Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 740 Location: Brooklyn, NY
Mon Oct 02, 06 12:33 pm EST
Yesterday, while snapping photos for my blog near the corner of Eastern Parkway and Bedford, I got jumped. I was forced into a shadowy area between a wall and a parked semi-truck.
The guy got me in a headlock from behind, pressed a screwdriver against the back of my neck and repeatedly demanded "Lemme get that camera, motherfucker, lemme get that camera" as I kept walking, struggling a bit to push away from him and get out of the shadows and into the sunnier part of the sidewalk right across Bedford from that giant bustling carwash where someone was bound to see us, in case things got more serious.
Instinct took over (hey, youre gonna need alot more than a screwdriver to get my Leica at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon, asshole) and I immediately clutched the camera to my chest and dove forward to break the choke-hold while simultaneously kicking my feet backwards, hoping to land a square blow to his nuts.
I ended up catching my balance with my left foot but landing a fortuitously solid kick to his right knee, which I could feel snap backwards/sideways from the force.
He staggered backwards, trying to turn around and run... which, by the looks of him, is apparently pretty hard to do when your right knee is all floppy. In the time it took him to struggle up the block, I was able to snap his photo and call the cops (Who, I kid you not, arrived in less than a minute). He managed to make it to the benches on Eastern Parkway before slumping on one of them, just in time for the cops to conveniently pick him up. He had outstanding sumons for... you guessed it... assault and theft.
So yeah. I'm fine, nothing was taken, I'm just a little rattled as this is the first time in the 12 years I've lived in NYC that anything like this has happened to me. I'm a large guy; people rarely fuck with me (knock on wood).
I really just wanted to post this little story to say that when bad things like this happen in our neighborhood, its not always cowering victims, fear, paranoia and the police blame-game. Sometimes the cops come through, the victims are the victors, and the perpetrators get their just (and swift) deserts. I wanted to have at least one more instance of that posted here.
Last edited by rhodamine on Mon Oct 02, 06 1:11 pm; edited 2 times in total
alafairnadia radical quellist
Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 8272 Location: not washington ave. btwn sterling & st. johns
Mon Oct 02, 06 12:37 pm EST
hey! I'm SO GLAD you're okay! wow, what a story!
thanks so much for posting! _________________ like a smoked meat with an earthy youth overnote
WhyFi Staid and Dull
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 4450 Location: In the Groove
Mon Oct 02, 06 12:39 pm EST
Very nice! I don't think that he'll be very severely punished (we can hope!), but I'm sure that his knee will serve him as a reminder for a long time to come.
Kudos for not playing the victim, am I'm glad everything went well!
pitu Fake Buddhist
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 6537 Location: Utopian Park Slope
Mon Oct 02, 06 12:42 pm EST
back kick to the knee! CONGRATULATIONS!
Seriously sorry that happened to you, and vicariously thrilled that you were so perfectly effective in protecting yourself. AND got a picture . . .
rhodamine Crooklyn Dodger
Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 740 Location: Brooklyn, NY
Mon Oct 02, 06 12:49 pm EST
WhyFi wrote:
I don't think that he'll be very severely punished
well, if you take into account that he was nabbed on a weekend, today is a holiday, and the courts will be mad backed up after the weekend/holiday combo, dude will get to spend about three glorious days in central booking... which, if youve ever experienced it yourself or heard about it from someone who has (im sure theres one or two on here, heh), it seems like just deserts to me!
plus the knee. im sure kings county ER is no vacation on a weekend.
Last edited by rhodamine on Mon Oct 02, 06 1:22 pm; edited 2 times in total
young snitch Regular
Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 179 Location: FA
Mon Oct 02, 06 1:11 pm EST
central booking sucks, but other than the inedible baloney sandwiches, difficulty of sleeping and general filthiness, it's mostly just boring. but the mugger who got pwnd is probably going to end up on the island, which makes central booking look like day care (i thank my lucky stars i've never been there).
