force.
Would that be the Mayor Don or the City Council responsible for getting more police in the neighborhoods???
How many heavily armed soldiers, Iraqi policemen,
and private security contractors patrol the streets of Baghdad every day? How safe is Baghdad? And yes I know Highland Sq. ain't the Green Zone. But I think it illustrates that being heavily armed only affords so much protection. If every resident of Highland Sq, was packing, then criminals would just adjust their tactics i.e. just shooting you dead and then taking your money. I have NO problems with responsible gun ownership, but always keep in mind the revenge of the unintended consequence of even a (small ) arms race.
If someone pulls a gun on you in the street are you allowed to shoot them legally if your gun is legal?
Maybe now that crime's breaking out in Don's hood he'll make police more of a priority rather than an afterthought. People voted down the tax increase, but it wasn't because they didn't want more cops. I'd like to see Joe Finley's plan on police funding.
Menk,
Any analogy between Highland Square and Baghdad is too much of a stretch to be worth making in the first place.
Bob, you beat me to it.
Glad you are safe, timfitz.
Chief, if you have a gun pointed at you, you can definitely fire.
You would be innocent so long as you could convince a jury that your actions were reasonable.
I don't think making the point that more weapons don't make you safer is a stretch.
This post has been removed by the author.
this happened in front of my apartment. actually i was unlocking my front door, unaware my best friends were getting "robbed" fifty feet away.
i've heard many people say this incident is reason to carry a gun. i believe said gun just increases the likelihood of me getting shot. what am i going to do when/if this happens to me? say, "wait sir, i have one of those too". unless i pull some chuck norris stunt, the minute i reach for my piece, bang. game over.
they will bring cops in for a week or two, like they did for the firstmerit incidents, then things will go back to normal so some other terrible stuff can go down.
all we can do is watch each others backs. walk in bigger groups if possible, don't assume that dude is just bumming a smoke, and run everywhere you need to go...
My friend who grew up in Beirut in the 60, 70's will laugh if you say that arming everbody make the streets safe. I liken that to a Jewish saying "An eye for an eye til we're all Blind" OYE VE!
If you wish to excercise your right to concealed carry:
1.) get tons of training in the execution of your defensive action with your piece.
2.) Be absolutely sure and clean of conscience that you a willing to waste the perpetrator
3.)Talk all this over with some experts, Police, Military Vets, a Priest, your psychiatrist, yourself.
I know how you feel and have NO sympathy whatsoever for these predators.
One thing the Police will tell you is simple and straight forward:
Do Not present yourself as an easy mark
Not saying that you did Tim, and thank God you are OK
Well, if some guy demanded my money or camera or "shit," I'd say "OK, OK, take it easy" slowly reach into my bag saying "take whatever you want," grasp the gun, flip off the safety with my thumb, and shoot him through the bag before he knew what the hell happened.
BAM!!!!!
Dead crook.
Saw that in a movie once I think.
David, I am a surveyor who works in many bad neighborhoods. My partner watch each others backs and pretend we are badasses( giving off the impression that we are hard marks)
If you see a 55 yr old surveyor carrying a double head/ razor sharp mattock over his shoulder and propped up against his leg - its me. I am prepared to use it in self defense - and also realize that at that point its "all in"
In my whole life, been approached by numerous hoods usually in pairs, but have been ready to go when they are within about 20-30 feet and they usually sense this and veer off.
I will not argue my methods but it has seemed to work for me. I realize my luck may turn.
Last spring, two dopers tried to sneak up on me but I had been tipped by my partner (Motorola FM radios) and was ready when they closed to within 30 feet. They veered off when they saw a 3 lb ballpeen hammer in my right hand and a sharp/tipped range pole in my other.
Its goddam scary but you need to keep your wits
Our crew avoids all dangerous neighborhoods after dark...and the dead of winter seems to be the safest times
Mike, DUIs are serious. But I personally have a tough time believing people under the .10 level are killing many people....and if so, i think its a bit much to blame the booze.
i know liquor affects everyone different, and DUIs are a problem. but I am not that worried about someone that had 2 beers - i worry about the guy that had 5-10 beers.
I think the penalties are too much for the low level DUIs - if you can pass the sobriety test, you should walk....i guess i am weak on crime.
but the penalties for chronic offenders and super drunk people may be too easy in a lot of states.
