Posted on 02/03/2010 10:34:42 PM PST by nickcarraway
It appears Victor Frost isn't the only Palo Alto panhandler willing to fight to defend his turf.
On Monday, police said, one female beggar drew a knife and threatened to stab another who had taken her favorite spot, in front of Starbucks on University Avenue. Terry Barber, 51, was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, police Sgt. Wayne Benitez said.
Authorities were called to the scene at about 3:30 p.m. by the victim, a wheelchair-bound woman who said she had been threatened with what looked like a butcher knife, Benitez said. She said her attacker had gone into Starbucks and dropped off a bag, then walked across the street.
Officers arrested Barber moments later outside the Cheesecake Factory. She had a box cutter in her backpack and a metal folding knife in a back pocket, Benitez said. Neither looked much like a butcher knife, he said, but police believe the folding knife was the weapon Barber brandished.
"Apparently the suspect was upset that the other woman took her place on the sidewalk to beg for money," Benitez said. "That's when she pulled out her knife and said, 'I'm going to stab you if you don't move to another location.' "
He added, "I guess it's a pretty lucrative spot if you're willing to brandish a knife for that piece of real estate."
Barber didn't actually stab the victim, Benitez said, but she was booked on suspicion of assault instead of just brandishing a weapon because she waved it back and forth while making explicit threats.
In a similar incident, local panhandler and activist Victor Frost was arrested in September on suspicion of shouting racial slurs at a fellow beggar who took his spot on Homer Avenue across from Whole Foods Market.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Ping
Everyone has heard it before: Loaction, Location, Location!
No honor among thieves.
On another occasion, I saw one of the professional pan handlers putting on makeup...dark blue around her eye to make it look like she was hit.
Now-a-days, when I do give something to pan handers its only in the form of food.
The beggars have their own capitalistic structure and hierarchy.
Yeah, forget about clearing out the moochers and loiterers from a business’ steps or off a busy corner. Just break up their squabbles over lucrative panhandling sites.
Here in Austin, a few months or a year back, panhandlers occupied a particular corner that kids walking to school had to use. Once they started harassing kids for money, the parents and local talk radio got involved. Then the cops did what the public wanted and finally cleared ‘em from it.
I haven’t seen as many on University lately.
We have the same fellows here in Hollywood but it’s in front of a 7-11 AND Starbucks. The barista-snobs found out that their tip jar was going to the bum so they chased him away.
Now he’s in front of the 7-11 and (sigh), these “bums” dress better than I do.
Sherlock Holmes wrote a nice story about self same character coming in from a nice house with family and kids in the suburbs of London, panhandled all day, packed up around five and went home to his nice home, abundant food, and loving family at night. He made some nice change in the city. The people made it worth his time. I am like you if it is anything it is either a coat or food or water. Anything else is a chain to the streets.
by they way. i have never given any homeless person a coat, but it sounded good. lol. I do however give to charities that help out their children with educational outreach.
Yesterday morning I was getting off the interstate, waiting through a few stop light cycles in the turn lane (it had snowed a few inches overnight).
The usual guy that stands there every morning with his sign was approached by another "weathered looking" dude. I thought an altercation was inanimate but to my surprise they exchanged pleasantries and the usual bum handed the other bum his sign!
The wife and I couldn't believe it but we had witnessed the "shift change" at the exit ramp!
I am not making this up, I bet if we show up at the same time next week I can get whole thing on video.
Offer them work and watch them disappear!
Yes. The man with the double life. Made more begging.
Anytime you see someone about to give a panhandler money tell them not to.
lol. Guess it made up for itself in the experience? Interesting point you make. It did make that point (which I hadn't thought much about--the low pay.) I hope you did not suffer too much ;-).
However the the other timeless point was regarding the money beggars make off the fools that fund their jobs. If there was no money, they would have to seek other avenues--literally and figuratively. Of course then there is the balance of the two points pitted against one another.
Why did Conan have to die? I loved the Holmes' series :-D.
Time to come up with a contemporary, conservative Watson/Holmes? You game? LOL.
Huh? It’s illegal to say racial slurs? Good luck with that one.
I thought about that story a lot before I was employed to be a reporter in London. I believe the story's point)
lol. Guess it made up for itself in the experience? Interesting point you make. It did make that point (which I hadn't thought much about--the low pay.) I hope you did not suffer too much ;-).
However the the other timeless point was regarding the money beggars make off the fools that fund their jobs. If there was no money, they would have to seek other avenues--literally and figuratively. Of course then there is the balance of the two points pitted against one another.
Why did Conan have to die? I loved the Holmes' series :-D.
Time to come up with a contemporary, conservative Watson/Holmes? You game? LOL.
And likely drive better cars.
There have been some good investigative reports about some panhandlers in Houston where it was discovered that they drove decent cars back to decent homes each evening after completing their panhandling gigs.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.