Police: 4 men beat 2 Rick's employees after attempted trash can theft
Related story: Fight weekend: Ann Arbor police report multiple people hospitalized after weekend assaults
Four men assaulted two employees from Rick’s American Cafe early Sunday morning after they attempted to stop a man who was stealing a trash can.
Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush said a 19-year-old Ann Arbor man and a 22-year-old Ann Arbor man were disposing of trash in an alley in the 600 block of South Forest Avenue after the bar closed early Sunday morning. While they were getting rid of the trash, a man ran up and took a trash can.
The man ran away and the 19-year-old employee followed him. As the employee approached him, the man started punching him. The 22-year-old employee rushed to join in and help the 19-year-old but three other men suddenly appeared.
The three men knocked the 22-year-old to the ground and started punching him.
A nearby Ann Arbor police officer heard what was going on and went toward the area. The assailants took off into a parking structure.
The suspects are described as black men. The one who attempted to run away with the trash can was in his 20s, had a medium build, was wearing baggy shorts and had cornrows. The three other men were in their 20s and all four fled in a dark color Pontiac G6, a parking attendant told police.
Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to call the Ann Arbor police anonymous tip line at 734-794-6939.
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
notnecessary
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 5:18 p.m.
Wow the people on here want just about every bar in the city closed, I suppose. There was no indication that the people involved in this crime were even in Ricks -- they could have been in any of the 5 or so surrounding bars or they may not have been drinking at all -- nobody knows. Maybe we should close every place that throws their trash out at night after close.
Jack
Thu, Sep 6, 2012 : 12:08 a.m.
It's mostly the former owners of Dream trying to rattle the chains.
Sam
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 4:58 p.m.
Ricks seems to be a lot in the news lately, regarding numerous activities involving fights and unruly behavior. The term "troubled" bar has never been used as an apt description as was frequently used to describe another location in the city.. There seems to be some preferential reportin on stories regardind RICKS.I wonder what connections this establishment has that they getr a bye on no violations for disturbances that happen inside the bar.Makes me wonder.......
Jack
Thu, Sep 6, 2012 : 12:06 a.m.
Oh, yes. The neverending campaign from the operators of Dream to het another bar shut down. You forgot to mention the City Attorney on this post, Sam. He must have done quite a good job to get you folks so riled up.
a2roots
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 4:50 p.m.
Ricks has been around since late 70's or early 80's first as the Blue Frogg. It is nowhere near as bad as Studio 4 was and certainly does not need to be closed. There is absolutely no indication that the perpetrators were even in the bar. Thugs are everywhere. Sure would like to know where they are coming from. hhhhmmmm
Jack Campbell
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 4:28 p.m.
Ricks needs to be closed.
John
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 3:32 p.m.
In all liklihood, there was something in that garbage can that was placed there by somebody. Could have been booze, money, etc. I am guessing the "wrong" busboy took out the garbage which foiled the inside job. Unfortunately, the wrong busboys paid for it.
eyesofjustice
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.
Ricks is the new Studio 4
Cameron McLain
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 5:14 p.m.
ahahahahahah. best comment ever.
BernieP
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:24 p.m.
I'd think they were after the contents of the trash can. i.e. Information that can be found on financial instruments or records?
BOBBY
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 12:47 p.m.
yeah... something about this doesn't sound right.. they were probably fighting over something like weed .
BOBBY
Thu, Sep 6, 2012 : 8:01 p.m.
well they were college kids. so i just assumed they weren't fighting over a heroin deal gone bad. sounds too petty. sounds like a bunch of little pot heads playing "West side Story" in the alley .
Homeland Conspiracy
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 3:51 p.m.
Why weed? is there something your not telling us bobby
smokeblwr
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 12:23 p.m.
What a weekend! The lesson to be learned from all these weekend gang-beatdowns is don't try to stop a crime because the criminal always has his buddies ready to beat the heck out of you for doing the right thing. Maybe if you are armed you can do it but if you aren't just let them take what they want.
HONDO
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 12:07 p.m.
hmmm, were they gonna put themselves in it and put it by the curb? Feel like a villager about to get his pichtfork and take my village back from the outsiders.....
concerned
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 3:55 p.m.
the u s a was built on outsiders check your family tree and history
Homeland Conspiracy
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 12:03 p.m.
Let it go it's a TRASH can!
Billy
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 11:39 a.m.
Methinks there might be a bit more impetus to the beating beyond "trash can theft."
1959Viking
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 11:13 a.m.
Weird. What was so special in that trash can that four guys wanted to fight for it?