"Justice, community-style. It's a beautiful thing."

[Ichiban]

Kind of brings a tear to my eye.


Mob nabs, beats man sought in girl's rape

Daily News Staff

DEMETRICE REYNOLDS said she had one wish for the thug who brutally raped her 11-year-old daughter: "I want him dead."

Her wish may as well have been broadcast across Kensington.

About a dozen neighborhood residents flew into a rage yesterday afternoon when they cornered Jose Carrasquillo, who police said they had linked through physical evidence to the heinous Monday-morning rape of Reynolds' daughter.

The justice-seeking mob rained fists, feet and wooden sticks upon Carrasquillo, 26, for several minutes until police intervened at Front and Clearfield streets.

When the dust cleared, Carrasquillo, whose last known address was Orkney Street near York, was in critical condition at a local hospital, and police officials were thanking the locals for helping them catch a man they had pursued feverishly but identified only as "a person of interest."

"Justice, community-style. It's a beautiful thing," said a resident who declined to be identified.

"The people took it [the case] to heart," said Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey. "It says a lot about the community."

Ramsey noted, however, that he didn't condone the burst of vigilante justice. "They injured him pretty badly," he said.

The full story is here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/20090603_Mob_nabs__beats_man_sought_in_girl_s_rape.html?cmpid=16339736

[tt11758]

And therein lies an illustration of the difference between what is legal and what is just.

[tombogan03884]

Some interesting notes from the rest of the article:
"Seven years ago, at age 19, Jose Carrasquillo was accused of trying to rape a woman in Kensington, just a half block from the day-care center.

Ramsey said that the 2002 case was one of 17 arrests that litter Carrasquillo's adult criminal record."

"Jose Carrasquillo's older brother, Alex, 28, speaking as if his brother is guilty, said that the attack was "wrong" but that it was the result of a years-long drug habit.

"Everybody knows him to be a good dude. He got a drug problem," he said yesterday afternoon from his home on Wishart Street near Howard, a few blocks from where Jose Carrasquillo was attacked and arrested. "If he wasn't messed up, he never would have done it. You can't only blame it on him."

Personal responsibility seems to be a dirty phrase, but not to the people of that neighbor hood, good for them. The only way to rid neighborhoods of crime is for the residents to take EFFECTIVE action, Cleaning yards and removing graffiti instill the correct mindset, but beating the crap out of offenders sets the lesson where it is most needed. I would be pleased to see many more stories like this.

[twyacht]

The justice-seeking mob rained fists, feet and wooden sticks upon Carrasquillo, 26, for several minutes until police intervened at Front and Clearfield streets.

Ramsey noted, however, that he didn't condone the burst of vigilante justice. "They injured him pretty badly," he said.

Even though the cops were close by, you know,.. they had to clean their sunglasses, adjust those big heavy patrol belts, make sure their shoes were shiny,...finish their coffee.

THAN go intervene,....

[tombogan03884]

The justice-seeking mob rained fists, feet and wooden sticks upon Carrasquillo, 26, for several minutes until police intervened at Front and Clearfield streets.

Ramsey noted, however, that he didn't condone the burst of vigilante justice. "They injured him pretty badly," he said.

Even though the cops were close by, you know,.. they had to clean their sunglasses, adjust those big heavy patrol belts, make sure their shoes were shiny,...finish their coffee.

THAN go intervene,....

I'd call it a "Timely response" they knew the scumbag would get released from jail a lot quicker than he would be released from the hospital, and they DID show up before the GOOD people went to far and killed the dirtbag.

[Sponsor]

[jaybet]

Kensington is an incredible crap hole. Some of you folks from those beautiful places have probably never seen a waste land like Kensington. And it probably wasn't vigilante justice. It was just another chance for some Philly folks to kick someone's a**.

[SwoopSJ]

Kensington is an incredible crap hole. Some of you folks from those beautiful places have probably never seen a waste land like Kensington. And it probably wasn't vigilante justice. It was just another chance for some Philly folks to kick someone's a**.

I've spent time in several big cities, but I have to say, comparatively, that even the "good" parts of Philly are pretty crappy.  As for the scumbag in question, they should have castrated him in '02.  Oh, I love the community-style vigilante justice and I'm sure the "brotherly love" they gave this blemish on the butt of humanity will deter others, but nothin' says lovin' like a red hot blade.  Hey, the Arabs will cut your hands off for stealing...  

Swoop

[twyacht]

Kensington is an incredible crap hole. Some of you folks from those beautiful places have probably never seen a waste land like Kensington. And it probably wasn't vigilante justice. It was just another chance for some Philly folks to kick someone's a**.

Just like Dundalk, Md. Part of Baltimore, total bad part of town.

I violate speed limits whenever I go through it on the way to Catonsville (wife's family), across town.  No wonder nobody looks happy or smiles in that neck of the woods.

[deepwater]

vigilante justice happens all the time here in Peru. the fuzz stays out of the way of the crooks because they might get shot... so the people take action. and sometimes they take action against the fuzz for not doing anything.. I watched a video recently where they burned the cops cars and motorcycle out in front of the station because they refused to act. cool when the tank blew! 

[deamonpi]

using the police is a double edged sword.  it slows justice but at the same time it keeps us from degenerating into the vendetta system.  The vendetta system is like a family tree of who kills/severely injures whom when one of yours is killed/severely injured.