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The Madison Daily Leader reports a brazen, broad-daylight burglary and minor beating in our fair city. Saturday afternoon, a fella comes to someone's door, asks for help, gets let in, then shoves the resident to the floor and swipes money and jewelry.
The description offered by Chief Pulford: black male, 6'4", 150–200 pounds, dressed all in black.
Hm... skinny 6'4" black man in Madison. First thing I think: Shouldn't be hard to find him. My guess is that there might be two guys in town who fit that description. (But 150 pounds? I'm 5'10" and 150 pounds, and people think I'm skinny. Stretch that weight out across 6'4", and you have a guy who's probably not healthy enough to knock anyone to the floor.)
So now for the next few days, folks who've heard about Saturday's assault will look at every black male in town as a possible suspect...
...though I wonder: is that any different from how our African-American residents feel viewed around town any other time of the year?
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Update 2009.04.22 08:05 CDT: Busted! KJAM reports Madison police have arrested 19-year-old Christian McMillian, formerly of Las Vegas. Evidently lots of neighbors called in with information. Now let's see the evidence....
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3 days ago
The description of black is a relevant distinguishing characteristic. But you're right, our small town probably is untrusting of minorities. My much older uncle was certain the Mexicans that lived next to him would steal from his garage - they didn't.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of insurance fraud going on during these tough times. People burning their houses, having friends burn their cars to collect money. This complaint is probably legit, but one has to keep the thought in your mind that the story may be fabricated to get money. In this town, there must be witnesses who at least saw a perpetrator leaving by auto or by foot.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of the claim a few years ago when Rev. Al Sharpton brought a young black woman forward who claimed she had been attacked by white men. Later, she admitted to fabricating the entire story.
I feel sorry for the people of Madison having someone as narrow minded and foolish as you living amoung them. If you think the people of Madison or South Dakota are that racist I would suggest that you move. Get a life already, I'm sure people have better things to do than wounder if every black person they see is a criminal.
ReplyDeleteAnon, ironic how you're always so quick to tell someone who's not like you to move. Why such antipathy?
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:17 You might check the spelling of wonder and among. Oh, and the correct use of than versus then. Cory does not like poor spelling or grammar. Just ask poor Judge Wilbur.
ReplyDeleteSomething else to chew on: all we get for description is color, height, and weight? Why no age range? Hair length? And why the exactness on height but what looks like a really bad guess range on weight? Consider: at 6'4", this suspect would be quite the outlier, above the 95th percentile for black men.
ReplyDeleteDid somebody lose some money at the casino . . .
ReplyDeleteIf the person that got knocked down was 5' 2 then the person who may only be 5'11 could look 6'4. I think a little better description could have given by the victim, but hey.. when you are getting knocked down on the floor and worrying for you life, maybe getting an accurate description wasn't top on the list.
ReplyDeleteThis comment mainly has to do with a person's hight and weight. I have a grandson that is 6'8", I don't know how much he weighs, but he has a 34" waist and his inseam is 38-40" It's really hard to find affordable clothes that fit him. He also eats like horse. He spent Saturday night here, and for breakfast on Sunday, he had a yogurt and a handful of cookies. I ordered pizza for lunch and he ate 5 pieces.
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 3:24, did Anon @ 2:17 use the incorrect than/then? It appears OK to me.
ReplyDelete["...better things to do than wonder..."—correct! Anon is making a comparison, which is than's proper bailiwick. (Anon also appears to be hanging out with Canadians who are colouring her/his/its ourthougraphy.)]
ReplyDeleteRadio station says the alleged perpetrator was from Las Vegas. Will be interesting to find out if this was a random attack or if this person has a previous history of assault and theft. To attack someone at 2:00 PM on a Saturday afternoon is pretty bold in a community where almost every home has a weapon or two and pickups carry a deer rifle or shotgun.
ReplyDeleteI know this young man pesonally, and he is a good kid!! He is really a great person. I cannot imagine how he feels right now, once he has the time to actually think a bout we he did. I apologize to the victim, and to the parents of Mr. McMillian. The youth of today must have the respect for another human being, as well as the morals not to committ STUPID crimes. What a waste of a human being if he serves real time for this.
ReplyDeleteHe might be a good kid, but it makes you wonder at what point you really know a person. If the guy they think committed the Craigslist murders turns out to be the one, his fiance thinks he's a real nice guy too, who wouldn't hurt a fly.
ReplyDeleteHave you stopped to realize that maybe that's all they had to go on as far as a description? Did you expect the victim to be able to sit down and draw you a portrait of the attacker Corey?
ReplyDeleteWere you personally going to go out and track him down and apprehend him on your own? I don't see why this was even brought up to begin with. They gave the facts that were given to them. Would you rather the PD not give any information and let the community live in complete denial that something like this can happen?
[Anon: you have me at a disadvantage: when you call me by name, do you mind providing yours?]
ReplyDeleteEvery now and then I like to stick a thermometer in the community and see what people are thinking. I see no need for the PD to sit on information that will help us catch a criminal. But I wonder: is there a difference in how a white male feels walking down Main Street Madison after the police announce they're looking for a white male and how a black male feels doing the same when MPD puts out an APB for a black male?
Thinking through those two scenarios may provide some perspective on white privilege.
Now come the excueses. I personally know a family member of the victim. He was told not once, but twice to get out of the house. Good people do not do this sort of thing, he should get the book thrown at him.
ReplyDeleteIf this had happened at my house, it is quite possible the outcome would be the same for McMillin as it was for Odens in Brookings
Here's a guy who staked out his elderly neighbor lady's home, forced her to the ground more than once and robbed her. Anyone that dumb, whether they are black, white or apricot should get the book thrown at them. He's lucky the victim's sons don't find him before he gets to court.
ReplyDelete["Petey": read the comment policy. Sign your name, and you can stay.]
ReplyDelete