Please, please, please be careful out there! And please let police know if you have any information on this...
From the SJ-R breaking news...
Police looking for man who accosted Washington Park jogger
Last Updated 7/17/2007 10:25:12 AM
A Washington Park jogger was injured this morning when a man accosted her with a knife, and police are looking for anyone who might have seen him or suspicious activity in the park.
The victim, a 48-year-old Springfield woman who regularly jogs in the park, suffered a cut on her right hand from the knife and injuries to her nose and eye from the man punching her in the face. The incident happened about 5:30 a.m. in the 1100 block of Williams Boulveard -- west of MacArthur Boulevard and on the south side of Williams.
According to Springfield Park Police Chief George Judd, the woman came upon a man wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt who appeared to be stretching. She jogged around him, at which point he reached out and grabbed her, telling her not to scream. The woman threw herself to the ground in an effort to protect herself. The man displayed a large knife, and the woman grabbed at it during the struggle. The man made a remark that she was “lucky, (expletive)” and then ran away, she told police. Springfield and park district police have been scouring the area, looking for anyone who might have seen something.
Anyone with information about the crime is urged to call Judd at 280-0880.
Join Email List
2012 Recap
-
I've seriously neglected this blog for no reason other than I haven't made
the time to sit down and compose something. Which is kind of sad because
2012 wa...
11 years ago
Posts
22 comments:
Holy cow! that is right next to my area where I start my jog or walk my dog.
This is so sad for this to happen. I hope they find out who this guy is and I am very glad to hear the women is okay.
Most likely I have seen this women in the park frequently as early morning park walkers/joggers dont normally deviate from their routines.
OH MY GOD!!!! We usually jog that route every other AM during that time!!!
Sadly enough, this attack shows us another advantage of running with a group--safety. No individual with a knife is going to try to attack two or more people running together.
This news makes me so angry, because the experience of an early morning run all alone is usually so rewarding. Once again, it's potentially dangerous.
I certainly hope the police catch the perp. Even more, I hope the runner who was attacked is okay.
Our morning group ran at the park this morning at that time. We saw the police, ambulance, & fire trucks on Williams Blvd. We wondered what had happened. Very frightening. I usually run alone around 5 AM in the park so this hits very close to home. I am very thankful for this early Tuesday morning group. Anyone want to also run together early on Wednesdays and Fridays?
This makes me angry also. What's most disturbing about this is that it occurred in a residential area, and the park is full of runners, walkers, etc. at that time of day.
Holly I was so scared when I read this as I would have usually been with you guys! I thought of all of you and I called Pat right away. She said you guys got there after it happened. Stephen or Chuck would have protected us! Right guys????
Maybe Holly we should come and get YOU on Tuesday AM's instead of you running to meet us. Or you could even drive to us.
Gosh~~ this really frightens me but at the same time pisses me off too!!!! I mean this guys could have been watching for awhile of all the women that run by themselves and was waiting! Another scary part is that it is already lite by then!!!!
-Em :(
I too, was running alone in Wash. park this morning. It is scary and makes me angry that something like this would happen in a place that many of go for peace and quiet and to be alone with our thoughts while we run. I guess I will rethink the early morning runs by myself. Holly and Emily; What time does your group run in the morning and where do you meet?
Just avoid the park all together when you are by yourself & there aren't too many people around...even in the afternoon. In Carbondale many women would be attacked b/c they walked through the woods alone. Stick together and lets try to create more groups, even if they are little groups.
-Joy-
Don't wear headphones when you're running alone, always look people in the eye and FIGHT if you're attacked. A common thread in boxing, tae kwon do and other self defense classes that I've taken is that a perp is less likely to attack someone who looks them in the face because it shows the person is assertive and is going to be able to identify them if they start something. Another lesson I learned is that fighting like a lion is better than letting them take you like a sheep.
I think Aaron just offered to run with all the Half Wits women whenever they need an escort!
There's some great advice on here today. This is one of the great benefits of modern technology. The blog, the e-mail list, etc...all makes it easy for us to communicate and get the word out so quickly.
