Police Seek Suspects in NYC Attacks

By Donna De La Cruz Associated Press Writer Tuesday, June 13, 2000; 12:20 p.m. EDT

NEW YORK -- At least seven women enjoying a warm afternoon in a crowded area of Central Park were attacked by gangs of young men who groped them, ripped off their clothing and in some cases robbed them.

Two men were arrested in Sunday afternoon's wolfpack attacks, some of which were videotaped, and other suspects were being sought.

Some victims and witnesses complained that police were slow to react to the assaults. Anne Peyton Bryant, who was attacked while skating, said she approached police several times for help but that they did nothing.

"I never felt in my entire life that I couldn't protect myself until then," said Bryant, a kickboxing teacher from Manhattan. "I felt confused. I felt terrified. I felt traumatized."

A teen-age British tourist said about 15 men surrounded her, ripped off her clothes and fondled her before stealing $200. Two of her friends also were accosted.

"They were trying to pull my top up, and at the same time guys were trying to pull my shorts down," the 18-year-old tourist told WPIX-TV. "I was touched everywhere, and it was really humiliating. There must have been 14 guys touching me, just trying to take my clothes off."

David Rowe, 24, of Hempstead, and Tremayne Bain, 23, of Brooklyn, were charged with robbery and sexual abuse after the English victims pointed them out to police. A judge on Tuesday set bail at $10,000 for each suspect.

The attacks took place shortly after 6 p.m. along Central Park South, a busy area near the zoo and the Plaza Hotel, and happened after a parade brought thousands of people to the area. Some of the women were robbed of money and jewelry. Police believed other victims had not come forward.

Police said about 15 men, some carrying large water pistols, squirted two teens with water and then groped and robbed them. About the same time, a group attacked Bryant, pulling her to the ground as she was skating and attempted to strip her.

Then about 25 men targeted a honeymooning French couple, restraining the husband while stripping and pawing the wife. About 30 minutes later, a group ganged up on the three women from England, police said.

"She was naked, completely naked," native New Yorker Rita Berlin said of one victim. "We were mortified."

Berlin saw police aiding the woman. Bryant said she approached officers three times, telling them an unruly crowd had assaulted her, but each time the police did nothing.

"They had absolutely no interest in going toward that area," said Patrick Orlando, who was with Bryant. "No one stood up. No one moved. No one got on the radio to report the problem."

Officials said they were investigating the complaints.

"It's unrealistic to assume that police officers can be everywhere at every time, at all times, particularly when they are dealing with a parade," Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said.

Said Police Commissioner Howard Safir: "If I put 10,000 cops in Central Park, we couldn't cover every single area."

Amateur videotape aired on news programs showed men soaking women with water, dragging them to the ground and diving on them.

"Get the money shot!" one man yelled while others frantically tug at a crying woman's bra straps.

Police said Tuesday they planned to subpoena the tapes. At least one victim said tapes were made by the attackers themselves.

Parks officials have battled similar attacks in the past. Several years ago, the city was shaken by reports of "whirlpooling" - groups of boys who would surround girls swimming at city pools, molesting them and trying to remove their bathing suits.

The assaults came on a particularly violent weekend in New York City, which sweltered through 90-degree temperatures both Saturday and Sunday. Six people were killed and 59 others were stabbed or shot in numerous incidents.

-- Pay no attention (its@nothing.really), June 13, 2000

Answers

25 men.

If ever there was a need for high capacity clips, this was it. Oh wait, this happened in NYC, where you can't exercise your Second Amendment right to own a handgun to defend yourself.

Never mind.

-- J (Y2J@home.comm), June 13, 2000.

"I never felt in my entire life that I couldn't protect myself until then," said Bryant, a kickboxing teacher from Manhattan. "I felt confused. I felt terrified. I felt traumatized."

A kickboxing teacher and she's defenseless -- yes, high-cap mags and the guts to use 'em.

-- open season (newyorkers@defenseless.com), June 13, 2000.

If you read between the lines here you might discover that these were not just random acts of senseless molestations. These guys were filming all of this for profit, selling the tapes on the open market to buyers from all walks of life. This is not a new phenomenon but one that has been around for sometime now. A kinder, gentler form of the amateur snuff movies. This world will make you wonder at times.

-- The (fact@fan.attic), June 13, 2000.

What the hell is going on? Police not doing anything while people are being robbed and molested in the middle of the day; six people killed and 59 stabbed or shot?! Something is not right, but I'll be damned if I can figure out what it is...

