Teenage gangs of Prospect Park
I was running Tuesday evening (7pm, it was not even dusk yet) and a gang of teenagers flew by me on bikes in the runners' lane. I said something like, "Hey - watch it - what the fuck" and one of them laughed and said "hit the bitch". Then another one of them punched me in the back of the head as they rode by.
They were all on bikes -- about 6-8 of them. I stopped a cop car and they drove me around the park looking for them. We found them after a few minutes, but b/c they were/are so young and I couldn't say 100% positively which on hit me, there was nothing the cops could do.
This is ridiculous. I run in the park 4-5 times a week -- now I am afraid to run even in the middle of the day. Something needs to be done about violent teenagers/ mischievants in the park. Even before this incident, my friends have expressed their concern to me -- that they are afraid of these gangs of teenagers on bikes (or off bikes).
Is it just me or is it completely backwards that people are afraid to use the park because teenagers can apparently get away with anything????
They were all on bikes -- about 6-8 of them. I stopped a cop car and they drove me around the park looking for them. We found them after a few minutes, but b/c they were/are so young and I couldn't say 100% positively which on hit me, there was nothing the cops could do.
This is ridiculous. I run in the park 4-5 times a week -- now I am afraid to run even in the middle of the day. Something needs to be done about violent teenagers/ mischievants in the park. Even before this incident, my friends have expressed their concern to me -- that they are afraid of these gangs of teenagers on bikes (or off bikes).
Is it just me or is it completely backwards that people are afraid to use the park because teenagers can apparently get away with anything????
Comments
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I'm guessing I saw the same group. I was running clockwise (against the grain) on the trails just inside the roadway down around Drummer's Grove at 7:15 or so and saw them stretched out across the road, riding against the grain, forcing everyone to stop, swerve, or get off the road.
I agree. It goes beyond "kids will be kids". -
i saw those kids... on their bmx bikes? they were over by some picnic tables when i ran by.
thanks for the heads up though... i'll be sure to be on the look out when i'm out running from now on. -
The police presence in the park seems to have diminished since the muggings around PPW earlier in the summer. It seems as if the only real presence now is either the mobile command unit near the entrance to Wollman Rink or the predictable officer or two stationed at the intersection near the zoo.
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Subject: Re: Teenage gangs of Prospect Park
smylegrrl wrote: I was running Tuesday evening (7pm, it was not even dusk yet) and a gang of teenagers flew by me on bikes in the runners' lane. I said something like, "Hey - watch it - what the fuck" and one of them laughed and said "hit the bitch". Then another one of them punched me in the back of the head as they rode by.
That is really fucked up. I feel for you. Fucking punk ass kids.
They were all on bikes -- about 6-8 of them. I stopped a cop car and they drove me around the park looking for them. We found them after a few minutes, but b/c they were/are so young and I couldn't say 100% positively which on hit me, there was nothing the cops could do.
This is ridiculous. I run in the park 4-5 times a week -- now I am afraid to run even in the middle of the day. Something needs to be done about violent teenagers/ mischievants in the park. Even before this incident, my friends have expressed their concern to me -- that they are afraid of these gangs of teenagers on bikes (or off bikes).
Is it just me or is it completely backwards that people are afraid to use the park because teenagers can apparently get away with anything???? -
OnEasternParkway wrote: I'm guessing I saw the same group. I was running clockwise (against the grain) on the trails just inside the roadway down around Drummer's Grove at 7:15 or so and saw them stretched out across the road, riding against the grain, forcing everyone to stop, swerve, or get off the road.
i was also there around 7:15 or so heading counter-clockwise. i was on the right side of the runner's lane and a bike heading towards me purposely got real close, i of course should have moved out of the way but i stood my ground and continued to run the same path. i think had the fight vs flight response at that point which in retrospect was quite idiotic of me. as i was told by someone close to me, you don't know what kinds of weapons they might have had. although i do recall passing a police cruiser as they approached so who knows.
I agree. It goes beyond "kids will be kids". -
reading these things always pisses me off. sorry so to hear that about what happen to you.
thats why back in my day. when kids did that we didnt call the cops. we just get a bunch of people together and beat the snot out of them. but off course you dont know what kids these days are carrying.
damn kids should of all been arrested and given the nice treatment at the police station while waiting for the "parents". -
volition wrote: i was also there around 7:15 or so heading counter-clockwise. i was on the right side of the runner's lane and a bike heading towards me purposely got real close, i of course should have moved out of the way but i stood my ground and continued to run the same path. i think had the fight vs flight response at that point which in retrospect was quite idiotic of me. as i was told by someone close to me, you don't know what kinds of weapons they might have had. although i do recall passing a police cruiser as they approached so who knows.
