Police warn residents about break-ins, attack

Posted by Cid95 on June 18, 2008 at 2:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Call 911! When seconds count, the police are only minutes away...

Take some responsibility for your own life and well-being. Arm yourself, and no how to handle and use the weapon.

Posted by sfarris on June 18, 2008 at 5:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is extremely scary, I hope they catch this guy fast!

Posted by jerryatchs on June 18, 2008 at 6:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Note to Mr./Ms. Cid95: Certainly call 911 if a crime is in progress or suspected. Don't forget that taking responsibility (for your own life and your neighbors') requires community involvement. Don't permit the situation to degrade until your only defense is your weapon. There's lots to do before you're required to "no how to handle" (maybe know how to handle) your weapon. Sure it's great to have a weapon if it's your last line; but don't be an inactive and uninvolved citizen because you have your property covered. Let's not let Chas. become the wild west even if you're packin'.

Posted by FiscalConservative on June 18, 2008 at 6:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

How is the community going to get involved at 3 a.m when you are getting attacked. Buy a gun and learn how to use it. If some of these animals start getting shot and killed they will think twice about breaking into a house. We people need to set up our own "sting" operation. Rent a house on America street and spend our days loading it with expensive items. Make sure that it is done where everyone can see. Then, at night, wait in the dark for the place to get robbed and as soon as they come in, KILL THEM!!!! Do this all over the city and they will never know if the house they are robbing is a set up for immediate death.

Posted by jammer on June 18, 2008 at 6:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

jerry there's a reason we have the 2nd amendment, specifically so people can protect themselves as the first line of defense when absolutely neccessary... by the time the cops get there the crime is usually long over

The right to self defense is a basic human right. Firearms are the most effective tools for self defense. To deny a person the tools to effectively exercise a right is the same as denying the right itself. The Second Amendment states the right to bear arms “shall not be infringed.”

Posted by karmann on June 18, 2008 at 7:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Our legislators need to get serious about criminal behavior as it is only going to get worse. There is no valid excuse for the actions that folks take. Make the death penalty a part of the consequence for anyone guilty of a rape of an adult or child.

Posted by number1volsfan1 on June 18, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

People, exercise your Second Amendment rights. Also, remember the Castle Doctrine (signed into law last year) negates the requirement of determining if your assailant is armed, if he (or she) has criminal intent, or if the perpetrator will sue if you maim him (or her). You now have the absolute right to self defense in your home, without worrying about prosecution or lawsuits. If someone enters your home uninvited, you may assume criminal intent (whether the perpetrator is armed or not) and use lethal means to defend yourself and your family. Don't believe the liberal, anti-gun hype! When your life is on the line, seconds do count.

Posted by RTC on June 18, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Odd how the article yesterday said that the incident report had been heavily edited. Nothing about that today.
If my daughter was living downtown, or any place that would cause me concern for that matter, I am sure that her dad would see that she had her CWP, and that she knew how to use that weapon well.
Shoot to kill, not to injure.

Posted by theronce on June 18, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wasn't closing down the bars early supposed to let the police get a good night's sleep.

Posted by whycantitbebetterhere on June 18, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I was in college when Duncan Proctor was on the loose and he raped someone three blocks from me and then someone one block from me. My boyfriend would meet me at night when I was coming home, and I never left the windows open. Protor's wife turned him in after like 20+ people were raped, including a mother and daughter, whom he revisited and raped again. This is serious, this guy will keep doing this, and it could escalate into killing someone. Best thing to do is adopt a buddy system for going anywhere. Guns are fine, but if you hesitate, then the attacker can take it from you and use it on you. Best thing to have is a dog - they won't come in there with a dog around - it draws too much attention. Go to the pound and get a dog if you can! They will wake you up too if someone is nosing around your home. Dogs are the best! If you ask the police, they rarely arrive at a break in and find that the people had a dog - too much attention....

Posted by eyfigueroa on June 18, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Early: you made an excellent point. Generally in the middle of the night most people are in a deep sleep. The best protection is a front line one. Ensure ALL doors and windows are locked. I understand it's hot and some of the older homes may not have central air, but safety is important in that particular area of town. Buy fans or window a/c units.

I'm also an advocate for personal protection devices, be they weapons, mace/pepper spray or even a baseball bat by the bed.

