Female Jogger Attacked in Kirkwood Earlier This Week
Decatur Metro | November 19, 2010Sug passes along this information Atlanta Police’s Major Dalton, Zone 6 Commander…
On November 17, 2010 at approximately 8:30 p.m., a female was attacked while jogging on Ridgedale at Hillcrest. The victim was grabbed from behind and drug into a wooded area on the northeast side of Ridgedale after she crossed Hillcrest. Due to the time of night and the way in which she was attacked she is unable to provide a detailed description of the suspect.
The Departments Special Victims Unit will be handling the case and would appreciate any information residents in the neighborhood can provide. If anyone has any questions or concerns, please feel free to call or email me directly.
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Ladies, I hate that it is like this, but please don’t run alone at night— and this includes early morning. I see quite a few out running as early as 5:30 a.m., alone, and I just worry about them. I’ve seen quite a few “characters” out wandering around in the early morning when I am with my group and believe me, I would not want to encounter them alone.
Or if you are going to run at night, definitely do not run with headphones in. If your sight is limited, you want to be able to hear potential oncoming attackers.
For those not familiar with the area, this happened just a few blocks outside Oakhurst/City of Decatur. Scary!
This is why I run with my dog in that area.
Hi everyone –
I know these comments are meant to be helpful, but they are also a form of victim blaming. Attacks can happen to anyone, even if they take every precaution. I think it would be great if energy were spent more toward how to better light areas that tend to be dark, to spread the word and to commit ourselves to being extra vigilant about calling the police whenever we see suspicious activity of any kind. I am truly sorry for the victim of this crime. No one deserves to be attacked.
There’s absolutely NO ONE who’s “blaming the victim”– instead, they’re merely stating the obvious: take such precautions as you can, and be careful. Of course no one deserves to be attacked, but if I don’t exercise some caution when I’m venturing out alone into the dark, I’m putting myself in more peril than necessary. No blame, just sayin’.
Yes, these attacks are blaming the victim. When we’re telling women not to go out at night for fear of what might happen to them, I think this is a pretty clear indication that there’s something wrong with the larger society, NOT with the women who dare to leave their homes.
I agree that anyone, women included, should be able to go about freely whenever and wherever they please, but that’s just not real life. No one is saying she asked for it, so that’s what she got– just that people, especially women, should be careful when venturing out alone after dark. For you to harp that these comments are “blaming the victim” simply ignores that reality, and does nothing productive for the discussion.
Better yet, just get a treadmill. Then you can run when it’s 99 degrees, raining, freezing cold, light or dark. And your dog can run on it too.
I’d rather take my chances outside.
I will never run inside on a treadmill or at the Y. The right to safety on the sidewalk is ours; we must assert, positively claim, that right. These “persons” who commit crimes like this, these wastes of space on earth and of the breath of life, will never have veto power of the way I live my life.
Take back what is rightfully yours–the freedom to walk where you please when you please. Until there is a cop on every street-corner and these low-lifes are locked in a small concrete box, run with a compact handgun. Refuse to be cowed.
my word, pedro. that was quite a comment
GooseHome – I know you mean well, but I think you put a spin on the above comments that simply wasn’t there. It’s logical that we look at what we CAN control, and remind ourselves of that.
I responded before I read your comment– well put.
Fair enough and I absolutely agree it’s natural to want to identify what we can do as individuals. I was just trying to point out that some of the wording was kind of strong (imagine here if you were reading posts as the victim of an attack) and that, generally, there are things we can do as a community. That’s all, not trying to stir up trouble.
I recommend the East Lake Y.
Or a concealed weapon permit.
(joke)
I know you’re joking, but Pedro wasn’t.
If anyone is seriously considering this, before you get a permit and choose to carry, please, please, please get professional training. Also ask yourself if you have the emotional and mental strength to actually use it. If you’re not trained and ready, you are more of a danger to yourself and others than if you were unarmed.
This isn’t an argument for or against carrying a weapon; that’s a whole different discussion. It’s just a request for people to think long and hard about the potential ramifications of arming themselves.
Perhaps a tazer would be an equally effective option. My wife uses one when she runs.
My girlfriend had a taser that I tried out on my leg…it didn’t even hurt, but the sound is terrible and might be an OK bluff. Granted it was a cheap one, but I don’t think tasers are a practical form of defense (other than as a bluff) and will most likely just anger the person you tase rather than stop them (assuming you can successfully use it on them). Possibly better than nothing though.