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

Tue Jun 15 21:07:21 UTC 2010

Mayor Archer,

I agree with your take on the matter but I would suggest that a notice be put front and center in the next town crier.  Also, the biker not being able to get assistance thru 911 because they were not aware of the location, should remind us all to put our own Riverdale Park Police emergency number (301) 927-4343 into our cell phones on speed dial as I do.  Certainly our own police force would have known exactly where he was located and would have responded to the location the biker gave when he called.

Thanks A Million!

           Novella 

Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:40:37 -0400
From: varcher at gmail.com
To: dwightrholmes at gmail.com
CC: eolson at co.pg.md.us; rainier_riders at yahoogroups.com; HyattsvilleBikersUnite at yahoogroups.com; bgardiner at hyattsville.org; TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Fwd: [HyattsvilleBikersUnite] Safety alert re: North-east Branch Trail

Dear bikers, park users and community members,

Please note that the message that has been widely quoted from Riverdale Park Government shows we are aware, there has been one biker ambushed--not 3.  There were two other attacks in the general area, but the other two attacks were not on anyone using the trail and the incidents were approximately 5 blocks apart.  They do have in common that they were on or near Park property.

We are certainly working with all surrounding jurisdictions to try to better patrol this entire area and ensure that prompt assistance is sent out when any calls for help come to us.  This would be a simpler matter if there were not increased activity farther afield for us to deal with also--the hot summer evenings are here.

Best wishes,

Vern

-- 
Vernon Archer, Mayor
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland

On Mon, 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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