Arrests Made in Greg Germani Cyclist Case
Decatur Metro | July 17, 2014 | 8:02 amDecaturish has the details…
Atlanta Police on July 16 announced the arrest of a woman accused of helping her boyfriend cover up a crime that landed a local cyclist in the hospital.
Shortly after that announcement, the boyfriend, Joseph Alan Lewis, 19, turned himself into police. Lewis turned himself in to the Zone 2 Atlanta Police Precinct at 1:30 am on July 17, Atlanta Police said.
I am relieved to hear this. This fellow needs some serious jail time.
I understand that one of the charges is attempted murder. They also charged his girlfriend with concealing evidence.
The AJC reports that they actually have video of her doing so. I’m guessing maybe in the parking garage, covering up the vehicle?
Glad to hear he’s not getting away with it. May he rot in prison.
On a much lighter note, the police spokeman quoted in the AJC article is Lt. Rod Woody. Ha!
Heh. How the hell did that guy not end up in the SVU?
Seriously, though, I’m damn glad they caught this scumbag [no editing necessary when the name fits; truth is an absolute defense]. On the other hand, if anyone can screw up a prosecution, it’s Paul Howard and his office. Dear God, do not let them let him skate…
They’ve got an eyewitness victim (thankfully), a girlfriend who is likely to testify to save her own butt, and a fair amount of physical evidence. Sounds like a slam dunk.
What I fear is this becoming a race-driven (and possibly class) case. Saw a study (from D.C., but I’m sure there are parallels in Atlanta) that revealed a divide between cyclists (mostly white, higher incomes) and poor, minority residents who still view cars as status symbols and aren’t exactly fans of cycling as an alternative. I’m oversimplifying the conclusions the study drew, but I could see some of these issues coming to the surface as this case progresses.
I agree that that’s the common perception, but it’s actually not true: cycling is most popular among poor people. (Given the cost of using a car, that shouldn’t be too surprising.) Here’s a link: http://www.vox.com/2014/7/9/5883823/its-not-just-hipsters-on-bikes-cycling-is-most-popular-for-poor-people .
Regarding the main story, I’m very happy that attempted murder is the charge.
Cycling is what high income hipsters in performance gear and aerodynamic helmets on titanium bikes do. Biking is what everyone else does.
So the difference is the clothing and the quality of the bikes? I’m curious what you are trying to say here and why a cyclist = hipster?
Oh, it’s just a difference in intent and level of bicycling, not a dig on either group. I got “hipster” from a Bicycling magazine article. Just my own personal take on bicycling stereotypes. Those who ride a bicycle as a serious sport in organized groups tend to invest in performance gear and fast, light pricier bikes and call themselves cyclists. Especially because they don’t want to be confused with bikers. If you showed up with toe clips instead of cleats, without a helmet, and/or wearing a cotton t-shirt and baggy shorts instead of performance gear, you would stand out. Someone who is riding a bicycle because they cannot afford a motorized vehicle is less likely to invest in expensive gear and equipment and more likely to call themselves a bicyclist. Bike commuters tend to invest in reliable, not so fancy and speed-oriented, gear and equipment because of the wear and tear they give it. Sporadic recreational riders tend to not have a clue and wear their helmets like bonnets. I am probably guilty of all of these stereotypes at some point in my life or another except the bike commuting. Too hard for me to coordinate bicycle and office fashions.
Bike commuters are an extremely diverse lot in terms of both dress and equipment.
I wear cleats. I bike for speed and efficiency.
BUT … I don’t dress like a biker (comfy shorts, simple wicking T-shirt), and I’m loaded with 2 panniers, a 140dB horn, and a bluetooth speaker blasting my times while I cruise from Decatur to midtown every day. And my cleats are mountain bike cleats, since you can actually walk in them.
Others don’t wear helmets and are hipsters trying to be cool on fixies. Others have Walmart bikes and whatever they are wearing that day. And others are “cyclists” as you describe (I’m trying hard not to fall into that category!)
Our monthly Atlanta bike commuter breakfasts highlight the diverse and growing bike commuter population in ATL. It is changing (and growing) a LOT over the last two years. Anyone should check us out, and our breakfasts typically the first Thursday of the month, at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bikecommutersatl/
Reminds me of when I foolishly referred to a friend’s hobby as “Ping Pong”. He didn’t speak to me for a week. Names matter I guess!
Bikers own pit bulls. Cyclists own poodles. So there.
“cycling is most popular among poor people.”
Popular is the problem word there. The study I saw was about attitudes. While it may be true that biking may be more common among low-income people, that’s not necessarily by choice.
The article you referenced mentioned that Hispanics are most likely to bike to work. This rings true. I occasionally pick my wife up at the Doraville Marta station, and I always see quite a lot of Hispanic men (never women) on bikes. But they are closer to kids’ bikes than the fancy ones you seeing flying down the street around here. The riders struggle to keep up speed, and are often on the sidewalks instead of the road. I think that cycling as a hobby or for exercise is quite different than the non-choice cycling that is more common among the poor.
That all sounds plausible.
“What I fear is this becoming a race-driven (and possibly class) case.”
How could this possibly be viewed as a race or class issue? The victim was intentionally run down, nearly killed, and the perp then fled the scene (itself a crime even if the collision had been an accident). Even if the confrontation that precipitated the crime had some racial component — and there is no evidence of that — it would not matter. Nothing could justify running the cyclist down with a car.
Ever since OJ, I never discount race. Sigh
“Even if the confrontation that precipitated the crime had some racial component — and there is no evidence of that — it would not matter.”
Wouldn’t matter in the eyes of the law (though it might in the eyes of a jury), but it would matter in how the case is covered by the media, etc.
I’m guessing that there would have to be some sort of hate-crime charge for race to become a factor. Is road rage considered a hate crime?