Nice kick!

An assailant with, what appears to be, a sense of humor. Let me add that there's nothing remotely funny about acts of stupid assaults like this though.

Story:
Oregon -- A female jogger was groped on a dark and foggy path in Wilsonville early Tuesday morning, she told police.

The woman was on a well-used portion of Southwest Town Center Loop East about 5:45 a.m. when a man approached, "wrapping his arms around her" and "clutching her while grabbing her buttocks with each of his hands," said Det. Jim Strovink, spokesman for the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect reportedly said, "nice ass, baby."

After breaking free, the woman kicked him twice in the groin.

"The suspect keeled over slightly and stated, "nice kick," Strovink said.

Source

Would not report it

If you happen to wonder why so few cases of rape and attempted rape are being brought before the justice system, you ought to read this article from SocietyGuardian in the UK.

Some times I really wonder what century we're living in; are attitudes like these the norm even today?

Rape, Namibia

The numbers of rape and attempted rape cases since independence to 2005, have more than doubled, making it the most serious form of crime currently being committed in Namibia, the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) has said.

Statistics taken from research the LAC is conducting indicate that rape cases recorded in 1991, which were 564, increased to 854 in 2000 and went up to 1 184 in 2005.

The past three years have seen 1 100 to 1 200 cases of rape and attempted rape cases being reported every year, amounting to about 60 reported cases per 100 000 people of the country's population.

The statistics also indicate that over one third of all victims of rape and attempted rape are under 18 years for both female and male victims. Currently, there are 45 reported cases of rape and attempted rape per 100 000 juvenile population.

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Knife rampage

This case shows a couple of things:
1. A small knife can do a lot of damage.
2. A knife is a dangerous weapon, regardless of size.
3. It's very hard to protect yourself against a knife attack - even if the attacker is drunk and with little or no skill with a knife. I will assume at least some of these 40 victims must have tried ...
4. A person in "party mode" (high spirit; occupied with friends, partners, thoughts or gadgets; probably under influence), is an easy prey.

Still kind of strange though that no one could stop a 16-year-old (allegedly) heavy drunk kid with a folding knife!

Story:
Berlin Prosecutors said Friday they have charged a student with 37 counts of attempted murder for a drunken knife rampage in the German capital.

The 17-year-old also faces charges of armed robbery and causing bodily harm, after allegedly attacking more than 40 revelers making their way home from the festive May 26 opening of Berlin's new train station.

The teenager was in pretrial custody, after officers arrested him, ending a 90-minute burst of random violence that created chaotic scenes as emergency workers struggled to reach victims among the crowds.

The accused, who was 16 at the time, used a folding knife to stab at a total of 37 people, Berlin state prosecutor Michael Grunwald said in a statement.

Of those, 31 suffered wounds to the upper body, two were wounded in the thigh. The knife failed to penetrate the clothing of three people, and one woman escaped injury because a pendant blocked the blade.

Eight people suffered life-threatening injuries to the stomach, lungs and kidneys.

Source

"Suggestive women"

Wow, this is one crazy dude - and not just any old crazy dude; Sheikh Taj el-Din Al Hilali is Australia's most prominent Muslim cleric no less ...
I say deport this madman immediately, or tell him to shut the f*** up!
At least lock him up so he don't have to see all these "suggestive" women.

Story:
Australia's most prominent Muslim cleric was threatened with deportation today after he was reported to have said that women who "sway suggestively" and do not cover up can provoke sexual assault by men.

In a sermon marking the end of Ramadan, Sheikh Taj el-Din Al Hilali told worshippers in Sydney that women who display their bodies were like "uncovered meat". He said that women should stay hidden at home, or wear the hijab, or Islamic scarf, in public.

Sheik Hilali's remarks are a clear reference to a high-profile trial involving a group of Muslim teenagers who committed a series of brutal gang rapes against Australian women in Sydney six years ago.

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Bottled up

Kansas -- A 21-year-old woman fought to escape a kidnapper who also tried to steal her car.

About 10:30 a.m. Saturday the woman was putting air in her car's tires at a convenience store in Kansas City when a man hit her over the head, forced her into the vehicle and began driving.

The woman beat her assailant with a bottle until he crashed the vehicle into a tree. He ran away. The woman suffered minor injuries.