Isa Crabby Native
Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 526 Location: St Johns Plizizace
that bugs me out, though. right on eastern parkway at 3pm on a sunday afternoon? are lazy weekend afternoons sacred no more?
rhodamine Crooklyn Dodger
Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 740 Location: Brooklyn, NY
Mon Oct 02, 06 2:03 pm EST
brooklynleather wrote:
right on eastern parkway at 3pm on a sunday afternoon?
well, technically it was on bedford, just about 20' around the corner from eastern parkway. the fact that a semi truck/trailer were parked along half the block- and were at that hour casting a huge shadow over the sidewalk between the truck and the adjacent building where this went down (as well as blocking any visibility from across the street) may have had something to do with it... it would have been another story completely if he had brazenly jumped me from behind, say, while walking up the promenade/median thing in eastern parkway...
we struggled along the side of the truck, but he let loose a bit when we cleared the end of the truck and came into view of the carwash across the street... thats when i was able to lunge and get that kick in.
let's hear one for the GOOD GUY _________________ Get your paws off my canned chicken
Carnivore Brooklyn Snark
Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 13712 Location: St Johns Pl and Underhill
Mon Oct 02, 06 2:54 pm EST
rhodamine wrote:
plus the knee. im sure kings county ER is no vacation on a weekend.
I'm sure that after his 9 hour wait, he got treated with caring and compassion...
alafairnadia radical quellist
Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 8272 Location: not washington ave. btwn sterling & st. johns
Mon Oct 02, 06 2:55 pm EST
Carnivore wrote:
rhodamine wrote:
plus the knee. im sure kings county ER is no vacation on a weekend.
I'm sure that after his 9 hour wait, he got treated with caring and compassion...
and I bet if he needed crutches someone gave him really awesome training on how to use them ... _________________ like a smoked meat with an earthy youth overnote
Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 535 Location: VANDERBILT THIS CITY ON ROCK AND ROLL
Mon Oct 02, 06 9:06 pm EST
Glad you're ok, rhodamine.
jimmylegs Permanewbie
Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Posts: 139 Location: Bushwick, Brooklyn
Tue Oct 03, 06 3:09 pm EST
wow, it's nice to hear a mugging with a 'happy' ending for once. i can't quite figure out that move you did to get out of the headlock and kick at the same time. did the guy fall on top of you when you kicked? somehow i don't think this move would work as well for me, but sounds like it's good to know!
Medusa "Anonymous Guest"
Joined: 22 Jun 2005 Posts: 401 Location: Prospect Place between Flatbush & Carlton
Tue Oct 03, 06 3:15 pm EST
I am most happy about Rhodamine being OK and his having participated in at least a measure of justice. I'm just a little sad as I fear that we the taxpayers might be paying for this mugger's knee surgery whilst he does his time. It's probably worth it.
homeowner "Way Too Incestial"
Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 2116 Location: Between a rock and a hard place
Tue Oct 03, 06 3:47 pm EST
Yes, but with a bum knee, his days as a snatch and grab guy are probably over
Medusa "Anonymous Guest"
Joined: 22 Jun 2005 Posts: 401 Location: Prospect Place between Flatbush & Carlton
Tue Oct 03, 06 4:07 pm EST
homeowner wrote:
Yes, but with a bum knee, his days as a snatch and grab guy are probably over
Instead he'll have to become a snatch & pummel guy.
dailyheights Honorary Fellow
Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 3622 Location: Prospect Heights State of Mind
Tue Oct 03, 06 10:22 pm EST
Yeesh... You knee breaker. You reminded me of this:
Last edited by dailyheights on Wed Oct 04, 06 12:58 am; edited 2 times in total
stacey Beyond Karma
Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 3138 Location: Underhill Ave.
Tue Oct 03, 06 11:02 pm EST
glad to hear your ok
HillaryJ Newbie
Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 30
Wed Oct 04, 06 7:48 am EST
Jeez Andy, you should have warned me, that video is DISGUSTING.
(Like the pic--Muk's skeptical face says, "go ahead, break my knee.")
