The Long Road

04/02/2003 Archived Entry: "Yo guy, got any change?"

Before we moved, my family and I lived a couple of streets away from a project. I was friends with quite a few people that lived in the projects and knew generally the kind of things that would go on there. In that neighbourhood was a little strip mall with a Giant Tiger's, a convenience store, and some others. One of the more amuzing sights was watching the convenience store turn over every few months. I don't think that the convenience stores were not doing well, I'm pretty certain that they always closed because they were losing money to shoplifting. It was more than on one occation that I've gone in with a few people and have them walk out with jackets full of snacks.

What really bugs me though is the amount of violence that goes on. At the major bus station that I used to get to and from high school, it was almost a weekly occurence that some major fight involving at least a dozen people would break out. Usually, it was in the form of swarmings where a bunch of guys would go after one person. A lot of people that lived in the projects near my house were usually involved in these things.

I don't understand what motivates these people to do such things. I can't imagine ever needing to steal snacks on a daily basis or getting ten of my friends to gang up on one person. I guess I just can't "relate" to them.

As I've mentioned, we've moved recently and I wasn't expecting this sort of thing to keep going on since we are now in one of the nicer parts of town. Unfortunately, this kind of violence and behaviour is apparently prevalent where we are now too. I've run into a few articles lately about this sort of thing, and this one a couple of days ago. I'll also paste the full story in the 'more' section.

So whats the benefit of 16 people stealing a discman from a 15 year old? What are these guys thinking? I can't imagine ever taking pleasure from taking something from someone who worked hard to get it. Do they feel guilt or a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from a good night's work? I'd really like to know. 15 guys working even for minimum wage would make more money than they ever could stealing and selling things they get off of people. Honestly, an mp3 player split 15 ways is not much.

Anyways, I'm upset that this is happening at a bus station that I use, that my mom and my brother use. During the work term, it's pretty common for me to get home late (8-ish) and I'd like to be able to feel safe taking the bus. No matter how strong you are or how fast you are, I think you'd still be pretty scared of 15 or so people trying to rob you.

Here is the article:

Girls, 15, swarmed near bus stop
One of four similar attacks over the weekend; councillor calls for action

Paula McCooey, with files from Zev Singer
The Ottawa Citizen

Monday, March 31, 2003

Two 15-year-old girls walking to a bus stop at the South Keys mall early yesterday morning were swarmed and "man-handled" by a group of 16 young men, Ottawa police say.

The attack was one of several swarming incidents near transit stations on the weekend that have at least one city councillor calling for improved safety measures.

Police say the girls were walking through the tunnel that links the mall to the OC Transpo bus station when 16 men, aged about 17 to 20, blocked their path and surrounded them.

Ottawa police Staff Sgt. Tim Halderson said the girls were "man-handled" and searched for valuables, but "resisted what was happening." They were able to escape without injury, but Staff Sgt. Halderson said they were severely distraught.

The swarming followed a string of other similar, random assaults -- believed to have been carried out by a different group of men also in their late teens -- starting about 10 p.m. Friday.

A 16-year-old boy told police a group of about seven men attempted to steal the MP3 player he was carrying. The youth told police the men followed him onto a bus at the Billings Bridge Plaza and, when he exited at Heatherington Road, they got off and followed him. He believed one of the men had a gun. He was able to get away.

Moments later, police say, a 15-year-old boy was approached by a group of similar description while walking across a parking lot. They asked him if he had any money. When he told them he didn't, one of the suspects, who eventually ended up in custody, grabbed the boy's portable compact disc player and assaulted him, police say.

About 10 minutes later in the same area, a 20-year-old man was approached by what police believe to be the same group.

Police say one of the men asked him for a cigarette

When he told them he didn't have a cigarette, police say, a white male told him he had a gun and took his wallet.

About 15 minutes later, a convenience store near Heron and Walkley roads was robbed by a group of men. Police say one of the group, a black male, pointed a gun at the cashier and told him to open the cash. The group fled with cash, cigarettes and drinks, police say.