Source

Hazards at work, 5

Johannesburg -- A patient in Nelspruit's Rob Ferreira Hospital killed two men and injured three others on Wednesday morning, the Mpumalanga health department said.

"A male patient admitted for psychiatric observation attacked and killed two patients, wounded three and attempted to sexually assault two nurses," a spokesperson said.

The incident, in the male surgical ward, took place at 02:30.

"He broke a chair and hit the patients with a plank." The two deceased were aged 70 and 47. Their names would be released once their next of kin had been informed. The three injured men were in middle to old age and in a stable condition.

Police were called and arrested the man, who was admitted to the hospital on Monday.

Source

Courtroom incidents

Arizona -- "Because of the increased number of incidents in courtrooms over the last several years, we wanted to give court staff the ability to defend themselves if the need arises," Navajo County Sheriff’s Office Training Sgt. Matthew Searles said regarding a new program designed to teach civilian court staff basic self-defense techniques.

The first class was held Sept. 22, and staff members from the county attorney’s office, the probation department, pre-trial services, court security and court administration attended. In addition to hands-on defense training, they received instruction on Arizona’s use of force laws and on courtroom safety.

"The class has an emphasis on observation and safety awareness while in the courtroom, watching who’s there, where you sit and recognizing behavior patterns, basically increased observation skills and awareness," Searles noted.

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Fake handshake

It's a quite common trap - extending the arm as to give you a handshake. Then the perpetrator may grab your hand and attack you.

Story:
A white male suspect in his mid-50s tried to pull a victim into his car around noon on Oct. 17, UCSF police report.

The UCSF employee, was walking on Judah Street when he heard a man in a passing vehicle honking his horn. The car stopped and the driver asked, “Don’t I know you from somewhere?” while extending his hand as if to greet the victim with a handshake.

The victim then extended his hand to shake hands, at which time the suspect attempted to pull him into his vehicle. The victim was able to strike the suspect with his free hand and pull away from the suspect.

Source

Bad idea

Maybe not the best of ideas ...

Story:
"What are you going to do, shoot us?" These were evidently the last words of Seattle actress Nicole DuFresne, murdered in NYC in January 2005 during a botched mugging.

Rudy Fleming, who's charged with the shooting, did so because she challenged him to, according to testimony in Fleming's trial.

Tatiana McDonald, one of the teenage muggers with Fleming that night, testified that the seven-person group attempted to mug two other people that night, and were unsuccessful both times (one guy ran away, another pretended to reach for a gun in his jacket).

Source

"Rocky"

Again an example of using what is at hand to your advantage.

Story:
Colorado -- The woman told detectives she was getting into her vehicle last Saturday afternoon when the man, who was hiding in the back of the vehicle, threatened her with a knife.

The man forced the woman to drive to an unknown area near Central City. He dragged the woman from the car and took her into the woods where he tried to sexually assault her, police said.

During the struggle, the woman was able to strike the man in the forehead with a rock causing a large laceration on left side of the suspect's forehead, police said.

The woman was able to get back to her car and drive back to Thornton.

Source

A scuffle

Pennsylvania -- Tuesday, two male York College students - who also happened to be on the wrestling team - got into a scuffle with three teenage boys. The two students were walking back to campus from the Tom's Exxon about 10:45 p.m. when the teens tried to rob them, Lehman said.

"In this case, they jumped the wrong two kids," he said. "They (the students) got some bumps and bruises, but they defended themselves pretty well," to the point that the three teens ran away.

Source

Run mugger, run!

Sweet :-)

Story:
Sweden -- An attempted robbery in Västerås on Saturday night ended in ignominious failure for the two young assailants. The attack on their supposed victim, a 70 year old man, began just after midnight with a punch in his face.

What they didn't know was that the 70 year old used to be a boxer. And it didn't take long for the old moves to come back, reported Swedish Radio.

The man gave as good as he got - and then some more - and the robbers legged it. The boxer said that he was very satisfied to have been able to use his knowledge of "the oldest form of self-defence" in this way.

Source

Hazards at work, 4

Ireland -- The IHCA has called on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to fulfil its legal obligations and duty of care to its staff following a number of attacks on its members.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Jane Falvey, from St Senan’s, Enniscorthy, told the conference she had recently had a narrow escape after a patient tried to assault her.