Keep it up Half Wits!
it might be a good idea for all runners, both men and women, to carry a pouch with some pepper spray and a whistle; I have read that hearing a whistle will usually motivate the person to leave. It can be dangerous, like the lady jogger at night in Central Park in NYC about 10 years ago was hit in the head with a brick that fractured her skull, she lived but had a long recovery period.
I wonder if she is a member of SRRC; somebody we might know?.
I think the most important lesson here is to never let fear take away your freedom.
Clearly what happened to the Washington Park jogger was alarming. But let's face it, if someone wishes to harm someone and is determined enough,there's not alot we can do. So do what you like and like what you do.
I met the sister of the 26-year old who was senselessly killed riding in the passenger seat of a car on the highway in Peoria when a 14-year old dropped a cement block off of the overpass.
In the jogger situation, at least she had a chance to fight back. I just hope she is able to run again by herself in the park. She did what I hope I will have the courage to do if I'm ever in that situation.
It's a reality and we should all be aware that violence can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime, doing anything. I am going to start to visualize what I would do in that situation and consider everyone who crosses my path a potential attacker.
I agree with Aaron that looking the person in the eye does make a difference. And if I see someone questionable out on a run I look them in the eye and I say "good morning". This kind of logic - treating the person like a human being - saved a family who was held up in their back yard and asked the attacker to sit down and have something to eat and drink with them.
If we do find out who this woman was, I hope that the running community reaches out to her and makes sure she gets back out there to do what we all love.
You see - there's a lot more to this "power of the group" thing than just "warm fuzzies". Good posts everyone - be safe, be smart, be aware - and I like what Wendy said about never letting anyone take away your freedom. I run at 4:30 a.m. two mornings a week by myself and I'm just a little unnerved by this myself.
Tips:
*Modify your routine and route.
*Run with a group (we're good at that).
*Communicate your plans and route with your family members/friends.
*Carry a cell phone.
*Leave the headphones at home.
*Leave jewelry at home.
*Carry identification.
*Avoid wooded and isolated areas.
*Like your mother said, "Don't talk to strangers."
*Wear high visibility clothing.
*Carry a noisemaker (whistle, etc.)
*Run against traffic.
*Finally - be aware of your surroundings. Take note of people, places, things around you. It's good to be in the zone - but not so much you lose your senses of where you are. Make a plan. Trust your intuition and call the police if you encounter suspicious behavior.
Running for Dummies (No offense intended, seriously!)
See you on the roads! Be strong and be safe in all you do.
Mary
A coworker who lives near the park said that about two weeks ago, he and his wife believe they saw this guy walking in the area at about the same time. They thought it was strange that someone would be bundled up in a long-sleeved, hooded sweatshirt on such a humid morning. The man did not bother them.
The same coworker said that a runner friend of theirs was doing the Williams Boulevard loop and this same individual approached her and asked if he could run with her. She turned and ran the other way. This incident occurred about a week ago.
I don't think either incident was reported to the police. I suppose these anecdotes support the idea that if something seems strange or out of place, no matter how obscure or insignificant it may seem at the time, you should probably report it.
I was amongst those 22 callers that spoke with the park district police yesterday.
Last Friday Marie, Penny and I did our long run, starting at 5 AM. At the end, Marie was slightly ahead of me, Penny was far behind us. Marie and I were approaching back into the park, around 7:15/7:30 AM. We were on Williams blvd, on the south side, at the stop sign, getting ready to cross Macarthur to enter the park. We were on the left side of the road. On the right side of the road I noticed a caucasian man stretching next to his white pick up truck.
What caught my attention as we passed him was that it was 65/70 degrees and he had on a long sleeve shirt with sweatpants on. I remember making a sarcastic comment to Marie about his outfit, but she did not hear me since she was in front of me. What made me run closer to the left side of the road was the stare he gave Marie when she first ran by then the stare he gave me when I went by. Marie went on to cross Macarthur. I stopped close to the curb on Macarthur away from this man and waited for Penny to catch up to me. The whole time I waited, I was trying not to look at him. I was nervous as I could feel the weight of his stare as I watched for Penny. When Penny caught up with me, he too stared at Penny. We ended up finishing the run together.
