Sunday, December 26, 2010
Baltimore Teen Allegedly Attacked By Jewish Patrol Group
Police are investigating an attack on a 15-year-old African-American youth by a group of men associated with a Jewish community patrol group, which occurred on Nov. 19 in the Upper Park Heights Community of Baltimore.
According to a police report, the incident occurred at approximately noon when the boy was traveling on Falstaff Road. After he noticed a red, two-door vehicle following him, he told police that he asked the passengers, two Jewish White males, “What’s up? What are ya‘ll looking at?”
The two passengers got out of the vehicle and responded, “What’s up? You’re the guy from yesterday on Park Heights. You want some problems?”
The teen said that as he continued to walk, the men got back in their vehicle and proceeded to follow him. The boy said he then grabbed a wood stick for safety, but threw it down as the men got out of the car a second time.
As the two surrounded him, a third White heavy-set Jewish male pulled up in a van and approached the boy from behind. Then they proceeded to pat him down asking, “What you got in your pockets? Keep your hand out your pockets, you want trouble?”
The heavyset male then proceeded to strike the teen in the head with a two-way radio while the others held him down on the ground placing their feet and knees on his back. He said the three men then got back into their vehicles and left the scene.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the three men were from Shomrim, a Northwest Baltimore Jewish citizens patrol group. They have no police powers beyond those of ordinary citizens and are not sworn law enforcement officers.
Following the incident, a member of the Shomrim patrol group arrived on the scene and treated the teen until paramedics arrived. He was later transported to Sinai Hospital where he was treated for a laceration on the right side of his head.
Police arrested Eli Werdesheim, 23, on Nov. 30 in conjunction with the incident and is charged with first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and false imprisonment. According to Baltimore NBC affiliate WBAL, he is a volunteer with the group.
Werdesheim’s lawyer says that the Shomrim patrol arrived at the scene in response to a call about a suspicious person in the area. He contends that Werdesheim reacted in self-defense.
“The information available to us is that the young man swung a two-by-four with nails in it at Mr. Werdesheim,” Attorney Andrew Alperstein told WBAL. “Mr. Werdesheim stepped out of the way and defended himself from imminent bodily harm from this young man’s weapon.”
The alleged attacker is currently out on bail.
The victim has not yet spoken publicly about the incident. The Baltimore Sun reported that the youth was not under investigation in connection with the altercation. But a source told the newspaper that he has a juvenile criminal record with theft charges, and WBAL reported that the teen was charged with auto theft six weeks ago. Juvenile records are not available to the public.
http://newsone.com/nation/newsonestaff4/baltimore-teen-allegedly-attacked-by-jewish-patrol-group/
According to a police report, the incident occurred at approximately noon when the boy was traveling on Falstaff Road. After he noticed a red, two-door vehicle following him, he told police that he asked the passengers, two Jewish White males, “What’s up? What are ya‘ll looking at?”
The two passengers got out of the vehicle and responded, “What’s up? You’re the guy from yesterday on Park Heights. You want some problems?”
The teen said that as he continued to walk, the men got back in their vehicle and proceeded to follow him. The boy said he then grabbed a wood stick for safety, but threw it down as the men got out of the car a second time.
As the two surrounded him, a third White heavy-set Jewish male pulled up in a van and approached the boy from behind. Then they proceeded to pat him down asking, “What you got in your pockets? Keep your hand out your pockets, you want trouble?”
The heavyset male then proceeded to strike the teen in the head with a two-way radio while the others held him down on the ground placing their feet and knees on his back. He said the three men then got back into their vehicles and left the scene.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the three men were from Shomrim, a Northwest Baltimore Jewish citizens patrol group. They have no police powers beyond those of ordinary citizens and are not sworn law enforcement officers.
Following the incident, a member of the Shomrim patrol group arrived on the scene and treated the teen until paramedics arrived. He was later transported to Sinai Hospital where he was treated for a laceration on the right side of his head.
Police arrested Eli Werdesheim, 23, on Nov. 30 in conjunction with the incident and is charged with first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and false imprisonment. According to Baltimore NBC affiliate WBAL, he is a volunteer with the group.
Werdesheim’s lawyer says that the Shomrim patrol arrived at the scene in response to a call about a suspicious person in the area. He contends that Werdesheim reacted in self-defense.
“The information available to us is that the young man swung a two-by-four with nails in it at Mr. Werdesheim,” Attorney Andrew Alperstein told WBAL. “Mr. Werdesheim stepped out of the way and defended himself from imminent bodily harm from this young man’s weapon.”
The alleged attacker is currently out on bail.
The victim has not yet spoken publicly about the incident. The Baltimore Sun reported that the youth was not under investigation in connection with the altercation. But a source told the newspaper that he has a juvenile criminal record with theft charges, and WBAL reported that the teen was charged with auto theft six weeks ago. Juvenile records are not available to the public.
http://newsone.com/nation/newsonestaff4/baltimore-teen-allegedly-attacked-by-jewish-patrol-group/
Comments:
Who should we believe, the teen with a criminal record, or the Jewish man trying to protect the community?
The teen was arrested the week before this incident, for car theft and has many other criminal arrests and he's only 15.
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The teen was arrested the week before this incident, for car theft and has many other criminal arrests and he's only 15.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: December 27, 2010 1:01 AM
: December 27, 2010 1:01 AM
