Reposting from Craigslist: Attempted assault reported at Powderhouse

[brewso.livejournal.com]

Please note that this did not happen to me, but I just found this posting on craigslist in the community section and figured the wider the information could be relayed, the better. Stay safe!


"I posted yesterday and today about an incident that occurred early yesterday morning in Powderhouse Square (on Broadway--opposite side of the street from the funeral home)at about 4:15 AM.

I was out jogging because I could not sleep (yes I have learned my lesson)and a man attacked me. As I was screaming he said, "STOP SCREAMING OR I'LL KILL YOU!!! STOP SCREAMING OR I'LL KILL YOU!!" I stopped screaming and was able to get away unharmed. I ran away to Davis Sq, hopped in a cab, headed to the police department, and filed a report.

Here is the description:
-Caucasian male, late 20's/early 30's
-dark brown hair, down to below his ears (think of the criminal in "No Country for Old Men)
-fat (280-300 lbs)
-approx 6'
-eyes are skewed (meaning the opposite of cross-eyes: like a fish)
-clothing: white wife-beater t-shirt, jeans, black tennis shoes
-possibly on drugs: he had a crazed expression on his face

If you have seen think you have seen person, PLEASE notify the Somerville police dept at 617-625-1600. I will be calling them tomorrow to see if they have a detective on the case.

I was fortunate enough to get away from this guy, but he's still out on the streets...."

Comments

[m00n.livejournal.com]

For the record I personally have no problem with the concept of cross-posting such a thing in the absence of corroborating information. People can make their own judgments about the validity of the information and I know from personal experience that police departments do not always make it a top priority to give out warnings to the community about things like this.

My issue is mainly with the immediate jump to "rapist" and the complete ambiguity about the nature of the attack, which I realize in this case was just your verbatim reposting of the listing title from Craigslist.

The problem is that if I did see a person on the street matching this description, I would have a really hard time turning him without more detailed information. Otherwise I feel that it's kind of a witch-hunt.