Perhaps it is the "Guf" although that's a bit of a leap, even for me...

*groan*

George Castanza: "People! We're living in a society here!!!"

-- Not now, not like this (AgentSmith0110@aol.com), June 13, 2000.

By Fanatic's logic, this attack is proof that all heterosexual men are sexual predators who are forced to prey on the young and defenseless in order to "recruit".

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthrougthejunglewithouta.net), June 13, 2000.

Tarzan, in order to speak tongue in cheek you must first remove foot from mouth. Seriously, you have made quite the quantum leap from the Central Park incident to the well-known practice of gay recruiting. You may be surprised to know that I am a person that always enjoys a good laugh so thanks! BTW, does Jane swing both ways also?

-- The (fact@fan.attic), June 13, 2000.

Homosexuals can certainly be pedphiles (as can heterosexuals), but pedophilia is no more synonymous with homosexuality than rape is with heterosexuality. It is a quantum leap to go from a handful of pedophiles who prey on people of the same sex to "gay recruiting", perhaps an even biggern quantum leap than saying that heterosexuality was the underlying cause of the Central Park attacks on Sunday.

While Jane and I are straight, it may surprise you to know that I have had several gay friends and family, people whom I love and respect. For you to compare me with them is an honor, not an insult.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), June 13, 2000.

The following dissertation is but one of thousands out there demonizing the homosexual lifestyle. My opposition to the gay community is rhetorical but the radical right is ready to take a more active stand on this issue.

THE RISKS OF ACCEPTING PREDATORY PRACTICES

In the name of "personal liberty" Americans are duped into feeling obliged to endure lawless, amoral and predatory practices which have the potential of destroying the social fabric of the America we love. This careless libertarian philosophy envisions an anarchy where each individual totally defines his own actions without restraints of public law. With respect to pornography one need only go to the state prisons and interview sex offenders including rapists, child molesters and those guilty of sex based homicides to find that a majority of such individuals began their criminal paths with the reading and viewing of pornography. The unbridled quest for personal rights is overlooking the consequences of society without law. In the name of "personal liberty" this libertarian philosophy would condemn America to a lawless predatory state in which true liberty is lost to chaos.

I am reminded of the words of the song, "America the Beautiful" which say, "Confirm thy soul with self control. Thy liberty in law." The meaning is clear, that without law true liberty is lost. It seems to me that too often our judiciary is loosing sight of where personal rights end and public good in a civilized state of society begins. The disregard for moral law by the judiciary only incites predators to boldness in having their way in society.

SIMPLE DISTINCTIONS FOR THE LIMITS OF GENUINE PERSONAL RIGHTS

Clinton Howard, an American Patriot of the first part of the 20th century gave an example which helps us understand and distinguish fair limits to personal liberty. He said that, "If your hog dies of cholera, you have the personal right to grind it up into sausage and eat it, but you have not the right to offer it for public sale." to deliberately seek profit at a cost in suffering and death to others goes beyond the limits of personal liberty. When viewed from this perspective Congress' enactment of a prohibition on the sale of pornography at military bases is a good law. While it protects society from the offensive and harmful public act of selling pornography, it does not infringe upon individual rights to possess such materials.

Whereas the above distinction defines a limit for personal liberty by preventing financial profit from predatory behavior, another distinction involves safeguarding public health. A prime example in American Society today involves attempts of organized homosexual groups to gain public acceptance of homosexual lifestyles, including the official recognition homosexual marriages, and the teaching of homosexual lifestyles in educational materials. Federal statistics have clearly shown the homosexual lifestyle to be the prime driving force of the AIDS epidemic in America. Americans and the American government should not feel obliged to publicly accept homosexual lifestyles in the name of "personal liberty". To do so invites destruction and sorrow.

ACTIONS TO TAKE

1. Americans should not tolerate public officials (including judges) who promote predatory practices by ignoring moral law. Whether by voting for moral leadership or by impeachment of those who work against moral law, citizens need to take a stand for what is right.

2. Common citizens, who have an uncommon commitment to moral values need to become actively involved in their own government. There is a critical need for candidates, patriotic men and women who will stand in defense of home, family, virtue and genuine Constitutional Rights.

3. When voting, citizens need to have the courage to fully vote their conscience. Too often voters will vote for the second best candidate (like a Republican) out of fear that the worst candidate (like a Democrat) will win. When we always vote for second best, second best is all we will ever hope to have.