That really sucks and i dont think you are idiotic for standing your ground.
May I suggest that next time if you run into a pack of troublemakers, tell everyone else in the park and have them tell every officer they run intoso that everyone in the park starts to inundate these officers so that they have to do something. -
I have actually noticed a vastly increased police presence over the past month or so in the park, but this is besides the point.
I don't understand the line, "I wasn't sure which one hit me, so the police couldn't do anything." Does this make sense to anyone? Who cares which one it was--they all ought to have been taken in and questioned. Kids fess up to things in a minute and are easily manipulated by experienced interrogators, and it seems likely that one or more of them might have had a warrant out on them, or something else that could be used for leverage.
This is utter incompetence by the police--if I were you I would register a complaint at your precinct. Even if I'm being over optimistic and they can't really do anything, the police should never treat a crime victim as if he/she needs to just suck it up b/c nothing can be done. It's their job to try. Outrageous. -
I was in the park yesterday and took a shortcut through the woods where the gay guys hang out. All of the sudden I see "FOR A GOOD TIME GO THIS WAY ->" spraypainted on the path in neon orange. The arrow was pointing down the path where I was going. Damn. Oh well, I didn't want to turn around but for the next 10 minutes while I was walking there were dudes all over the place in the woods. They probably wanted to bang my sweet virgin ass.
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escap wrote: it seems likely that one or more of them might have had a warrant out on them
! -
And by "!", I mean, "WTF?".
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On Sunday I decided to take a stroll with my girlfriend through the park. While there were hundreds of people in the park, we felt pretty unsafe as we managed to walk right in the middle of some sort of heated argument between two opposing young groups of people. They were screaming on the top of their lungs, things like "f this bitch" and "im going to kill this mother f'er," and it was sad because young families lounging in the sun with their toddlers were only a few dozen yards away.
As far as the cops are concerned, we only saw one throughout the park during our outing. The one we did see did nothnig as a bunch of kids on bikes told the officer that they hate the 'popo.' The officer seemed embarassed when I made eye contact with him as he did nothing to react to their disrespect.
The park obviously needs more enforcement. I shouldn't feel at all unsafe walking around one of America's great parks. -
qtrain wrote: And by "!", I mean, "WTF?".
I'm not really sure exactly what your question is, but I'll just clarify by saying that if you randomly pulled over 100 people you could pretty much guarantee that at least a few of them have outstanding warrants. Unpaid parking tickets or other fines abound, failure to appear for summons for open containers of alcohol in public, possession of weed, etc. You'd be surprised (apparently).
Now, on top of all that, we're talking about a group of boys who openly and unashamedly assault women in public parks. I don't put such an act in the "boys will be boys" category, cherry bomb in the school toilet and such. As a teenager my friends and I engaged in lots of mischief, but we didn't ride around on bikes punching strange women. If this is routine behavior for them, I'm just saying it's a fair shot that you might dig up some other dirt on them if you pull them in. I doubt they're a bunch of saints who just suddenly lost their minds.
Does this answer your wtf question? -
Just out of curiosity how come nobody starts a post about those "gangs" of over-pampered, over-educated, angst-ridden rich white youth that roam the streets of PS every Fri and Sat night, consuming mass quantities of beer and smoking dope and spray painting available walls?
Just asking is all - curious that. -
Livetotravel wrote: Just out of curiosity how come nobody starts a post about those "gangs" of over-pampered, over-educated, angst-ridden rich white youth that roam the streets of PS every Fri and Sat night, consuming mass quantities of beer and smoking dope and spray painting available walls?
o u know...they're prolly racist and all
Just asking is all - curious that. -
Livetotravel wrote: Just out of curiosity how come nobody starts a post about those "gangs" of over-pampered, over-educated, angst-ridden rich white youth that roam the streets of PS every Fri and Sat night, consuming mass quantities of beer and smoking dope and spray painting available walls?
Surely you jest.
Just asking is all - curious that. -
Livetotravel wrote: Just out of curiosity how come nobody starts a post about those "gangs" of over-pampered, over-educated, angst-ridden rich white youth that roam the streets of PS every Fri and Sat night, consuming mass quantities of beer and smoking dope and spray painting available walls?
How are you sure that they're not being address in this here thread? The OP never indicated a race/ethnicity.
Just asking is all - curious that.
...but since you bring it up, they're annoying, too... and grafitti has been discussed ad nauseum. -
OnEasternParkway wrote: [quote=Livetotravel]Just out of curiosity how come nobody starts a post about those "gangs" of over-pampered, over-educated, angst-ridden rich white youth that roam the streets of PS every Fri and Sat night, consuming mass quantities of beer and smoking dope and spray painting available walls?