The secretary general of the association Mr Finbarr Fitzpatrick said they had asked the HSE for a security review of hospitals.

“In one instance,” he said, “I know the panic buttons were tested in a hospital and something like 12 out of 24 did not work. In another instance,” he said, “where a consultant was attacked, he had to ring the switch rather than ring the panic button because it wasn’t there.”

Source

Not just a women's issue

There's no doubt about it - violence against women is an issue that we - men - ought to make our own problem!

Story:
In the Kansas City area, there is a forcible rape or attempted rape reported almost every day. Many more go unreported.

Incidents of nonsexual assaults, robberies and homicides have declined nationwide in the last decade. But, sadly, rape rates have not, nor has sexual violence against women.

Greater Kansas City is served by the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA), which exists to lessen the ill effects of sexual assault and abuse through prevention, education, intervention, treatment and advocacy.

Sexual violence is not, however, just a women’s issue. MOCSA always has been strongly supported by both women and men, but now is the right time for a special effort directed at the men in our community.

Empowering men to examine their own attitudes, promote an attitude of respect, understand the unique vulnerabilities of females in our society, confront abusive peers and speak out against factors that perpetuate a rape culture are keys to sexual violence prevention.

Source

Hazards at work, 3

The political correctness has got to stop. This is utter stupidity!

Story:
Scotland -- A school teacher has been suspended after an alleged classroom attack - in which he was the victim.

School bosses did not punish the teenager who allegedly kicked maths master Mike Barile and tried to head-butt him in front of a crowd of other youngsters.

But when the furious 49-year-old teacher complained about the lack of action, they ordered him to go home.

Police are now investigating the alleged attack and Mr Barile's colleagues and pupils' parents are furious about his suspension.

School rules meant Mr Barile, a teacher for 25 years, was not allowed to touch the pupil.

Source

Recipe for success?

I'm not quite sure if this is such a good idea. On the other hand - doing nothing has many times shown to be an even worse idea.

Story:
Burleson, Texas -- Youngsters in a suburban Fort Worth, Texas, school district are being taught not to sit there like good boys and girls with their hands folded if a gunman invades the classroom, but to rush him and hit him with everything they've got -- books, pencils, legs and arms.

"Getting under desks and praying for rescue from professionals is not a recipe for success," said Robin Browne, a major in the British Army reserve and an instructor for Response Options, the company providing the training to the Burleson schools.

That kind of fight-back advice is all but unheard of among schools, and some fear it will get children killed.

But school officials in Burleson said they are drawing on the lessons learned from a string of disasters such as Columbine in 1999 and the Amish schoolhouse attack in Pennsylvania last week.

Source

No control?

Scotland -- Most councils are not meeting minimum standards on supervising violent criminals, according to a report by inspectors.

Home visits are insufficient, supervision is failing to address offending behaviour and risk assessments are inadequate, according to the results of a nationwide review by the Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA).

Earlier this month The Scotsman revealed that emergency orders had been placed on more than 60 high-risk sex offenders to control their movements, amid growing police frustration at the numbers being released from jail with few restrictions.

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Australian changes

Australia -- Rape victims will be more inclined to come forward and seek justice under reforms to the law covering sexual assault, NSW Attorney General Bob Debus says.

Under the changes, judges and police will be asked to attend education seminars as part of the reforms.

Victims will have access to one-stop sexual assault centres so they no longer have to separately visit hospitals, police and community service organisations following their ordeal.

The changes also reduce the number of times victims have to give evidence and face cross-examination, and some will have the option of giving evidence through a third person.

Source

Fire!

A simple, yet effective method of self-defense!

Story:
North Texas -- When Deanna got out of her car on a dark corner and a truck pulled up behind her, two men then emerged from the car and suddenly approached her.

"It was from behind, so it was like, 'Give me all your money,'" she said.

At that instant, Deanna said she remembered a self-defense episode of "Oprah" that advised women that yelling fire was usually more effective than yelling help.

"I said, 'Oh no, this is not happening to me,' and screamed, 'Fire!'" she said. Once she began yelling that word, the two men ran off.

