Angry man punches one person in back, swings belt at another on Ann Arbor street
This story has been updated with the description of the suspect
A 20-year-old man was punched in the back and another man barely avoided getting hit with a belt when an irate man passed them on South University Avenue Wednesday, Ann Arbor police said.
The 20-year-old man and a 19-year-old man, both from Ann Arbor, were standing at 2 a.m. Wednesday in the 1200 block of South University Avenue in front of Pinball Pete’s, said Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush.
Bush said the men were minding their own business when a man walked up and punched the 20-year-old man in the back, saying “Get the (expletive) out of the way,” Bush said. After punching the 20-year-old, the man took off his belt and swung it at the 19-year-old, narrowly missing.
The man left the area. The two men said they did not know him. The 20-year-old man had a red mark on the lower right side of his back but did not require medical treatment.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic man wearing a checkered blue, black and white flannel shirt, a black and red hat, white Jordan tennis shoes and blue jeans.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Ann Arbor police anonymous tip line at 734-794-6939 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800 SPEAK UP (773-2587).
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Sep 14, 2012 : 4:26 p.m.
Rules of Engagement: Hmmm, asking myself what I would do if someone took off his belt and used it as a weapon against me or any other person within sight range (it automatically becomes a weapon in the eyes of the law). If he missed, as the assailant did in this story, I'd wait until he left and use my cell phone to call 911 to report the armed attack. If he continued the attack and I was unable to avoid being hit (and no one came to my aid), I might loudly warn him off. (In several incidents in recent years, I found this has proven to be the only thing needed). I would then use my cell phone to call 911 to report the armed attack. Adding: if someone punched me (anywhere on my body), I would do essentially the same thing: use my cell phone to get police assistance (and get medical assistance if needed). Obviously, this is a "what if" speculation and it's one of many possible scenarios. The recent beatings carried out my multiple assailants is one of the other scenarios. There are also various rules of engagement for those other scenarios. Learning what to do (what the Rules of Engagement are) in certain situations would result in more success in dealing with violent aggressors. It's a matter of making use of what people have available. Some strategies and weapons of self defense are not available or suitable to everyone, just to some. It seems only sensible to heighten awareness of what's available in the area of crime prevention and anti-crime strategies. It's important to let people choose for themselves. It's not claiming a "best way" - rather it's publicizing the many resources we can access and use. Cell phones are already very popular and in wide use - focusing on this ONE aspect isn't claiming they are a "universal solution." Nor is it "blaming the victim" for not knowing or not having / using a cell phone - we simply don't know enough about the incident.
FormerMichRes
Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 11:42 a.m.
I'm guessing the perp is disgruntled kitchen help at one of the local sports bars mad about his lot in life taking it out on students. He sees them as well off with a lot of leisure time ... and not having to work in hot, noisy, stinky restaurant kitchens.
Cathy
Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 10:17 a.m.
It's the alcohol, folks. I'd love to see an earlier last call in this town.
eyesofjustice
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 8:13 p.m.
Just a regular weekend in Ann Arbor.........
Ryon owens
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 7:56 p.m.
What needs to happen is the City needs to put ordinances on how close bars and liquor establishments are from each other, South U is a small block with a numerous amounts of Drinking Establishments to name the few Ricks,Brown Jugg,Good Time Charley s,The Cantina, Blue Leprichan and now a new Night Club called Study Hall. Thats alot of bars in a short block! I know Madison had these same issue's their local police could not handle the hundreds to thousands of people these bars brought into Town. The City of Madison relocated some establishments and adopted new laws, one being each liquor establishments must do 50% food sales and 50% alcohol sales, from what I heard it helped. South U is turning into a a scary place. I was out St Patrick's day we were lucky no one was killed! Hopefully our City Officials will take a look into this issue, before the next public art issue is yellow tape around a body.
Rod Johnson
Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 2:19 a.m.
Honestly, I can't believe how easily people get the vapors around here. Were you all brought up in a convent? It's a city, stuff happens.
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 5:58 p.m.
Ryan- I have updated the story with the suspect description that was just released by AAPD.
Ryan
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 8 p.m.
Thank you sir. You may want to pass on to the police that if they really want the public to help catch criminals a description of the suspect is helpful. The sooner the better too.
Kpete
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.
What in the holy heck are these 2 guys doing out at 2am??? Are their parents paying for their education so they can walk the streets at all hours? Oh wait, it must be research for a Psych paper about idiots that stay out till all hours instead of staying home and, I don't know, getting a good nights rest. Granted, I'm making an assumption that these guys are students, but "stupid is as stupid does."
Think!
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 9:26 p.m.
Why are you blaming the victims? And doesn't annarbor.com have a policy that strikes comments that blame the victims?