It's a shame a young woman cannot feel safe in her own home nowadays. Unfortunately this is an unfortunate phenomenon seen all over the nation not just downtown Charleston.

Posted by Weeeee on June 18, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I have to add my input to this article. Jerryatchs basically said being a member of your community will help against something like this happening to you. Be it that I'm a cynic or whatever other reason, I fail to see how knowing your neighbors will help against something like this happening at 3:00 AM. What? Am I supposed to call up my neighbor instead of 911? OH! I'm supposed to call my neighbor instead of defending myself with whatever means I have to do so? Sorry, but that comment is dumb. I'm killing whoever breaks into my home. ADT is loud and I'm a light sleeper anyway. 40 cal right by my head.

Posted by MindBath on June 18, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

When there is an invader in your home, the protection of your person and your property is your responsibility. It is not up to the police or 911 to do this. This is easily verified. Just count how many nights out of the year a police officer was assigned to stand guard in your home.

Get a firearm and learn proper use and firearm safety. If you skip getting educated on it, then just skip getting the firearm altogether, its more dangerous than helpful. Get some sort of alarm, a dog is an excellent choice for this. Know your neighbors well enough that, if they were to see something unusual, they would be willing to do or say something - or even call you and make sure you are ok.

Posted by Cid95 on June 18, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Jerryatchs,

I have no idea what you mean by all the community stuff.
My neighbors aren't responsible for my safety, though they would help me just like I would help them if the need arose.

I do appreciate the spelling correction though (know instead of no), that was an egregious error! Good grammar, like good weapons handling, is very important.

Posted by Charles_Town on June 18, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

While I have absolutely no problems with a person's right to bare arms; having a gun by your bed, ready to go is not always a viable option. If a person has children the gun should kept with a trigger guard unladed in a lock box with the ammo stored separately. Imagine a child coming into your room at night and climbing in bed knocks the night stand and it falls and goes off, or if your child happens to be one of those "near the edge" and gets the gun and shoots you (we all know it has happened). Then we would blame the parents for giving the child such easy access. Storing a gun as it should be, even according to safety classes, would put the gun at best a few minutes away. A few minutes minutes, even a minute, is a long time if your home is invaded. So while a handy gun by you night may work for single, childless people it is NOT a good option for families.

Posted by Weeeee on June 18, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Charles_Town,

Thanks for mentioning the single childless part. That would be me. My room is nearest to the back door in my home. I find solace in knowing if/when my alarm goes off I can be ready to protect myself if need be. I sleep well at night.

Posted by desspec on June 18, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Black" and not "African American"? Oh, that's right, this time he's the culprit and not the victim.

Posted by number1volsfan1 on June 18, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I have a small safe with a loaded firearm within reach of my bed. The safe is opened with a finger-tip activated combination lock. I can go from sleep to gun-in-hand within 10 seconds.

I too have a small child. You can be a responsible gun owner and still have quick, practical, and safe access to a weapon.

Posted by Jessamine on June 18, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Funny - when I was attacked in the College of Charleston parking garage at NOON I didn't even think to check if the guy had a gun or not. He was behind me, grabbed me around my waist, so I started knocking his head with my elbows while walking over towards the edge of the railing and leaned over and yelled - just yelled - nothing specific. It got people's attention and he figured I was not the helpless girl he thought I was. If I'd known he had a gun would I do it again? Who knows. I don't even know where my reaction came from in the first place, other than, believe or not, remembering an after school special where a girl was raped and her dad kept saying "why didn't you yell?" I made up for her not yelling and I was very lucky I got away with just a groping.

But I didn't report it. I just got in my car, drove home, and cried.

Downtown Charleston has always been unsafe but people seem to forget this. Just because it's this pretty old southern town, it's still full of criminals. The guy who attacked me tried in November 1985. A friend was raped and shot on Coming Street (a block north of Calhoun) on New Year's eve 1985. I always wondered if it was the same guy.

So, have common sense. Don't walk alone at night. Lock your doors and windows. Have an alarm on your house and TURN IT ON. Keep mace by your bed. Keep your phone by your bed. Keep your house keys by your bed. If you hear someone trying to get into your house and your car has a "panic" button on the fob, set your car alarm off and this may send the intruder packing. A gun isn't the only answer.