Source

Not too rational

Oh yeah, it's nothing that scare people more than fresh air :-)

Story:
Clarkstown police responded to a domestic dispute yesterday and ended up arresting an 87-year-old man who they said held his girlfriend (63) hostage and then tried to repel several officers with a can of air freshener.

They were notified of a domestic dispute by the woman's social worker, who was on the phone and heard the commotion.

"The officers heard the woman screaming for help," a police source said. "When they got in, that's when he got into a fight with them. ... He was really uncooperative. His actions weren't too rational."

The police source said the man then sprayed the officers with some sort of cleaning agent, likely an air freshener.

Source

No crime?

Attempted rape not a crime?
Oh boy - do we still have some way to go!

Story:
India -- The Supreme Court has held that unlike the charge of attempt to murder, the Indian Penal Code does not recognise the charge of attempt to rape. Rape is said to have been committed only if a man inserts his sexual organ into the victim. Any other act only qualifies for the offence of outraging a woman or child’s modesty.

Highlighting this difference, the Supreme Court has said that a man who is caught preparing to rape a woman cannot be charged under section 376 of the IPC, which provides for a minimum punishment of seven years in prison.

He also cannot be charged with attempted rape under section 511 of IPC, which deals with attempts to commit offences, like murder, that carry a minimum penalty of life in prison.

Source

Hazards at work, 2

Oklahoma -- A staff member at the L.E. Rader Center in Sand Springs - a maximum-security institution in Oklahoma for juvenile offenders - was injured when she fought off repeated rape attempts by a 14-year-old inmate, authorities said.

Police said Tuesday that the 56-year-old Sand Springs woman, was bitten on the nose, right forearm and right thumb during the ordeal, which lasted more than two hours.

The staff member was doing bed checks about 10:40 p.m. Monday when the teenager complained to her about noises in his cell. When she opened his door to investigate, the teen grabbed her and pulled her into his room, with the door slamming shut behind them.

Once inside, the 14-year-old told the woman that he was going to rape her, and he proceeded to sexually maul her for more than an hour off and on.

The staff member fought off each sexual advance until the teenager, apparently feeling guilty, started apologizing to her. The teen eventually fell asleep and that the woman continued to cry out for help for more than an hour.

It was claimed that the center has a high turnover rate for staff and is understaffed most of the time.

From July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006, 53 assaults on staffers occurred at the center. That was nearly a 40 percent drop from the previous year. From July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005, 85 inmate-on-staff assaults were reported.

179 juveniles are housed at Rader and that only a small number of them have attacked staffers.

Source

GHB

Alaska -- A female student was slipped a predatory drug at the UAF Pub and then sexually assaulted last month.

The student reported the incident on September 14 to the university police, who believe that the drug was administered while the victim was at the campus bar.

A sexual assault kit and a blood test for drugs in her system found evidence of GHB and rape, police said.

GHB, according to the RAINN Web site, is most commonly found in the form of a clear, odorless liquid. It can also be white powder.

In 2000, the DEA, along with state and local law enforcement agencies, seized 17 GHB laboratories in the United States, 10 of which were located in California, according to the Doris Tate Crime Victims Bureau (DTCVB) Web site.

Also according to the DTCVB, in 1999, drug facilitated sexual assault cases increased to nearly 23 percent of all sexual assault cases. Females made up 97 percent of the victims, the bureau says.

Source

Just ask!

I guess if you ask nicely, anything is possible :-)

Story:
New York -- A 23-year-old Yonkers woman escaped from a would-be rapist when she persuaded him to pick up some books she had dropped, then ran away as he retrieved them, police said.

The assailant told her that he would shoot her if she screamed. The woman felt a gun he was carrying against her back.

She asked the attacker to pick up the books. He bent over to collect them and the woman ran up the steps into the apartment building.

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Wakeup call

It wasn't the wakeup one North Portland man would normally get, or even hoped for Thursday morning.

"I heard something outside the window below my window upstairs, I take a look outside and there's some feet hanging out of the window." said Airick Heater. When he went downstairs, he found a man he didn't know in the hallway. So Heater took action.

"I've been robbed before and I knew what it feels like to be a victim and I didn't want to be a victim again." he said. Heater grabbed the intruder and threw him into the bathroom, keeping him there until police arrived.

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