Would you have intervened?

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Would you have intervened?

Very interesting situation...and I think you did the right thing.
I seriously agree with Lipp tho', you need to get some training before you ever do this again.
I don't know the statistics on this kind of thing but it might be that 20%? 50% 10%? of the time the perpetrator has a weapon and usually the samaritan does not....and you'll never know at the time one way of the other....but it is a game of roulette.
Most people would like to believe they would do the same thing, but of those people...maybe half? or?...actually would.
Its usually never a good bet to enter into a confrontation with someone who historically has very little to lose and has a history of being in that type of situation. They are much more prepared to deal with the event and usually much less afraid of the consequences so you've got to make sure you've got the tools to deal with it.
Regardless.....good on ya' for shutting him down!! It probably served as an excellent example to all who witnessed it!

BP

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Would you have intervened?

Didn't a Mayoral Candidate for Minneapolis get the daylights beat out of him in a similar situation? I podcast Soucheray's show.

From what I gathered, the Candidate, had his cell phone stolen and two girls proceded to beat him up just for the kicks.

I also heard that there were as many as forty bystanders that did nothing.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure they were youngish teenagers and I think they were finally caught. That was at the Mall of America. They don't like this to get out but that place can be scary. I wont go there at certain times of the day without proper precautions. I wouldn't intervene there unless it was immediate life or death because 6 + 1 isn't necessarily enough with all the gang activity and shear number of potential thugs.

 

[JB]

Re: Would you have intervened?

I am a 78 year old great grandfather severely handicapped by strokes. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't intervene like the OP. I might inspire others to do the same.

 

[jkust]

Re: Would you have intervened?

I work in a skyway connected building as well in Minneapolis. I see thugs every day, all day out my window looking down on the street. I've seen just about scenario you can imagine. Gang of them fighting eachother, individuals beating up women, people getting hit by cars, Light rail near misses, people falling down having seizures in the street, bikers getting killed by delivery trucks...you name it. I have to walk through groups of them to get to my parking as well. Been randomly punched a couple times over the years while walking to the car. Would I get involved for a cell phone...no way. You could have just as easily been a statistic and filed under the headline 'no good deed'.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Would you have intervened?

Minneapolis sounds dangerous. Glad I live in Los Angeles!

I was kinda kidding but maybe there is something to that
http://minneapolis.areaconnect.com/crime/compare.htm?c1=Minneapolis&s1=MN&c2=Los+Angeles&s2=CA

 

[jkust]

Re: Would you have intervened?

We welcome in the absolute worst of the worst with open arms and then ignore the outcome.

 

[angus63]

Re: Would you have intervened?

I'd like to think I would act if someone was being physically assaulted, but I probably would not act for a petty theft for fear of unnecessary escalation and possible injury or death. Until it happens, I am not certain what my instinct would be.

 

[jkust]

Re: Would you have intervened?

I'd like to think I would act if someone was being physically assaulted, but I probably would not act for a petty theft for fear of unnecessary escalation and possible injury or death. Until it happens, I am not certain what my instinct would be.

It's a phone...big deal. Probably insured anyway. I'd have thrashed him if I was his wife too.

 

[Splat]

Re: Would you have intervened?

Sounds like you did OK. You sized up the threat and did the best you could. I agree I probably wouldn't have gotten involved in a petty theft incident. I would have preferred to remain a excellent witness.

My reasoning behind that is my training, and there would have been at least one gun involved, mine. Regardless if the thug would have been armed, when I enter a scenario my gun is involved. A push, a shove, now my holstered gun becomes exposed, and is now a possible opportunity for the bad guy. I train, teach and carry for my protection, not to police the neighborhood.

Had this been a physical altercation, now we're talking a totally different scenario.

Remember the number one rule in self defense. Distance. Either open it, or close it. Getting inside a attackers zone takes them of balance, and takes power and accuracy away from blunt objects, and makes edged weapons easier to control.

Distance and watch hands. Nothing else matters.

Stay yellow out there.

Bill

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Would you have intervened?

What area are you in?

I am in a building not connected on Third Av between 9th and 10th but travel many times a day to our HQ via skyway. I just walked through that building yesterday on the way to the American Burger Bar for lunch. That building is pretty sketchy and I think it also draws from the buslines on 8th st.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Would you have intervened?