H
rhodamine Crooklyn Dodger
Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 740 Location: Brooklyn, NY
Wed Oct 04, 06 7:44 pm EST
jimmylegs wrote:
can't quite figure out that move you did to get out of the headlock and kick at the same time.
it was the old lunge forward with your left hand around his left wrist (which had not quite closed on a half-nelson yet) and your legs/feet flying out behind you... the old swan-dive. i figured after a take-down, i could get things under control a little better in a scuffle. like i said, im a big guy and this guy was alot shorter and smaller than me.
anyway. i call the move the donkey-kick.
ha.
rhodamine Crooklyn Dodger
Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 740 Location: Brooklyn, NY
Wed Oct 04, 06 7:46 pm EST
Medusa wrote:
I'm just a little sad as I fear that we the taxpayers might be paying for this mugger's knee surgery whilst he does his time.
well, for one, i could have been stabbed in the neck with a screwdriver and this guy would have been jogging home happily with a new camera and a non-shattered knee. but youre surely not misplacing your empathy enough to imply that, im sure.
ive wondered the same thing... if i was subsidizing the repair of the very injury i caused defending myself. knowing he'll probably never walk right again leaves me with enough vaguely regretful thoughts as it is, though. you know?
but whats a guy to do?
marden Newbie
Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 34 Location: 5th ave
Wed Oct 04, 06 8:29 pm EST
you're awesome! what a calm head you have in the midst of chaos.
may you never have to have hand to hand combat again *knocks on wood*
knowing he'll probably never walk right again leaves me with enough vaguely regretful thoughts as it is, though. you know?
less regret. more cowbell.
no worries, you did what you had to. you didn't ask to be put in that situation, and you certainly weren't out looking for a fight. _________________ Get your paws off my canned chicken
dan.h Insider
Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 318 Location: jewish hospital
Wed Oct 04, 06 11:53 pm EST
Dude, way to bring the vigilante justice! Glad youre ok!! _________________ Brooklyn, bitch! I will cutchyou!
withachaser Regular
Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 161 Location: prospect
Thu Oct 05, 06 12:33 am EST
really glad you're okay and horrified that such a thing could happen on a fairly well-traversed place in broad daylight. i cycled by there twice today in a sun-drenched stupor of safety amd cannot imagine how shocking it would have been to experience that. thanks for the posting, its warning and 'tips,' and the acknowledgment of what sounds like a decent response by authorities!!
Medusa "Anonymous Guest"
Joined: 22 Jun 2005 Posts: 401 Location: Prospect Place between Flatbush & Carlton
Thu Oct 05, 06 10:51 am EST
rhodamine wrote:
Medusa wrote:
I'm just a little sad as I fear that we the taxpayers might be paying for this mugger's knee surgery whilst he does his time.
well, for one, i could have been stabbed in the neck with a screwdriver and this guy would have been jogging home happily with a new camera and a non-shattered knee. but youre surely not misplacing your empathy enough to imply that, im sure.
ive wondered the same thing... if i was subsidizing the repair of the very injury i caused defending myself. knowing he'll probably never walk right again leaves me with enough vaguely regretful thoughts as it is, though. you know?
but whats a guy to do?
Like I said, upon reflection, probably worth the price.
Last edited by Medusa on Thu Oct 05, 06 12:05 pm; edited 1 time in total
Muk Regular
Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 164 Location: Park Place @ Vanderbilt
Thu Oct 05, 06 11:36 am EST
Way to go. It's good to know that there's some middle ground between "cowering victim" and "Michael Douglas' character in Falling Down."
Jamzer Lifer
Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 914 Location: Park F'ing Slope
Fri Oct 06, 06 7:55 am EST
Good job! Bravo!
How about that pic?
BrooklynSwordStyle Regular
Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 113 Location: Dean by 6th
Fri Oct 06, 06 2:52 pm EST
Excellent job Rhodamine. Too bad it couldn't be followed up with a nice hard arm-bar to give him a cast to go with that limp.
Boygabriel G Train Devotee
Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 2494 Location: Somewhere between Clinton Hill, Bed-Stuy, Williamsburg and Bushwick
Fri Oct 06, 06 2:56 pm EST
pitu wrote:
back kick to the knee! CONGRATULATIONS!
Seriously sorry that happened to you, and vicariously thrilled that you were so perfectly effective in protecting yourself. AND got a picture . . .
i agree with alla dat. _________________ Spend a buck, light a number for one the 400,000 victims in Darfur: darfurwall.org
kosherdave The Kosherist
Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 988
Fri Oct 06, 06 4:47 pm EST
wow, that was awesome. my heart rate is actually up. You should post the fuckhole's picture. Sorry it had to happen to you, but way to own the situation!
and yeah, that video up above is NASTY! ouch!
rhodamine Crooklyn Dodger
Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 740 Location: Brooklyn, NY
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