Also, you can buy taser/stun gun type things on the internet too if you aren't comfortable with a gun, which I'm not.

Be safe!

Posted by zoomru on June 18, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Where's Dirty Harry when you need him!!!

Posted by Weeeee on June 18, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

He's moved up to MAKING movies now.

Posted by LowcountryLady on June 18, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So why is it that I'm a Smith St. resident and I'm just hearing about the first incident?? Not to mention that news of the rape didn't surface until Monday on the news and Tues in P&C. I don't understand how I'm supposed to stay informed about what's going on if the city tries to keep things like this under raps.

Posted by number1volsfan1 on June 18, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Jessamine, I am very sorry you had to endure such a traumatic event. Hopefully the animal that attacked you is in prison. We should not be afraid to leave our homes. Thank God for concealed carry permits.

Posted by DanniD on June 18, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I witnessed an accident take place the other day. I called 911 and it rang 10 times!!!! Do you know how much an intruder can do during 10 rings? I agree with everyone else, you have to have your own form of protection.

Posted by DoniaDutchess on June 18, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I too have a gun within quick reach should the need ever arise--it's in even quicker reach on those rare occasions when the husband isn't home. Also, to the ladies, I highly recommend a Rape Agression Defense (RAD) class if you can enroll in one. The one I took was hosted by Trident Tech last year, and was very informative. If you don't have a gun, you can at least learn how to beat the tar out of your attacker enough so you can run away.

Posted by Jessamine on June 18, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My 19 year old brain had some stupid reasons for not reporting. 1) I thought since "nothing" happened why bother and figured he'd be long gone by the time anyone came and 2) he had come up to me and had asked me for a light which I gave him and (god knows why) thought I'd sort of, I don't know, been "too" nice to him and possibly encouraged it and 3) I thought my parents would never let me out of the house again, or at least go downtown where my "life" was - my friends, my fiance, school... although after that it was pretty hard to get back to going to school. For the most part I stopped going to class after that. Like I said, not the smartest reasons.

Also, when I went to Laing Elementary, some of the african-american boys I went to school with grabbed/groped girls all of the time, and I think that part of my brain was remembering that. I know I'm totally off this topic, but I'd told a teacher about it and she did absolutely nothing to stop a specific boy who was touching me. She told me to switch desks, but every time I did he followed me. So, like I said, was I encouraging it? Did I do something to deserve it? Was this just "normal" behavior and I was overreacting? Of course now I know better. And I still hate that teacher for not doing a better job. She died, so, well, I'll let that go.

Anyway, back to the real topic, what I thought was odd was, the parking garage attendant just took my ticket and my money when I left. They had to have seen what happened. Or maybe not. Somebody saw though, because when I went to class a day or so later, I overheard people talking about "someone" getting attacked in the parking garage. It was very odd to hear myself being talked about. Still kept my mouth shut.

Posted by Jessamine on June 18, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh, and my friend that was raped and shot in 1985, they caught the guy they suspected, but since she'd had to have some of her brain removed when they removed the bullet (he shot her between the eyes) she couldn't 100% say it was the guy so he went free. Wonderful, huh?

Posted by UrGatorbait on June 18, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Alot of very good suggestions on here on how to defend yourself using a variety of methods. The gun is very useful in the right situations but I would keep a small arsenal of personal defense items like a taser/mace, self defense(ex. judo/jujitsu) and early warning systems like a dog or alarm. You must be willing to use the methods you choose to defend yourself. Having all the bells and whistles sitting around useless because in the end you couldn't use them because you weren't quite sure, is no good. If you can't imagine harming or killing your attacker than imagine them attacking you or your family and doing all manner of unspeakable things. Let the attacker be the statistic.

One of the simplest and easiest defenses is the eye gouge. It's to bad you didn't flip him off the parking garage Jessamine.

It's ashamed we have to still be at this level of malevolence by still having to have your head on a swivel in a survival mode. The basic level of human existence. You must be able and take responsibility to defend yourself and your family first.

Posted by 512c on June 18, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The Police did come to our house and showed a sketch to us, and we told our neighbors about it. Thank you Police for the hard work, go get him!
I agree about having a protective proactive attitude. In many cases. Apathy and fear are our enemies.