Surely you jest.
Just asking is all - curious that.
Probably, but I am really pissed-off at the dope-smoking, skateboarding dickheads who spraypainted the back and sides of the buidling I live in! I 911'd their asses but to no avail. -
escap wrote: f you randomly pulled over 100 people you could pretty much guarantee that at least a few of them have outstanding warrants.
There are about 2 crimes committed for every 100 people in Brooklyn, and maybe 1 outstanding warrant for every 10 crimes committed. It's highly unlikely that someone out of a random group of 6-8 people has an outstanding warrant. While this is no random group, the fact that one of them hit somebody is offset somewhat by the fact that we're talking about a group of young teenagers on bicycles -- maybe this is a population with an increased risk of being involved in crime, but to say that it is seems likely that one or more has an outstanding warrant is a big stretch. -
Livetotravel wrote: [quote=OnEasternParkway][quote=Livetotravel]Just out of curiosity how come nobody starts a post about those "gangs" of over-pampered, over-educated, angst-ridden rich white youth that roam the streets of PS every Fri and Sat night, consuming mass quantities of beer and smoking dope and spray painting available walls?
Surely you jest.
Just asking is all - curious that.
Probably, but I am really pissed-off at the dope-smoking, skateboarding dickheads who spraypainted the back and sides of the buidling I live in! I 911'd their asses but to no avail.
That is annoying - police didn't get there in time or didn't care?
BTW I thought you were joking too...I mean, I sometimes see kids walking around weekend nights, but not doing anything illegal - just being a little loud and annoying. Guess I'm either not looking close enough or not out late enough. -
Thanks for the support....it's good to know that there are people out there who are as concerned/pissed off about this as I am. (Point of fact: about 5-7 other runners/bikers witnessed this and not one asked me if I was ok - I was pretty surprised about that.) And I think whoever said that when anyone runner and/or biker sees this kind of behavior from these "gangs" of teenagers (swarming and riding too close, being disorderly, etc.) they should tell every cop they see in the park was right -- tell every single one each time you pass them. Hopefully they can't ignore everyone forever.
As for the "why doesn't anyone complain about the PS teens drinking/smoking dope/spraying graffiti", well, while that is certainly highly annoying (and some of it illegal), it's not a physical assault. I think there's a line there. -
smylegrrl wrote:
As for the "why doesn't anyone complain about the PS teens drinking/smoking dope/spraying graffiti", well, while that is certainly highly annoying (and some of it illegal), it's not a physical assault. I think there's a line there.
when those kids cross the line from anything stupid to physcial they should be lined up and beaten!!! -
I was in the park earlier tonight and saw a few police officers riding buy on their moped like things. My first thought when I saw them was about this thread.
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Qtrain: While I appreciate your dedication to statistical integrity, I think that argument's a bit of a digression. I'm still outraged by the cops' attitude and think they could have and should have done more to investigate. For the record, however, I think your crime statistic again doesn't take into account the many warrants issued for things like court no-shows. I once had an outstanding warrant b/c I was unable to make a court appearance after getting caught drinking in public; a co-worker of mine once had an outstanding warrant b/c he had an unpaid ticket for driving without a seatbelt on. I don't think either of those offenses would show up in the crime data you referred to.
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And on the subject of the PS skater kids, I second the "they are a pain in the ass" sentiment. But this thread was about a specific incident, not an indictment of PH teens as opposed to PS teens or anything like that.
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escap wrote: Qtrain: While I appreciate your dedication to statistical integrity, I think that argument's a bit of a digression.
It seemed to me you were taking an exaggerated view of the situation. I think this kid is ripe for some punishment, but I doubt he'd dodging warrants. -
qtrain wrote: [quote=escap]Qtrain: While I appreciate your dedication to statistical integrity, I think that argument's a bit of a digression.
It seemed to me you were taking an exaggerated view of the situation. I think this kid is ripe for some punishment, but I doubt he'd dodging warrants.
Moi? Exaggerate? Inconceivable. -
escap wrote: Moi? Exaggerate? Inconceivable.
Damnit. I never win at internets. -
See this is why I always call 311 who connects me to 911, rather than flag down a cop. Paper trails are very powerful in this statistical productivity=more$$$ city. It seems like sense of duty to public safety isn't enough.
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I am not sure if any of you heard about this on the news last night... but teenagers throwing bricks at a people's heads?
I know I am completely naive but , it seriously makes you wonder whats up with these teens? Why are they so angry... I mean people blame tv, music and not having a father but I was a teen like 5 years ago and I never felt the urge to hurt/ kill anyone... but I dunno guess I grew up sheltered...
http://www.nydailynews.com/08-25-2006/news/crime_file/story/446607p-376003c.html
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