Jonathan Blutarsky
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 9:25 p.m.
Get a life Kpete!
HeimerBoodle
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 8:26 p.m.
I know plenty of folks who manage to maintain outstanding academic records while also imbibing a cocktail (or 4). They have even been known to stay awake past sunset. That being said, what they were doing there and who was footing their tuition bills isn't the point. They were the victims...or were you too busy getting a "good nights [sic] rest" to catch that part?
bobslowson
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.
Just a buncha "schmacke'd" students acting up
nickcarraweigh
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 4:31 p.m.
It's always a pleasure to welcome UM students back to town. They enrich and freshen our community, and stuff like that, and our law enforcement, bartending and medical professionals owe welcome overtime pay to their mere presence.
Cathy
Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 11:41 p.m.
The U of M is what makes Ann Arbor great. Without our world-renowned university, Ann Arbor would probably be as bad as Flint. And you can't have a university without students. When all is said and done, students are more likely to be victims of crimes than perpetrators.
psaume23
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 4:14 p.m.
Just what is the coverage plan for AAPD? In the past few weeks there have been several assaults in the same area on South University between 12:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m.* If such incidents are occurring over and over, does it not make sense to place a patrol car or foot patrol in that particular area during that time period? Also, even though the area is "off-campus", many UM students reside in the area and UMPD officers are licensed under the "Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) and have the authority and responsibility to investigate, search, arrest and use reasonable force as necessary to protect persons and property and to enforce the laws of the State of Michigan". It would be inspiring to learn that both AAPD and UMPD are engaging in smart policing by focusing on the crime hot spots, because as it stands, it is not apparent to citizens. *http://www.annarbor.com/news/crime/angry-man-punches-one-in-back-swings-belt-at-another-on-south-university-avenue/#.UFCxv66Rl8E http://www.annarbor.com/news/crime/2-hospitalized-after-weekend-assaults-in-south-university-avenue-area/#.UFCzKa6Rl8E http://www.annarbor.com/news/crime/ann-arbor-man-in-intensive-care-after-being-stabbed-sunday/#.UFCzTa6Rl8E
cinnabar7071
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 5:18 p.m.
It doesn't say we whether this guy was drunk or not But it would be nice to see the police crack down on the bars over serving, I'm sure that has allot to do with the late night voilence.
nowayjose
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.
Go to S.U on any weekend night and there are cops all over waking around on foot just for the after bar crowd. But they can only do so much when there is crowds of a couple hundred drunk people.
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 4:26 p.m.
psaume23 and justcurious - I can attest to the fact that there is usually, especially around 2 a.m., one or more patrol cars stationed in this area. There are lots of bars on South University/ Church Street and officers are usually in the area when they're emptying. Pure speculation on my part, but that could play a role in why there are so many reports coming from this area - officers are simply able to respond quicker or see more incidents.
justcurious
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 4:19 p.m.
That is what I was trying to say in my first comment, before "foot" became "food". But I doubt that anyone will respond to this or investigate the possibility.
Billy
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 3:57 p.m.
Punching strangers for no reason is usually a bad idea....
smokeblwr
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 3:48 p.m.
Looking at the times of these brutal attacks makes me believe alcohol could have been a factor.
Cathy
Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 10:14 a.m.
There seems to be a major increase in violence when the bars let out.
cinnabar7071
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 5:15 p.m.
Are you saying this is a ARI? I bet your right.
RJA
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 3:37 p.m.
Look at the times these brutal attacks are happening. 12 a.m. - 4 a.m. Doesn't make much sense to me.
Suzanne
Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 6:24 p.m.
Seems like it would make sense to be home by that time of day if all this crime is going on at that time...oh wait...these are college students that know it all, excuse me!
Cathy
Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 10:13 a.m.
Punching is a little more than "bothering."
Rod Johnson
Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 2:16 a.m.
"Brutal attacks," really? An obnoxious, probably drunk, person bothering people is probably pretty far toward the lower end of the brutality scale.
Ryan
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 3:33 p.m.
No description, really? No height, weight, race, age, etc..? Nothing? Come on.
LA
Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 2:34 p.m.
Isn't this a description? "The suspect is described as a Hispanic man wearing a checkered blue, black and white flannel shirt, a black and red hat, white Jordan tennis shoes and blue jeans."
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 3:47 p.m.
Ryan- The victims didn't provide a description to police, so there wasn't anything available for me to print.
justcurious
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 3:10 p.m.
Isn't it time for constant food patrols in this area? Is this The University police's jurisdiction, or the regular Ann Arbor Police?
justcurious
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 4:17 p.m.
Thanks for catching the typo. I still wonder about the question though.
Jake C
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 3:34 p.m.
I'll volunteer to do a food patrol. Good Time Charlie's will be first on my beat. Mmm.