Posted by katrenavantassle on June 18, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I refuse to let my daughter drive by herself at night anywhere...but then again it happens in the daytime at the WAL-Mart parking lot! Remember how many women they have on camera being abducted in the parking lots? The one I remember the most was the woman in Myrtle Beach and they caught the guys with her compact car, but never found her. The guys caught with her car, didnt admit to killing her, but had admitted to killing two other men and tying them up to trees and left to die in the Frances Marion Forrest!!
The best advise if your in a big parking lot like Wal-mart is to throw your keys as far away from you as you can, and throw your purse the other direction and then run and scream like crazy. The crook will go for the purse, he cannot kidnap you from the parking lot...and you will most probably get away. God Willing!!

Posted by GeecheeBoi84 on June 18, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm wit ya on this one Weeee... Glock 9 sleeps right beside me, cocked and ready!

Posted by Weeeee on June 18, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hell yeah. I don't bs.

Posted by SCdeacinNYC on June 18, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's just plain scary being a young woman sometimes. I see someone mentioned the time of bar closing. I know this may be insane, but I feel safer here in my neighborhood where bars and restaurants stay open later. People, mostly music students and local musicians are ALWAYS out late...so even if I do decide to come home late by myself...(which is usually a rarity, due to my mom instilling the fear of God in me and me in turn taking/sharing cabs if I'm coming home from a night out by myself) there are always groups of people outside late at night.

I have a few friends who live in much less populated, quieter areas in the city and while it may mean you don't hear random people drunkenly singing christmas carols in april (yes that did just happen) it also means the chances of you walking alone on a quiet street with no one else in sight are MUCH less. I still think of the sad case of the Columbia student who was raped and tortured last year. The guy followed her in the building at night. That taught me valuable lesson, even if it seems paranoid. I always watch who may be walking behind me or who may be trying to follow me in my building. I had a scary situation over a year ago when a guy followed me home around 8 pm at night and tried to follow me into my building. Luckily hanging outside smoking were three guys, music students..who quickly dismissed him. There were also cops around the corner and down the street doing their usual neighborhood patrols, which also means if I had screamed bloody murder someone would have heard and cared.

One good tip I've heard (if you don't have any other weapon) is when you hold your keys when entering the home or car, hold them with all of the points pointed out...if someone dangerous approaches claw the crap out of him and RUN. I also advocate pepper spray or any weapon of choice gun or otherwise. I'm not personally comfortable with guns, but I do advocate shooting an attacker ...especially where it hurts.

Posted by jammer on June 18, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

for those of you that don't have a gun make sure you have some kind of improvised weapon within reach anytime you want to relax enough to go to sleep

whether it be your keys, a small lamp, a heavy ashtray or a coffee mug

if he has you from behind and you're laying down head butt the fool out of him as soon as you feel him close enough that you can feel his breath... go for the nose if you can, he's eyes will tear up so bad he won't be able to see

if he's choking you from behind twist your body throwing one shoulder and elbow into him to allow the other to move further away from him, this way you can get your windpipe free enough to breath and your jugular free to keep pushing blood

thrust in a very violent way to create that space and then with both hands very rapidly slap the hell out of his gonads, he will let go... and then run for help

also if you thrust your shoulder/elbow on one side like that at the same time push your butt back really hard to throw him off balance you can follow that up with an eye gouge easily because at this point he'll be leaning forward off balance and you will have short circuited his mission, or reach into his mouth in between his cheek and gum and pull as hard as you can... nostrils work well too

get your husband/boyfriend to grab you from behind with an arm around you neck lightly as if he was going to choke you, now just push out with your butt real fast and hard and twist to one side slamming one shoulder into him just enough to get the feeling... you will notice at that point your hands and arms are free as well as your windpipe and now you have room to do damage and run... you created a large gap, take advantage of it immediately

don't tell him what you are going to do so he isn't prepared, just ask him to help you try something

don't do it so hard that you hurt your partner but do it hard enough so you can see it works

you can also stomp the top of the attackers foot breaking the bridge, or raise you leg far forward and do a back kick into his shin... there's quite a few things to do, all making that gap so you can get out of there

improvise, adapt and overcome

Posted by Yeah_I_said_it on June 18, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Raregar,

A white man couldn't handle raping a "sista". She would beat the crap out of his sorry ass before he could even get it up.

