The Hero? (More like the Criminal)

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Written by Frank R | 17 August 2009
Posted in SOMM Blogs - Life Experiences

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The Hero? (More like the Criminal)
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You have one second to decide. Actually, it is less than a second. Get involved or become a sideline eye witness. My beliefs have a tendency to get me into complications even though they are aligned with “good”, but isn’t it always the good guys that have more problems?

After getting out of work for the night I went to my local grocery store, Stop & Shop. I picked up some Half&half and checked out. I went outside the store, lit a Black & Mild cigar and sucked in a puff of smoke and humid summer night air. I watched some kids on skateboards stroll pass me, catching an ear full of a conversation about some girl named Megan and how huge her tits were. This night time adventure appeared to be routine until I stepped into the parking lot.

"Sir, can you put your hands around your back for me?"

The parking lot is expansive, as you have Stop & Shop, Staples, TGI Fridays, Old Navy and two other major retailers located in this plaza. Sometimes at late night, the parking lot plays host to makeshift car shows and/or a drag strip raceway. On this particular night, around 11:30pm, a crime by three young males against a woman took place. Normally I would say allege crime, but I was there, right in the “action”.

I heard a woman shout stop. Curiosity propelled me to take a closer look. Initially I thought the woman was playing around with a boyfriend or some friends. I had to move from the left entrance of Stop & Shop to the front entrance of Old Navy since some vehicles blocked my viewpoint from where the shout originated. I saw a woman that looked in her mid-thirties surrounded by three young males, all wearing white T-shirts and blue jeans near a late model white Honda Civic. One of the males was struggling with the woman, his hands wrapped around her handbag. She shouted someone help me, this time much louder than before. At that very moment, I realized she wasn’t kidding but being mugged.

Instincts kicked in and my normal somewhat passive demeanor dissipated quickly; what happens next makes me feel slightly guilty. I discarded my cigar and dropped my bag containing the half&half and I ran over to their location, slammed a left and right fist into the face of the teenager that was pulling the handbag with enough force that he dropped in an instant. The other two teenagers tried to land punches, but my boxing background helped avoid all but one kick to the shin. Behind us I hear an older male shout “Hey you, stop that” as he hurried to where we were. The last two teens see the man running to our location and decide to bolt. I gave chase but stopped, worried that the teenager on the ground may get up and run himself. I walked back in a backwards motion, assuring the other two males didn’t change their minds about running away.

I stared at the teenager on the ground with distrust and yet an urge to make sure he was alright. His body swayed side to side, while his hands covering his face muffled his sobs. A small crowd was forming around us and I thought about leaving. Bewildered faces surrounded me; some people asked others what happened. I kneel beside the guy and asked him if he was alright. “A fucking nigga punched me in the face. What do you think?” he said through the sobs. I don’t think he knew it was me who put him there, but I didn’t say anything else to him after that.

A couple minutes later, 5 to 7 police cruisers peppered the parking lot. I explained to one of the officers in his cruiser that the other two assailants ran north of our position and what they were wearing. He rushed away and then two officers approached me. I told them what happened; they took one look at me and one look at the young male on the ground that was being treated by paramedics.

One of the officers walked behind me, his hand on his gun holster. The officer in front of me looked at me in a suspect manner, his hand too on his gun holster. I looked at the woman who was being interviewed by another officer, her eyes met mine. “Sir, can you put your hands around your back for me?” the officer in front of me said.

I was confused, what did I do wrong? I did as he asked and I was handcuffed by the officer behind me. They moved me to the curb near Old Navy and asked me to sit down. One of the officers rushed back towards the woman and the other asked me questions like who struck who first, how many punches I thrown, and if I have anything in my pockets that could cut/poke him. I couldn’t believe it, I thought for sure I was going to jail and I am supposedly the good guy in this event. I sat there waiting for the inevitable.

After five minutes of sitting there waiting, I asked why I was handcuffed. I was told it was for my own protection but I wasn’t being arrested. I wondered why I was the only one being offered this protection, neither the teenager nor the woman wore cuffs. Another officer asked me if I had a drink tonight and I answered no, unless a pot of coffee counts. Another five to ten minutes goes by and finally the same two officers that cuffed me before told me to stand up. They helped me up and took off the handcuffs. They explained to me that since I am an adult and the teenager is a minor, they had to make sure I didn’t use excessive force. I was told about a possible court date with me as a witness and other details. I was still in shock from being handcuffed.

I left the scene with sore wrists, a bruised ego and thoughts of why I didn’t bring my camcorder with me that day like I usually do. The only consolations were the smiles and many thank you’s from the woman I helped. I felt less like a hero and more like a victim, but do you know what the funny thing is? If I could redo all of this, I wouldn’t change a thing (maybe I could have gotten the other two). Logic would have me note that being such a big and tall man punching a smaller individual would have anyone think about excessive force. The question I pose to you the reader, what would you have done? Stand idly by, watch the woman get mugged or would you intervene?

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Tags: Hero Criminal Police Handcuffed handcuffs cuffs protection help woman teenager CT mugged mugging mugg