I am hoping it was coincedence he was looking at us because he liked my Cubby visor, :) but can't help that his attire was somewhat the same and that he too was stretching. When I spoke with the park district police he said (yesterday) that they were not sure if this man was caucasian or african american due to the fact the woman did not see his face because of the hoody and also because she was trying to protect her face from the knife.
I wish so much I could be hypnotized or something to see if I could re-play his description...
Ya just never know.
Unfortunately Marie said she doesn't remember him, or Penny. I guess with my husband working as a Correctional Counselor in a prison and him constantly feeding "info" in my brain about people, I do notice things that may not feel right... The only thing I wish I would have done is what Aaron said... look at his face.
The doctor I work for told me I am better off fighting for my life right when it happens as to oppose to letting the person take me away because I am then pretty much gauranteed to die. How frightening!!! But how true.
Sometimes I get really irritated and mad at Brent for constantly telling me to be careful~~~ especially because of my bubbly personality. He tells me all the time that sometimes the nicest person could end up becoming my worst nightmare and I shouldn't be so trusting. I guess when it comes down to it we need to remember what the big picture could play in front of us. It is ashame how we can take life for granted at times until it is too late...
-Em :(
Emily, haven't you noticed how many of us males stare at you, Marie, Penny, and others? We just can't help it!
;)
In all seriousness, it's a very good idea to try to think like a cop (or a correctional officer) when you're on a run. Be aware of your surroundings--including possible escape routes if needed--and all the people around you. Also be on the lookout for other runners who may need help.
Just don't stop running--we all know how to run safely!
Barry and all don't say another word about staring at my sister or Ill have to beat you up! ;)
Great tips everyone! As anyone knows me, I run with a pack of women in the mornings, and I usually have my eye's peeled on anything suspicious for their sakes. Kinda like a Secret Service guy in running shorts...strike that...probably not a good visual.
I too get irritated at my husband when he tells me 'be careful' or asks 'when will you be back', etc. but when things like this happen you suddenly realize how vulnerable we are and that we really do need to be careful and be aware of our surroundings..
Run safely guys, but do keep running!
Does anyone know who it was yet?
Kim N. Said:
A friend of mine shared an email that was sent from the victim. I did not recognize the name and do not believe she was a SRRC member. I won't print her name on blog for privacy reasons. She did mention in her email that that she was jogging at 5:45 and it was drizzling so the park was a bit bare for that time. As she approached the guy she thought it to be strange for him to wear sweats and a hoody. A couple seconds later she writes: he's on top of me with one hand over my mouth and one on my hair, saying "I have a knife if you scream, I'll kill you, do you understand? If you run, I'll kill you. Do you understand? She then goes on to say that she dropped to the ground. He showed the knife (kitchen knife - 8" and she grabbed it. The knife dropped and then he puched her in the face telling her she was a luck B---h! Wow. She is soooo lucky. The sad thing is she ran histerically to a house and laid on the doorbell and when the guy answered she was standing there hysterically with the knife and blood and he began yelling for her to go away. I think he was not sure of the situation. Police were called and now they are out looking for the guy. She never got a look at his face and he had leather gloves on. The women sounds really strong from her email. I really hope they catch this guy soon.
Kim N.
PS. I ran into a fellow runner Harvey Stevens and He saw the guy running right after it happened. He was in his car cutting through the park and near Macarthur the guy ran across the street. The guy was black, hooded sweats. He thought it was strange and then saw the police. He stopped and gave desc. He apparantly was spotted running down Glenwood shortly after by neighbors. Some ind. have seen this guy for the past couple of weeks hanging out in the park! Yikes. Anne B. you might tell your co-worker that it could have been the same guy. He was on foot. No car.
Well since this guy is african american, I'm glad that the guy I had seen is not "the guy"... now that I think of it I guess it could have been Barry...
(Sorry~~ not meaning to joke on such a serious note! Couldn't resist)
-Em ;)
Post a Comment