[RP TownTalk] [HyattsvilleBikersUnite] Safety alert re: North-east Branch Trail

Tue Jun 15 04:05:52 UTC 2010

I miswrote Joe's name, it's Joe Skorupa.

Sent from my mobile

On Jun 14, 2010, at 11:51 PM, Dwight Holmes <dwightrholmes at gmail.com>  
wrote:

> Forwarded with permission, post by Joe Scarupa who lives in  
> Hyattsville (from his wife's email)
>
> Sent from my mobile
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> From: MARIA BOROJA <mariaboroja at verizon.net>
>> Date: June 14, 2010 2:04:17 PM EDT
>> To: HyattsvilleBikersUnite at yahoogroups.com, rainier_riders at yahoogroups.com
>> Subject: Re: [HyattsvilleBikersUnite] Safety alert re: North-east  
>> Branch Trail
>> Reply-To: HyattsvilleBikersUnite at yahoogroups.com
>>
>
>>
>>
>> Fellow Cyclists,
>>
>> Apparently I was the third of the victims of these attacks.  On  
>> June 7th while bike commuting home from work (from the College Park  
>> metro station to my home in Hyattsville) I was jumped by a gang of  
>> five youths in the underpass beneath Hwy 410.
>>
>> As I came around the right-hand bend to descend into the underpass  
>> there were four youths (est. high school age) sitting on the pipe  
>> railing that borders the bike trail on the river side of the trail  
>> and one standing on the opposite edge of the trail.  As I passed  
>> by, the one standing by the trail very violently shoved me and bike  
>> into the pipe railing which resulting in me being thrown off my  
>> bike over the handle bars and onto the trail pavement.  The force  
>> of my collision with the pipe railing was enough to bend my  
>> bicycle's frame.  As soon as I hit the pavement, all five youths  
>> immediately attacked me, mostly kicking me.  I managed to get up to  
>> my feet and struggle with them for a few seconds before they quit  
>> the attack and fled.  They never said one word throughout the  
>> entire ordeal.  Made no demands, gave no clue what they wanted.   
>> They did not succeed in taking any of my possessions, but after  
>> reading the police report about the other attacks, I believe I may  
>> have been targeted because I was wearing a shoulder bag.
>>
>> My injuries included a dislocated shoulder (probably from my  
>> collision with the pipe railing and/or subsequent fall to the trail  
>> pavement), several broken/cracked ribs (from the assault on me  
>> after I hit the ground) and numerous abrasions and contusions  
>> (probably from both the crash and the assault).
>>
>> Facts of particular note:
>>
>> The attack occurred in broad daylight (about 7:40 pm) with the  
>> neighboring Riverdale Park still heavily populated with users of  
>> all sorts (i.e, the attack was extremely brazen).
>>
>> No one from the park came to my assistance, although I doubt anyone  
>> could see or hear what was happening... it's a perfect location for  
>> an ambush attack.
>>
>> 911 operators were totally incapable of directing any help to my  
>> location.  As incredulous as this seems, my description of being on  
>> the NE Branch bike trail at the Hwy 410 undercrossing totally  
>> stumped them... they could not find my location in their system!!   
>> I finally, after 10 minutes (seemed like an eternity at the time)  
>> hung up on 911 operator and called my wife for help... she was  
>> there in 3 minutes.
>>
>> The Park Police who took my report at the Hospital Emergency room  
>> did not make any mention of previous attacks in the area, my guess  
>> is they did not even know about those prior attacks even though it  
>> appears that I was number 3 of 3.  My experience with 911 and law  
>> enforcement officials was very, very disappointing.  As a  
>> cyclist... you're on your own and should have very little  
>> expectation of help from officialdom.  Perhaps the attackers are  
>> well aware of this.  It defies logic why, after the first two  
>> attacks, this area was not under law enforcement surveillance!!   
>> There should never have been a third attack and some m
>>
>> --- On Sat, 6/12/10, Nathaniel V. Kelso <nvkelso at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> From: Nathaniel V. Kelso <nvkelso at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [HyattsvilleBikersUnite] Safety alert re: North-east  
>> Branch Trail
>> To: "hyattsvillebikersunite"  
>> <HyattsvilleBikersUnite at yahoogroups.com>, rainier_riders at yahoogroups.com
>> Date: Saturday, June 12, 2010, 2:31 PM
>>
>> Friends and neighbors,
>>
>> Three attacks on trail users have occurred the last two weeks on the
>> NE Branch Trail near the East-West Highway under crossing, see below
>> from Riverdale Park email list. Please exercise caution, especially
>> when traveling at or after dusk.
>>
>> _Nathaniel
>> Chair, Hyattsville Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee
>>
>> ======
>>
>> Advisory Message has been issued by the Riverdale Park Police  
>> Department.
>> Friday June 11, 2010 5:27 PM EDT
>>
>> Please be careful - recent unprovoked attacks have occurred near  
>> the 5300
>> block of Riverdale Rd and on park property.
>>
>> Three recent unprovoked attacks have occurred in the area of 5300  
>> Riverdale
>> Road and the parks and bike paths nearby. In two of the most recent  
>> cases,
>> individuals were beaten severely by several young men. In two cases,
>> personal property was taken from the victim.
>>
>> The description of the suspects has varied; however, all three crimes
>> involved more than one suspect ? from as few as two to as many as  
>> 13. The
>> crimes occurred between approximately 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. between  
>> June 1 and
>> June 7, 2010.
>>
>> We are working closely with the Maryland Park Police to help  
>> identify the
>> perpetrators of two of these crimes which occurred on their  
>> property, and we
>> are following up investigative leads regarding the first of the three
>> attacks that occurred on our area of responsibility.
>>
>> Please be aware of your surroundings and notify us if you see  
>> suspicious
>> activity or if you have additional information regarding any of these
>> attacks. You may reach the Riverdale Park Police Department at 301-927-4343
>> and the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission  
>> Police at
>> 301-459-9088.
>>
>> For full details, go to https://local.nixle.com/alert/2492429/.
>>
>> Contact Information:
>> Teresa Chambers
>> tchambers at riverdaleparkmd.gov
>>
>> --
>> Vernon Archer, Mayor
>> Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
>>
>>
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>>
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