Gloucester-Southgate Councillor Diane Deans said urgent action must be taken to prevent similar incidents. Ms. Deans says Ottawa residents shouldn't feel threatened while walking in public areas like South Keys. "I'm going to ask the Ottawa Police Service to meet with me and perhaps convene a meeting with OC Transpo and South Keys mall management to look at issues and see what we can do to improve the safety and public confidence."

A 16-year-old black man from Ottawa South was apprehended after the robbery. Police say items related to the Friday swarmings were found on him. He was charged with four counts of robbery, one count of use of a firearm while committing an indictable offence, four counts of breach of undertaking and obstructing police. Police are looking for 15 black men and one white man, 17 to 20, for the swarming of the girls.

Meanwhile, about 9:20 last night, three black men with guns and a hatchett robbed a video store at 1787 Kilborn Ave. After taking video games, they robbed a man of his wallet and his car. And at 10:10 p.m. two masked black men with guns held up a Harvey's restaurant at Bank Street and Hunt Club Road.

© Copyright 2003 The Ottawa Citizen

Replies: 15 comments

that could totally happen to me. i don't know why it hasn't. i lived in what i consider to be one of the worst parts of ottawa. there was a biker gang hangout down the street from me for god's sake. and i was always walking to and from downtown late at night. past midnight often. i don't know how i'd handle that if it ever happenned to me.

Posted by shawnathan @ 04/02/2003 09:35 AM EST

Yeah it is kind of scarry that all of this is going on in the neighborhood I grew up in. Not much of that happened when I lived there, I was usually friends with the type of people that if that happened there would be a huge group fight about it. Luckily things never resulted in that though.

As for the stealing, I went through a period in my life where I would do that everyday for a couple years. After a while I would just do it and not even notice, it was quite odd.

Posted by Mike @ 04/02/2003 10:42 AM EST

I'm lucky (I guess in a way) that I've never really had to deal with that. Where I've lived in Penticton hasn't been the "bad" parts. And even then, I'm sure with it being such a small town that it's not as bad as the places you guys are talking about.

Posted by Andrea @ 04/03/2003 10:47 PM EST

Wow. I just read the whole article. I was absolutely stunned when my friend was stabbed ten times in an armed robbery here. It just doesn't happen very often. When I got the call to go to the hospital to stay with him I wasn't sure it was all real. I thought it was a very weird dream. I'm glad that I live in a smaller place where things like that aren't common.

Posted by Andrea @ 04/03/2003 10:51 PM EST

Hi. I'm in England, and swarmings of this nature hardly ever happen fortunately. Why do these groups of youths do these things? I think they have low self esteem. If that's the only way they get satisfaction, by swarming lone individuals, then they are very sorry people. They probably think they are tough, but in reality they are weak and cowards. Get them on their own without their gang member thug friends and they are piss weak. Who are the parents of these imbeciles though? and are they aware of what they are getting up to. Some of them are probably into drugs. Some of them are just plain evil, full of anger. They've nothing productive to offer to society, all they do is destroy. I do blame the parents, because a child raised properly would not act like this or get involved in this type of thing. The police should be patrolling these areas on a regular basis. Youth crime is a major problem and is not being addressed properly. All this business about not being able to reveal the names of these thugs because they are too young is bullshit. Their names should be put on the front of newspapers so everyone will know who they are and the parents of these thugs will have some sense of shame about the sorry way they brought up their kids!

Posted by Kirk @ 11/12/2003 07:30 AM EST

I definately think that these people would certainly not be as willing to be tough if they were on their own. In many cases I think that they don't see a way out of the lifestyle they were raised in and merely continue along the same path as those around them. And while it is the parents' fault I think sometimes they jsut can't be bothered to teach some sense into their children. I've seen so many early teens that I've just wanted to smack around. It also only takes one particularly forceful individual to turn a bunch of good kids into a trouble bunch usually.

Posted by Rayne @ 11/14/2003 03:53 AM EST

Do you not see the pattern ?

It's a Black Thing, you wouldn't
understand.

