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A friend of mine had this happen today in the parking lot at the tax office in Richardson.

She and her mom went to the office to get her a temp handicapped permit due to surgery she had on her foot. In the parking lot was a man "beating the fool" (her words) out of a woman. The woman was holding an infant child as he was hitting her.

Her mom ran into the DMV office and asked for someone to help and come outside to stop the man from beating the woman. She was told "We can't help just because you tell us to. Besides, we're too busy." Meanwhile, several employees and customers went to the window of the office to watch the assault happen in the parking lot.

She said about 30-40 people walked by in the parking lot and did nothing to intervene as this was taking place.

My friend's mom called the police and three Richardson PD cruisers arrived within moments.

I'm not typically one to involve myself in other people's affairs, but in the case of a physical assault taking place - especially one with an infant child involved - I would have likely intervened.

Thoughts?

best move is just calling 911 and reporting it, unless you saw the whole thing from start to finish and then its still up to debate.

Well. I would have stopped it but that's just me. Hard to believe 30 or 40 people walked by and did nothing while this man was beating this woman. Suppose he pulled out a knife and killed the baby, then the lady. Then we would all be sitting around debating why nobody did anything to stop a violent criminal from killing a lady and a baby in the parking lot of the DMV...

There are many dangers involved in an intervention. The best thing is to call 911 wait for the police to show up and if the situation goes into the dumpster before they arrive, then intervene. Be a good witness.

The eternal question. A few options with many outcomes.

Get involved, it goes to heck and then the woman is testifying against you in the civil and criminal case.

Get involved and the attacker stops and goes away.

Get involved and the attacker attacks you then leaved you wounded and disabled as the woman gets in the care and drives off with her abuser.

Get involved and be a hero.

The problem is you don't get to pick the outcome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Kitty_Genovese" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Kythas wrote: Thoughts?

Few good deeds go unpunished, especially when CHL is involved.

MoJo wrote:There are many dangers involved in an intervention. The best thing is to call 911 wait for the police to show up and if the situation goes into the dumpster before they arrive, then intervene. Be a good witness.

legally this would be what i'd do as well....

ethically i would want to intervene..... but since my intervention would intervene on my life with me possibly sitting in jail.....

eventually all citizens will become criminals when enough legislation passes.....

Unless life, limb or eyesight is at risk.. I would (have) call 911, leaver the operator on the line and would provide a distraction (have done this) to the likely assailant... just a delaying tactic to allow the LEOs time to get there.

Anything from shouting to the general vicinity.. "Someone call 911" "To hey mister can I help?" "Oh man,, what did she do this time?" Whatever to distract and delay the active physical aggression.... There is also going to a video running,,, so if in the event the "victim" claims I wrongly called the police, and it was just a lovers spat.. I can show the responding LEO, or later a judge.. what I witnessed that gave me enough concern to call 911.

Im not batman, I dont play one on TV, and I don't stay in Holiday Inn Express all that often. But I can't ignore and watch a woman with child get beat, or a child getting beat (not spanked or otherwise disciplined.. but beat)

Pick your battles, choose your tactic wisely, be prepared for a counter attack.