MichiganRob
Sr. Member
It's dangerous out there
I didn't know where to post this so I put it here. Today I was detecting at Heritage Landing in Muskegon when my attention was diverted to a commotion about a hundred feet away. A man was beating a homeless denizen of the park with a chain with a padlock on the end. I have come across this homeless man many times and he is a meek, mild and timid sole who scavenges for bottles and cans in the trash cans.
Needless to say I was outraged by what I was seeing and I quickly ran over and confronted the perpetrator yelling at him to stop. Suprisingly he did stop the assault and squared off against me. Well he thought better of it and withdrew to the safety of his bicycle which he mounted and departed. I am a fairly large man and was really angry so I don't think he wanted a piece of me. It was just as well because I am not a fighter and did not really want it to come to that.
I checked on the condition of the homeless man who was badly beaten his face bloodied and his torso bruised. I did not have a cell phone with me but I got in my car and followed the criminal bike rider hoping that we would cross paths with a patrol car and I could point him out. The fleeing criminal knowing that I was following led me up one street and down another circling around and back and still I couldn't find a cop.
I came to a corner where a couple was talking at their car at the curb and told them what was going on and to please call 911. They said they would and I resumed my pursuit. The bicyclist came to the end of a dead end street and went into an apartment complex at the end where I could not follow. Just then I spotted the patrol car two blocks down and began waving at him.
At this point I still had a visual on the creep and the patrol car, within a minute the police were there. Unfortunately the creep had disappeared around a corner. The officer told me to stay put and he raced around the corner from the other direction. Soon there were 5 or 6 patrol cars cruising the area and the bad news is they did not catch this guy. I had followed this guy for 15 or 20 minutes and when I finally got the police there I still had him in my sight and within 2 minutes he had gottten away. I was totally disgusted with myself for not carrying my cell phone.
I gave my information to the officer and returned to the park where the homeless man was recieving treatment from the EMT's, he will be fine just shaken and bruised. I shook his hand and wished him well and he thanked me for comming to his aid.
I write this story here for a couple of reasons...
First: because I am still venting; it really makes me angry when the strong prey upon the weak.
Second: because this was in broad daylight and there were several others in that park some closer than I who made no move to help or intervene and that makes me angry because I believe that we are all in this together and as much as it is within my power I am my brothers' keeper.
and
Third: because it could just as easily been me or you being savagely attacked while we are just Md'ing in the park or wherever. I would counsel you all to be careful and take precautions for your safety. That guy is still out there because I didn't bring my cell phone and I am sure that across this great country there are many more just like him. I vow never again to go Treasure Hunting without my cell phone.
HH
MichiganRob
I didn't know where to post this so I put it here. Today I was detecting at Heritage Landing in Muskegon when my attention was diverted to a commotion about a hundred feet away. A man was beating a homeless denizen of the park with a chain with a padlock on the end. I have come across this homeless man many times and he is a meek, mild and timid sole who scavenges for bottles and cans in the trash cans.
Needless to say I was outraged by what I was seeing and I quickly ran over and confronted the perpetrator yelling at him to stop. Suprisingly he did stop the assault and squared off against me. Well he thought better of it and withdrew to the safety of his bicycle which he mounted and departed. I am a fairly large man and was really angry so I don't think he wanted a piece of me. It was just as well because I am not a fighter and did not really want it to come to that.
I checked on the condition of the homeless man who was badly beaten his face bloodied and his torso bruised. I did not have a cell phone with me but I got in my car and followed the criminal bike rider hoping that we would cross paths with a patrol car and I could point him out. The fleeing criminal knowing that I was following led me up one street and down another circling around and back and still I couldn't find a cop.
I came to a corner where a couple was talking at their car at the curb and told them what was going on and to please call 911. They said they would and I resumed my pursuit. The bicyclist came to the end of a dead end street and went into an apartment complex at the end where I could not follow. Just then I spotted the patrol car two blocks down and began waving at him.
At this point I still had a visual on the creep and the patrol car, within a minute the police were there. Unfortunately the creep had disappeared around a corner. The officer told me to stay put and he raced around the corner from the other direction. Soon there were 5 or 6 patrol cars cruising the area and the bad news is they did not catch this guy. I had followed this guy for 15 or 20 minutes and when I finally got the police there I still had him in my sight and within 2 minutes he had gottten away. I was totally disgusted with myself for not carrying my cell phone.
I gave my information to the officer and returned to the park where the homeless man was recieving treatment from the EMT's, he will be fine just shaken and bruised. I shook his hand and wished him well and he thanked me for comming to his aid.
I write this story here for a couple of reasons...
First: because I am still venting; it really makes me angry when the strong prey upon the weak.
Second: because this was in broad daylight and there were several others in that park some closer than I who made no move to help or intervene and that makes me angry because I believe that we are all in this together and as much as it is within my power I am my brothers' keeper.
and
Third: because it could just as easily been me or you being savagely attacked while we are just Md'ing in the park or wherever. I would counsel you all to be careful and take precautions for your safety. That guy is still out there because I didn't bring my cell phone and I am sure that across this great country there are many more just like him. I vow never again to go Treasure Hunting without my cell phone.
HH
MichiganRob