Now, excuse me while I wipe the dirt of my knees from stooping to your level! I didn't think I could get that low.

"Oh, no he din't!" Yeah, I said it!

Posted by SCdeacinNYC on June 18, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

and how many white women did white men rape raregar...while you are quoting stats...

all you are doing is perpetrating the "big bad negro" stereotypes of the "birth of a nation" era...get a grip...

Posted by ptmama73 on June 18, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A violent crime is a violent crime. Whether it is a black or white perpetrator does not make a difference in the outcome of a crime - a PERSON is still traumatized.

Jammer, thank you for the tips. I will be sure to try them out on the hubby, that way I am prepared to go "sista" if needed.

Posted by hardatwork on June 18, 2008 at 5:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't care if he is blue with purple eyes catch the creep

Posted by ForPnC on June 18, 2008 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

They would be dead before they got to my room. Could I kill someone? Damn skippy. Better the worthless scum off the street then me. I wouldn't shed a tear afterwards.

Posted by ForPnC on June 18, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

*THAN me!

Posted by SCdeacinNYC on June 18, 2008 at 6:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ha...White men don't marry black women. That's funny than maybe you should explain that to two of my friends who recently got married. One friend is a white guy that married a black woman and the other a black woman that just married a white guy (they had been together since college). And she's a real "sista" complete with a curly fro.

Get a grip raregar....you are the lowest of the low. You are disgusting. But you do give me a good laugh, your ignorance is amusement in my daily life. You are now on IGNORE.

Posted by SCdeacinNYC on June 18, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wait I'll break the ignore for a second...

If white men found black women so asexual...then why are there so many light skinned black americans?? I'll give you a hint...how about the systematic rape and sexual abuse of thousands of black women starting from slavery and continuing on well into the 20th century.

OK you are NOW back on ignore. Like "yeah, I said that" said....i'm back standing tall after stooping soo low.

Posted by sfarris on June 18, 2008 at 7:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"White men don't rape black women for the same reason we don't marry them (this is a generalization) we simply find them A-sexual."
Raregem, if you think that rape has ANYTHING to do with SEX then you need to go back to your statistics and do some more studying darlin :)
I wonder if marriage has anything to do with sex either..it really doesn't does it?
:)
S

Posted by Cid95 on June 18, 2008 at 11:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

All that "white men find black women asexual" stuff is crap. You can't say what "white men" and "black women" like in terms of sexual attraction, it's too broad a generalization and there are no accurate measurements. Most whites marry whites, and most blacks marry blacks. That is statistically true.

However, it's also statistically true that in Charleston County, SC black males commit serious crimes (robbery, murder, rape, etc) FAR MORE often than white males on both a proportional basis and a whole numbers basis. That is a fact and it has been for many years. Clearly, a problem that needs to be dealt with, but isn't.

Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on June 18, 2008 at 11:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I covered crime for many years and learned a few things. In no particular order, they are:
* Women, we need to be hypervigilant in public. Turn on your intuition and listen to it.
* Refuse to engage with unfamiliar men, period. Better to be rude than dead.
* If someone falls in step with you and nags for a light or a ride or money after you refuse, stop short and shout "GET AWAY FROM ME!"
* In a parking lot or on a deserted sidewalk, swivel your head back and forth so no one can blindside you.
* At night, get a store employee to escort you to your car.
* Don't roll down your driver's side window for anyone who taps on it, except a public safety official.
* Never, ever allow yourself to be forced into someone's car. Even if there's a gun in your back, you might survive being shot. If you get in the car, odds are overwhelming you won't survive. Scream, twist, kick, bite, vomit, run, anything that will buy time or help you escape.
* If you think you're being followed on foot, turn around, look person in the face and stop dead. If he's a bad guy, he'll realize you're no pushover and leave you alone. If he's a good guy, he'll just think you're nuts. That's OK. Again, better to be rude than dead.
* Get a territorial dog that barks.
* Keep phone, flashlight and pepper spray by your bed.
* Buy a safety bar for your bedroom door ($15 at Lowe's).
Be safe out there...