4. The current system of financing political races by PAC's must come to an end in order for elected officials to become free of those who prey upon society for financial gain. We need elected officials who are driven by a love of God, by a love of America and by a love for the Constitution, and not elected officials who are driven by the sources of money that keep them in power.

-- The (fact@fan.attic), June 13, 2000.

Try that shit at a park in the south,we would have a field day with scum like that,for the tables would surely be turned.We wouldn't even need the guns to deal with those punks and it wouldn't be just the men folk joining in on the fight,the women would be out in full force too,ever see a group of women protecting a woman? INSPIRING!!!

These gang incidents of molestation,rape and harrassment should be grounds for castration.

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), June 13, 2000.

Capnfun-

This sort of thing IS very common at Freaknik in Atlanta and at Daytona beach.

-- Nerd Rustler (nerdrustler@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), June 13, 2000.

Are you Nerd Rustler or Tarzan the Ape Man? If IM confused YOU must be terribly disoriented. Why do you use different names with the same basic e-mail address? I was willing to take you seriously but that might be a mistake based on your multiple personalities. Enjoy your many, many lives.

-- The (fact@fan.attic), June 13, 2000.

Was race a factor here?

-- (5thAv@CentralPark.South), June 13, 2000.

Yep, you caught me, Fan Attic. I've committed the grevious and unique crime of using a different name. Naturally, that invalidates every point I've made. You may go back to trolling now.

-- Tarzan AKA Nerd Rustler (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), June 13, 2000.

NerdZan, you neednt pout cause you were caught out. I dont really care how many personalities you might have; Im willing to deal with them one at a time. Why would you say that I am trolling? You seem to be the one with an identity crisis and I now wonder how many more different names you use on this forum. Do all of your different personalities have gay family and friends or just the Tarzan guy? You dont have to answer, I understand. These forums are full of phonies so you have lots of company.

-- The (fact@fan.attic), June 13, 2000.

"NerdZan, you neednt pout cause you were caught out. I dont really care how many personalities you might have; Im willing to deal with them one at a time."

Good. Then you may start by explaining to me why you think that homosexual rape is different from heterosexual rape.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), June 13, 2000.

Where did you develop the assumption that I looked upon rape from two different perspectives? I cant recall discussing the problems of heterosexual rape so you are once again making some quantum leaps. As long as youve asked I will address your statement. I am adamantly opposed to the homosexual lifestyle and embrace the heterosexual lifestyle, that simple. Rape committed by members of either persuasion is despicable, immoral, illegal, and prosecutable. What is your attitude on this subject? Anyone of you may respond.

-- The (fact@fan.attic), June 13, 2000.

Fact, you are absolutely correct. You didn't mention rape, you only talked about molestation and pedophilia. Strictly speaking, you said, "Studies have shown that many young boys that are molested by gay men will grow into the homosexual lifestyle as an adult.". You also referred to pedophilia as a "farm system" or "recruiting center" for future gays and lesbians.

So I will rephrase my question. Given that your hypothesis is that gays molest young children in order to "recruit" future gays and lesbians, then would you also attribute heterosexual pedophilia to the same purpose?

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), June 13, 2000.

Sounds like just another average day in the Big Apple.

Like I always say... "Bite the Big Apple, don't mind the maggots!"

-- Mick Jagger (this town's @ in. tatters), June 13, 2000.

If this had happened in a Right To Carry state, some of these folks would be in the hospital, and the rest would be dead. And, of course, most of the subsequent incidents would not have happened.

-- Judge Dredd (JD@justice.for.all), June 14, 2000.

No individual has an expectation of protection from the police only society as a whole.If you're attacked the coppers will come and fill out paperwork but that's all you can depend upon.People who choose to live in a cesspool like new york where there is almost total gun control should know they are at constant personal risk.They can defy the un-American unjust laws and carry a firearm for personal protection,or accept that in new york rape/assault/murder is par for the course.The kickboxing example illustrates that martial arts are best practiced for internal development and perfection(the Do versus jutsu approach).For effective defence against superior strength and numbers ching-pao(the way of the Glock)is the true equalizer.Check out history's Boxer rebellion for more on the tendency of martial artists to become overconfident of their personal art's ability to handle all martial situations.Kickboxing is biased towards one on one situations and a lot of rule limitations(no joint dislocations,no throws,no rear[ushiro]techniques,no nerve strikes,and worst of all for multiple attackers no ground fighting techniques.) Practicle application of martial techniques in a non-contrived,non- stylized environment is more of something that comes with mastery and not a few tae-bo classes.(great cardio tho')Buy a gun,learn how to responsibly use it(including threat assesment and weapons retentions techniques)and carry it with you wherever you go.