Chuck, I have a tendency to abuse alcohol so I have pretty much become a teetotaler - but in ohio .08% is a goddam laugher. In my family there have been .35-.38 +- recorded and I believe that .08 is about how I would feel after drinking a V-8
about 30 years ago, my brother and I once treated ourselves to two kags and spent a long saturday drinking these and eating a roasted pig.
Aw , the good old days
and as far as all this "if tim had a gun" thing....
1) I guess you could shoot and kill the person. But as much as I love tim, the death penalty seems a bit harsh for these goons. I was once mugged (no gun) and it only made me feel more sorry for the people and their situation.
2) and the self-defender better be a good shot and kill their offender....or they will be dead.
I talked to a gun owner and former cop during a class on guns. he explained that a gun owner MUST be willing and able to shoot to kill at a second's notice. I don't think most people are.
further to that extent, therein lays a problem with the "everyone should carry a gun" to keep us safe theory. A lot of people, myself included are not able to shoot to kill under most situations. a person like me that is too big a pussy to actually pull the trigger ends up just increasing their chance of getting shot.
3) at a minimum, if both have guns there seems to be an infinitely better chance of someone getting shot.
Robert, I am from upstate NY and I remember a law know in the city as the "Sullivan" law. As I remember, this law made it a felony to possess a handgun.
Is this still in effect in NYC?
Right on Chuck
1.) avoid danger
2.) be alert and a hard mark
Funny thing a cop told me: Just think of these muggers as "Opportunistic" animals - much like a wolf or coyote, I guess...and all predators always will weigh the COST of doing business
Chuck,
On the street the thug may have the drop on you, but in your home, when you hear a door getting kicked in downstairs, there is no question who has the advantage if both you and the invader are armed...even if you're a self proclaimed "pussy."
Petey,
I've been here a week, no clue. To clarify I do not currently own a gun.
I must add: anyone who goes out and buys a gun to satisfy some "macho" type urge is insane
On the home front thats a whole nuther ballgame.
My home was broken into about 12 years ago. I was home alone and sleeping on the second floor of a large victorian home. I have a S&W .38 in my desk in my room (I did at that time but have since locked it up)
The two burgulars started up the second floor steps as I awoke , jumped out of bed and shouted down the stairs. One said, "its OK, Go back to bed" I sleepily fumbled about my desk, couldnt find my gun, then charged down the stairwell unarmed just as the two fled out the front door.
Lucky, I wasnt killed, the cops said I shoud have "escaped" out the upstairs window....but when cornered in your home - you will literally amaze yourself and most likely do the WRONG thing.
Since then , I am prepared and have followed the advice of experts - security lighting, dead bolts, dog, NO loaded guns near your bed... other items that is best not said
Cliche: Live by the sword - die by the sword
Dude, Where's My Country?
NASA Astronauts fall Off the Wagon
I stopped going to the Square to have a drink a few years ago. Back then, there were reports of guys/gals coming out of bars after a few drinks and getting rolled by bands of kids.
Looks like nothing's changed. Too bad.
Sorry, I was at work all day.
First, let me just say thanks for all the concern....
Anyways, having a gun would have done me no good. As I said, the thing was pretty much right in my face when I realized it existed at all.
The logic that having guns will deter people is ridiculous to me. There will still be desperate people and they will just be more paranoid and more likely to shoot.
Having a gun in your home in a shitty neighborhood would be a different story.
The thing that upsets me the most is how paranoid I'll probably be around there now.
Oh yeah, since me and Pete just happened to be broke was it just an attempted robbery?
People always talk about how they would react in a situation like this. Pete said he felt like "this could be it". That never really crossed my mind. The first thing I thought was, "man, that is a small gun".
I was much more terrified(I barely slept) the rest of the night then I was when the event took place.....
Lastly,
Highland Square feels safe as can be to me during the day, its just at night and on the south side of Market that it always seemed to be dangerous.
Thats what sucks about the Twin Oaks(across the street from Portage Country Club) incident - it makes me feel that no part of the area is completely safe.
great post, it's symbolic of other areas in Akron where developers have tried to give the city dwellers things to do, but the crime is still bad and keeps ppl away...downtown Akron has this problem as well...great local coverage
Chuck -
I can see your point about harsh penalties for low level DUI stuff, so I don't totally disagree with you there; i guess i just don't think it is a waste of police time to be pulling people over and giving them trafffic violations if they are doing dangerous stuff (i.e. i don't care about minor infractions).
