Posted on 12/19/2009 5:43:01 AM PST by Travis McGee
LEWISTON — In the early evening on the first day of summer, a large group of Somali boys approached a woman on the corner of Ash and Pierce streets. According to police reports, they intimidated the woman and slapped her in the back of the head before scattering into the downtown.
Five days later, shortly after midnight, a man was accosted by a group of Somali boys outside the Big Apple on Main Street. Police reports say several members of the group punched the man and took money from him. They then fled in a car.
Later that night, a woman in her late 60s was beaten by a group of Somali boys and relieved of cash while walking in Kennedy Park.
Five nights later, another man was jumped by a group of similar description. He resisted the gang and was beaten badly. He required surgery.
Throughout the summer, similar reports have come into the Police Department. Witnesses and investigators say swarms of Somali boys, some as young as 8, others in their late teens, overwhelm solitary victims through sheer numbers.
"It's not gang activity in the traditional sense," Deputy Chief James Minkowsky said. "We're not seeing the colors or the monikers, but it's still a gang mentality."
Often, these gang members carry sticks and rocks with which to intimidate their victims. There are often four or five of them, sometimes as many as a dozen. Typically, they threaten or beat their victims until they give up the goods: money, bicycles, cell phones, prescription drugs, or other items of value.
Then they scatter.
"By the time the call gets to us, the group has dispersed," Minkowsky said.
The attacks continued all summer; more than a dozen were reported to police. There were more in the fall and a series of them in recent weeks. In each attack, the victim is one who may have appeared weak to the group that descended on them.
"They single out a person who is walking alone. The victim is often intoxicated," Minkowsky said. "Or he might be small. They look for someone who is not likely to fight back or present much of a challenge."
On the first day of December, a man walking through Kennedy Park after leaving a Park Street club said he was attacked by four Somali males. The group came at him from behind, knocked him down and stole prescription drugs and $150 in cash. That man told police it was the second time he was attacked in such a fashion. The first time, he was able to escape.
On the last day of November, there were three such attacks reported in Lewiston: one in the area of Central Maine Medical Center, another on Bartlett Street, the third in Kennedy Park.
In another attack, a woman walking a dog in the park was set upon. The assailants, a group of Somali males, beat her dog with a stick. Police later tracked down one of the attackers. He was a 10-year-old boy.
In late summer, an off-duty civilian police employee was eating at a local restaurant. A local boy ran to the window, screaming for help. The police employee ran outside and found a group — roughly a half-dozen — of Somali boys. When confronted, they ran off.
Police say they are investigating the attacks on several fronts. They are using new technology and new techniques. A bigger break came in recent weeks when they were approached by a group that wants to help.
"Members of the Somali community came to us," Minkowsky says. "They set up a meeting with us and came in to talk about it. They want to help us combat it."
Police Chief Michael Bussiere pointed out that the attackers do not appear to involve large segments of the Somali population. It seems to be a select group that has organized to carry out the attacks.
Police say group robberies are almost unheard of in Lewiston. In the past, when multiple people have attacked a lone victim, two or three assailants were reported and the assault was typically prompted by intoxication or old rivalries.
Not so with the Somali attacks.
"We haven't seen that it's been fueled by alcohol or drugs," Minkowsky said. He added that robbery appears to be a primary motivation among the Somali gangs. "But in some cases, they seem to do it for the thrill of it."
Stephen Wessler, director of the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence, said he was not aware of the Somali assaults in Lewiston. After hearing the nature of them, he said the attacks likely were not the type that involve his group. The motive appears to be robbery, rather than race.
While investigating the ambush-style attacks, police have little to compare them with, at least locally. A search of assaults dating back to spring revealed no incidents of a similar nature involving non-Somalis.
"This is unique," Minkowsky said.
There have been a few arrests since the attacks began. Minkowsky said many of the suspects had dropped out of school. Their parents seemed to have no idea that their children had become part of a roving gang.
Seeing children as young as 8 running the streets with teens closing in on 20 is something police are not used to seeing. There is a lot about the attacks investigators have not seen before.
That's why it helps them enormously to have input from the Somali elders.
"It's an interesting dynamic for us," Minkowsky said. "We're still on the learning curve with this. Getting help from the Somali community is probably our best chance to resolve it."
The first step is acknowledging that this new crime wave is because of one ethnic group. This article is suprisingly truthful in that regard.
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Stuff like this makes you wonder why the solution isn't obvious, doesn't it?
Concealed carry laws: they work.
This is another clear example of our out of control government.
Forcing things on the citizens of this country that the citizens have loud & clear made known that we do not want.
Where is Charles Bronson, now that we need him? Remember his great “Death Wish” movies?
That moron Minkowsky should be immediately fired for mental and moral defects.
And yes, carrying concealed, and using it, will do alot more than talking with the “Somalian Community” ever will.
Why in the hell shouldn’t they attack people? They know that the cops, government, and media will cover and alibi for them until the cows come home. And in the slim chance that they are caught and arrested, the most that they will get is a dirty look.
I try to stay away from places like that, but, if I am approached and surrounded by some such as that, I will show at least one of them something he has never seen before. What his intestines look like coming from his body.
Judge Judy once told a man that was in her Court, “No good deed goes unpunished.” Every day I see where the truth in that statement is borne out.
So Minkowsky’s minions can’t do their job without Somali community help..........resign then Minkowsky ya poser if basic law enforcement eludes your abilities.
Of course Minkowsky will catch and prosecute the first pasty white boy that shoots one of these little animals in self defense.
These slack jawed bottom feeding mouth breathing polidiots and presstitutes are lower than the criminal trash this article relates to !
Doom on ya Minkowsky for not earning yer keep !
“Hey Maine, the 2nd amendment should fix that.”
As a rule, the Somalis are pretty skinny. Might I recommend scatter shot.
The higher a cop moves up the chain of command the more politician they have to become.
Law enforcement cannot change public policy. But voters can.
The wealthy liberal legislators are not affected by this type of criminal activity. That’s why they pass legislation without a thought that negatively effects the commoner.
Vote and carry. One day when laws have failed, you, the citizen, will be the law and you will have to enforce it.
“He was such a nice boy. He used to cut my grass....’’ Yeah, with an AK-47 right? :-)
Man, that wouldn’t be pretty!
LOL
He grew up here in the town I live in.
He’s a liberal tool and could care less.
He is Maines answer to Garrison Kieller (sp?)
What I wish is that he would pack up and move SOMEWHERE ELSE.
They should arm themselves. A slap in the head, they get lead.
Lol!
More racist hate crimes for the MSM to ignore, because the victims are only whites.
Exactly, but you should add that these episodes occur because the whites allow them to do it.
Not in my neck of the woods.
Never.
Doesn’t this fall into the “reap what you sow” category? I seem to remember Lewiston residents being proud of their multiculturalism and tolerance back when the Somali refugees were relocated there.
I recommend next time a white resident is surrounded by Somali punks, they chant to themselves “Our diversity is our strength!” “Our diversity is our strength!” “Our diversity is our strength!” “Our diversity is our strength!” “Our diversity is our strength!” “Our diversity is our strength!” “Our diversity is our strength!” ...
In the old days a posse of citizens would be out hunting them down for the sheer fun of it.Shotguns under arm.
Now recreation has a new meaning.
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