Here’s a video posted to the YouTube in a the last few days that shows the aftermath of a foiled robbery. The apparent thief is in the road, surrounded by people holding him there until the cops show up. It’s disturbing on many different levels, if very real, and full of epithets, including racist and homophobic ones, some of them uttered by the person shooting the vid. A version of it was posted on the A Fine Blog via a European website called The Observers. Here’s what they have to say about it:
This video catches the moment after a man who attempted to rob somebody with a razor is caught by several members of the public and restrained until the police arrive. Webusers are applauding the gang for their bravery, but our Observer says that by carrying out a citizen arrest, they were taking a huge risk, in more ways than one.
Since it was posted on Monday, the video, apparently shot in Brooklyn, New York, has attracted plenty of congratulatory comments like “we need more people like those citizens”. But despite being permitted largely worldwide, and in all states but one (North Carolina) in the US, the scenario illustrates the enormous legal and safety risks that come with a citizen arrest, not to mention the primitive behaviour that emerges with self defence, even from the person filming…
We’re not clear on where this took place.
11 responses so far ↓
1 Brenda from Flatbush // Sep 10, 2008 at 11:57 am
Great cinema ver-ee-tay! Best quote: “Just another day in Brooklyn…”
2 gina // Sep 10, 2008 at 12:10 pm
it looks like fourth avenue, with the n/r stop. Maybe Sunset Park or beginnings of Bay Ridge?
Scary stuff.
3 toby // Sep 10, 2008 at 1:12 pm
listening to the guy video-taping and calling this guy a “little faggot” over and over, makes me want to put a razor to his neck, too.
4 Janet // Sep 10, 2008 at 1:58 pm
True, but the scariest part was that he also cited his military credentials.
5 spnder // Sep 10, 2008 at 3:01 pm
The ambulence says “flatbush division” on the back, and it does look like an N/R stop. Probably sunset park.
6 Best View in Brooklyn // Sep 10, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Looks like right by the school on 4th and 59th.
7 sunset park girl // Sep 10, 2008 at 10:21 pm
“Flatbush division” wouldn’t be Sunset Park, and that doesn’t look at all like anything on the 4th Ave line.
Q train maybe?
8 P // Sep 10, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Yeah, it’s Sunset Park. Near the 59th St. station on 4th Ave.
9 sunset park girl // Sep 10, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I take it back. At the end it does look like it’s 59th street and 4th. Still have no idea what a “flatbush division” ambulance is doing so far west, but what do I know.
10 com'n // Sep 11, 2008 at 1:15 pm
the language is just how folks in ny talk, it’s really not homophobic. and i’m glad they showed as much restraint as they did. it is ny after all. yeah it’s a risk, making a citizen’s arrest, but i think it’s worth it most of the time, i’m tired of living in a world where nobody gives a damn and is willing to just stand there and watch bad things happen.
11 Nerve // Sep 12, 2008 at 10:40 pm
That’s definitely the southwest corner of 60th and 4th. I have lived on that block for thirteen years, and no one in the neighborhood has ever given me any anti-gay trouble — zero. Anyone who helps arrest a razor-waving scumbag in my neighborhood can say “faggot” all he wants. Those were some cool heads at that scene, it seems to me — considering the situation! Hooray! (Wait, once I did overhear a guy at the nearby Bravo supermarket say “faggot” into his cellphone. He glance up, waved at me and said, “Sorry.” Cool by me. )