Posted by Canuck @ 01/02/2004 07:28 PM EST

Hey im from NY where here these type of things happen on a daily basis in our my streets I think yall ottawa folks need to relax cuz these youths are doin their thing no matter if that is selling drugs,robbing ppl stealing cuz they gotta come up cuz they family is poor and they poor so they money hungry and if stickin up couple video stores is gonna give em some bread why not and Rayne lemme tell u somting u dont know black ppl so u wouldnt understand either these youths are gonna come up and run Ottawa its bout time your city gets live and to the young gunz keep doin ur thizang

Posted by Jerome @ 01/07/2004 12:57 AM EST

Hey im from NY where here these type of things happen on a daily basis in our my streets I think yall ottawa folks need to relax cuz these youths are doin their thing no matter if that is selling drugs,robbing ppl stealing cuz they gotta come up cuz they family is poor and they poor so they money hungry and if stickin up couple video stores is gonna give em some bread why not and Rayne lemme tell u somting u dont know black ppl so u wouldnt understand either these youths are gonna come up and run Ottawa its bout time your city gets live and to the young gunz keep doin ur thizang

Posted by Jerome @ 01/07/2004 12:57 AM EST

Hello fellow residents....

Just a brief note on the swarming incident that have become an overnight sensation...First, before I address that, I would like to address Rayne's comment:

"Do you not see the pattern?
It's a Black Thing, you wouldn't
understand."

Rayne, with all do respect, I do not believe swarming is solely a black or a white issue. As citizens, we all deserve the right to fair and "equal" treatment irrespective of the axis of differences. As a young black male, I take grave offence to your comment that individuals committing this offence are merely black. In an age where diversity, inclusiveness and understanding ought to be the cornerstone of our society, your statement belittle the progress that have been made in the fight for equality. Rest assured, your statement is an affront to me, my race, and to everyone who fights and/or is committed to social justice.

Now, on the swarming issue....Definitely, this is a problem that needs to be dealt with. But who are we kidding though! Recent swarming are not a new phonomenon. These sort of behaviours have been going on for decades. Think back to the time you were in middle shool, or high school, and few bullies threatened to mess your face if you did not cough up your lunch money. This is exactly what is going on today at our bus stops. The only difference is the activity has moved from the backyard of the school to the streets. While I agree that there is a need for vigilance, I for one do not support the pro-cop, politician-state mentality that is being proposed. Instead of labelling youth as being "punks", or "low-lifes", the community, hence the so-called politicians should divert their energy to combating factors that are contributing to the actions of these youths. Things like cuts to social funding, after-school clubs and etcetra should be scrutinize and aggresively dealth with. As the saying goes, the youth are the future, and as such we all need to invest in the youths and in their future. The government needs to be held accountable for its contribution to these dillema. Equally, these youths need to be allowed the opportunity to understand the impact of their behaviour on others, the community and above all themselves.

Posted by Sol @ 01/22/2004 09:39 PM EST

Sol, while I agree with everything you've said I have to point out that I did not make the comments with which you find offense; they were made by Canuck.

Posted by Rayne @ 01/22/2004 10:20 PM EST

Most of these swarmings are commited by Somalian youths, not Black Canadians.

These kids came from a war torn, lawless country, where it's every man for himself. If you wanted somthing, you needed to take it from someone forcefully.

Canada needs to stop letting in these types of refugees.

Posted by Matt @ 04/24/2004 09:43 PM EST

Hey Matt, go fuck yourself you racist bastard.

How do you like them apples!?!

Posted by Mike @ 04/25/2004 07:19 PM EST

Hey Mike, when did stating the obvious become an act of racism? I suggest that if you admire a society that has become afraid to state the truth because it may offend others, that you move to the United States. We have lots of people here that are used to making excuses for criminals, you might make some new friends. Here in the USA we like to redistribute the blame to the shoulders of everyone but the criminals, and lord knows we certainly don't talk about what color most criminals are. Come on down, see what your country will look like if everyone pulls together and gets afraid of the facts.

Posted by Sean @ 05/29/2004 12:29 PM EST

I was swarmed recently, its not fun believe that.

I don't believe that refugees should be allowed into the country, because these are some of the lowest class people of 3RD world countries. Immigrants are fine because they have to meet specific educational/ social requirements.

But refugees are not able to integrate with society very easily. So until the government finds a good way, it should be put on a holt.

Posted by DOG @ 06/07/2005 01:13 AM EST