Thursday, July 28, 2005

South Side violence in early morning -- a block away

The talk of the neighborhood today was generated by TV crews in the wake of a couple of thugs that seemingly hit a couple late at night. It was a "Brutal Attack." The assult lifted the tv news crews into the streets to get interviews.

I talked, while walking on East Carson Street with my kids, to KDKA's M.R.J.

Q: "Oh how the South Side has changed. Are you fearful?"

A: Sure, there have been some changes. But people have a short memory. There have been troubles here in the past. There are troubles throughout the city every week. We need to do a better job of looking out for each other. Some of that happens here and it happens elsewhere in other neighborhoods too.

Q: "But there used to be families?"

A: Families are making a bit of a comeback to the South Side. We have lived here for 15 years and there are more parents and younger kids in recent months than in the past decade.

My exact quote that aired: "These things are going to happen, sadly. We have to work as best we can in the community to prevent them and to look out for each other."

The next KDKA NEWS story, H. Ward, 29-years of age, may sit out the entire Steeler season. Then came the coverage of the Little League players who testified against their coach. The coach, it seems, offered money to one player to hurt another to keep him on the bench and out of the game. A few minutes later came a story of how State Senator, Jane Orie, is trying to raise the bar with new laws and stiffer penalties against "predators."

Victims, our prayers are with you to get well soon.

I've not heard much about the NAN (Neighborhood Awarness Network). I'll need to check into those efforts in the days to come. I hope that the organizers didn't burn out on those efforts.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Couple attacked while walking in South Side

Thursday, July 28, 2005
By Jonathan D. Silver, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A Monroeville woman was beaten and sexually assaulted this morning on the South Side while walking with a male companion, who was seriously injured.

Pittsburgh police sex assault detectives are investigating the incident which took place at 3:45 a.m. at 13th and Sarah streets.

The 23-year-old woman from Monroeville was walking with a 22-year-old man from Port Vue at the intersection when two men confronted the pair and attacked them, Lt. Kevin Kraus said today.

The attackers beat the man so severely he had to undergo emergency surgery at UMPC Presbyterian for brain hemorrhaging, Kraus said. The man was admitted in critical condition but has been upgraded to serious but stable, Kraus said.

The assailants forced the woman into an alley, groped her, undid her pants and forced her to perform a sex act on one of the men, Kraus said.

After the assault, the men ran away.

The woman was taken to UPMC South Side, where she was treated and released.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette does not identify victims of sexual assault, and Kraus did not identify the male victim.