Ayuh,... Me too,.... Done it before, 'n most certainly will do it again,....

I may be on the smallish side, but I'm resourceful,...
There are "Things" all 'round Us that can become serious offensive, or defensive tools,...
A Fire Extinguisher comes to mind,....

They're everywhere, ya don't need to carry it, just be aware of where they're at,...
Offensively, it's a pretty good swingin' weapon,...
Defensively, a shot the the face will give any crackhead 2nd thoughts, no matter how high they are,...
The aggression usually stops when they can't breathe,...

Stoppin' crimes against other people, I believe, is the duty of All of Us,....

Very well said Bondo...There is some merit to "It take's a community"

 

[kahuna123]

Re: Would you have intervened?

If everyone stood up this conversation would never happen. I live in the South so its a little different. That would have NEVER happened downtown here. How do you look at yourself in the mirror after you watched something like that happen and did nothing?

You want to see how a community makes it work? Watch what happens in the diamond district in Manhattan when a store owner yells
thief.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Would you have intervened?

I am in a building not connected on Third Av between 9th and 10th but travel many times a day to our HQ via skyway. I just walked through that building yesterday on the way to the American Burger Bar for lunch. That building is pretty sketchy and I think it also draws from the buslines on 8th st.

I love the 8th St. busline, it brings all the fun people down here. I just wish they would disperse a little further. We have 24 hour security now which has helped some but for some reason our building is required to be open 24/7. It's also fun because the Occupy protesters sometimes tried to stage in our building to make their assault on the US Bank building!

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Would you have intervened?

Minneapolis sounds dangerous. Glad I live in Los Angeles!

I was kinda kidding but maybe there is something to that
Crime Rate Comparison: Minneapolis Vs. Los Angeles

That is interesting....

 

[jkust]

Re: Would you have intervened?

I love the 8th St. busline, it brings all the fun people down here. I just wish they would disperse a little further. We have 24 hour security now which has helped some but for some reason our building is required to be open 24/7. It's also fun because the Occupy protesters sometimes tried to stage in our building to make their assault on the US Bank building!

I overlook a light rail stop and they come in droves just to hang around. They flock to the library/taj mahol during the winter and cause trouble harassing people and yelling obscenities. Watching them is shocking sometimes. They will walk directly into traffic and expect that they won't be hit. Sometimes they get hit. They will cross in front of trains with complete disregard. I've been offered drugs on many occasions and they get mad when you say no or don't respond. I've probably seen 20 arrests out my window.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Would you have intervened?

Block E on hennepin and 7th is also pretty bad. But the south end I am on is pretty good. Never had a problem.

 

[Grandad]

Re: Would you have intervened?

I overlook a light rail stop and they come in droves just to hang around. They flock to the library/taj mahol during the winter and cause trouble harassing people and yelling obscenities. Watching them is shocking sometimes. They will walk directly into traffic and expect that they won't be hit. Sometimes they get hit. They will cross in front of trains with complete disregard. I've been offered drugs on many occasions and they get mad when you say no or don't respond. I've probably seen 20 arrests out my window.

It sounds to me that it's time you moved. We're not without sinners here and I'm sure there are some real creeps here, but not in such volume. So come on up and bring your family. Just leave your hardware at the border. - Grandad

 

[southkogs]

Re: Would you have intervened?

Minneapolis sounds dangerous. Glad I live in Los Angeles!

I was kinda kidding but maybe there is something to that
Crime Rate Comparison: Minneapolis Vs. Los Angeles

Not positive how confident I am that the '06 data is still good - I just compared Nashville to a few other towns I've lived in and the results are rather questionable.

I'm up in Minneapolis rather regularly. It's much like any other big city - nice areas and problem areas. I've had to watch over my shoulder a couple of times, but on the overall it's not too bad up there.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Would you have intervened?

Hats off to a good deed going well!! That said A CWP permit and the associated training and hardware can be a great back up plan.

Can't argue with that.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Would you have intervened?

I'm up in Minneapolis rather regularly. It's much like any other big city - nice areas and problem areas. I've had to watch over my shoulder a couple of times, but on the overall it's not too bad up there.

It really is a good/safe town but the downtown area has been sort of set up for many reasons to be a haven for petty thief scum bags.