-- zoobie the nutbag (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), June 14, 2000.

"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks. --Thomas Jefferson, Encyclopedia of T. Jefferson, 318, Foley, Ed., reissued 1967.

-- zoobie the nutbag (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), June 14, 2000.

Amen, my darling.

There's an important question many gun-control proponents fail to ask themselves:

What would YOU do if YOUR child were being hurt/raped/fondled/killed right in front of you? Would you stop that threat on your child's life with your handgun, or would you stand there, screaming for a police officer (in NYC, nonetheless!) and hoping against hope that some kind MANLY stranger would help you out? Would you be able to help your child? Would you have to watch your child get ass-raped and murdered? Which would leave your conscience heavy? Would all of you gun-control advocates feel good about yourselves after watching your loved one be injured or killed because you didn't want to teach your children to damn well respect the gun you keep in the house?

The only people who benefit from gun control are the criminals. The rest of us are denied our right to defend ourselves against scum. The police are not dependable in times of crisis--ever hear "911 Is A Joke" by Public Enemy?--especially in urban areas.

My children will be taught from a young age how firearms operate. They will not PLAY with guns, because we will teach them to RESPECT them as tools of self-defense. Parents, why are you trying to hide guns from your children instead of teaching them how to use them? Ignorance is bliss, I suppose, in your minds.

And, while I'm on the subject, did you hear that, in a recent teacher shooting, the defense team is attempting to blame the GUN for going off? Certainly not the parents' fault for giving that kid gun toys and gun games and water guns and toy cap guns and shooting video games...and never, ever taking that child on the range and showing him what destruction a gun causes, teaching him to respect that gun as a life-defending tool, listening to his rap music with him and explaining that these are the stories of unhappiness, victimization and negative life choices of others.

I wish parents would quit asking the government to enact laws protecting their children so they don't have to look out for them, quit working opposite shifts so they can afford a stupid SUV and a mortgage, and quit voting to take away MY rights. If you find guns repellent, don't buy one. We live in a nasty, evil, violent society. My children will not be raised naive to that.

-- Zoobie Spousal Unit (zoobiette@yahoo.com), June 14, 2000.

I agree, Mick Jagger.

Agent Smith, NYC is much like any densely populated urban area -- when temperatures rise so does the violence. In my opinion, it is a matter of too many people occupying too small of an area.

-- aqua (aqu@fin.a), June 14, 2000.

From: Preparations, ` la Carte (pic), near Monterey, California

Cops & Civilians (search on Dancr)

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), June 14, 2000.

Good posts zoobs. And where is our commentary by the laughable stooge Ken Decker? Remarkable how he defers flexing his ego when the news is contrary to his beliefs.

-- Aunt Violet Anti-violence (peace@of.mind), June 14, 2000.

CNN did a lengthy segment on the Central Park incident, on this morning's news. This was tied into a big Puerto Rican Day celebration that featured parades and up to one million people, many of who spilled into CP to celebrate. CNN had some amateur tape of the incidents and it reminded me of the kind of stuff that went on during spring break at Daytona Beach and Padre Island. The kickboxer gal was interviewed extensively and she put a number on the cops for not responding to her complaints. I will not speculate too much here but the cops had their hands full and these wet downs and strippings were probably the lesser of many evils that day.

As I stated yesterday, there was an underlying motive for these actions and it is called profit. Wait for the rest of the story.

Mrs. Zoobie, I also read where it was the fault of the gun for the teacher shooting in Florida. How can a reasonable person comment on this without going ballistic? I wont even try.

Tarzan, Nerd Rustler, or whatever you are today. The answer to your last question is: Absolutely Not. Now you need to answer my last question to you before it is your turn again. Waiting.

-- The (fact@fan.attic), June 14, 2000.

Fanattic-

Rape is always wrong. End of story. It's an act of power and control having it's roots in the HUMAN condition, not the heterosexual or homosexual condition.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), June 14, 2000.

Agree. End of story.

-- The (fact@fan.attic), June 14, 2000.