I am a supporter of a persons right to own and carry a gun, but having one on you in a situation like this would've been of little or any benefit. As Robert said though, having one in your home is a different story.
No benefit?
What if you have the guns up your sleeves like De Niro in Taxi Driver?
Way back when I use to live in Highland Square ... back in the days when neighbors actually watched your back ... AND back in the day when there was considerable foot traffic 24/7 ... As Highland Square "gentrified" the bars were forced to become "tamer," the neighborhood Sparkle Market and the drugstore gave way to "progress," and the established residents, who watched your back, could no longer afford to live there. These were the days when Annabell's was truly a neighborhood pub, when the waitresses at Dodi's knew your name, and the beat cop would bring your kid home when he was misbehaving. These were the days when The Bakery was the AM meeting spot for people of all ages, when your kids could safely take in a movie at the Highland (not to mention seniors). These were the days when the Highland Square festival was hosted by neighborhood folk and community action was grass-rooted. These were the days before a Highland Square Neighborhood Association, before the do-good activists and developers entered the picture ... I could go on, but most significantly, "these days" were just 20 years ago.
Frank, I will take you back to 45 yrs ago in my Painesville neighborhood - the cops or the good neighbors would only take so much crap and then the problem would usually be "handled" and the scumbags in the ER
& the gun thing: If you are well trained such as a SEAL - then you will probably outdraw/outshoot a perpetrator...most everyone else- GOOD LUCK
I liked the "long arm of the law" solution as outlined above
I remember some piece/o/shit was actually "squirrel shot" out some concerned citizen's window.
The cops just yawned
My pal Tony, has a compact .380 auto that fits down in his pocket just like a wallet. One time at a Christmas party, he says "Ya wanta see what somebody gets if they try to rob me?" he reaches in his back pocket and draws his pistol....I guess that might work ...but dont try that at home.
Watch out with that talk on here, Frank. To these dudes Chipotle is progress....
This is one of my favorite posts and comments in a while on our site. Thank you Tim and everyone for the discussion.
Kyle , may I close with this in reference to everyone running out and arming themselves:
"An eye for an eye until we are all blind"
Petey,
It's not:
"An eye for an eye until we are all blind"
It's:
"Better the criminal's eye than mine"
I will buy that too...
A major downside to everyone arming themselves is all the accidents.
Another applicable quote:
"Kid, you're gonna put your eye out!"
Enjoy NYC, it must be way safer (i have heard) than where I was at E 116th & Miles in Cleveland or on Tuscarawas west in Canton where some scumbag stole my sledgehammer!
Oh & be a Mets fan instead of Yankees
Funk Dat, Tribe 4-EVA!
G-Yeah.
My crime report made the Sunday Beacon.
Famous.
One thing I gotta mention. I've known Tony Troppe for twenty-five years, going back to freshman year in college. We fell out of touch upon graduating in '86, then ran into each other in '93 or '94. At that point, he was well into the real estate developing dodge. In the fistful of conversations I've had with him since -- even when we talked about my work as a county prosecutor -- he never mentioned having been a police officer.
If he ever was a cop, it was for the proverbial cup of coffee in the late eighties. He's done a lot of good in the community, but he shouldn't be regarded as some special authority about the Akron Police Department.
Sorry if that wasn't clear, I was talking to a retired police officer AND Tony Troppe. The officer is who said " money."
wow gold cheap wow gold buy wow gold world of warcraft gold wow world of warcraft wow gold WoW Warrior WoW Hunter WoW Rogue WoW Paladin WoW Shaman WoW Priest WoW Mage WoW Druid WoW Warlock power leveling powerleveling wow power leveling wow powerleveling wow guides wow tips google排名 google左侧排名 google排名服务 百度推广 百度排名 网站推广 商业吧 机床 LED灯 电池 塑料 摄像机 移民 甲醇 染料 福州热线 体育博客 股票博客 游戏博客 魔兽博客 考试博客 汽车博客 房产博客 电脑博客 powerlin518 logo design website design web design 商标设计
Post a Comment
<< Home