Candidate is beaten by gang, but says that police report would add to the obstacles faced by the gang members
A North Minneapolis DFL candidate trying to meet and greet his constituents on the campaign trail ended his door-to-door run at the hospital after a gang beating. Michael Katch, 45, one of several DFLers running for a District 58B House seat, started out with a good day Friday. "I talked to a lot of nice, friendly people," he said.
But then, about 4:30 p.m., a group of kids in their mid-teens caught up to him at the corner of North Sheridan Avenue near North Ferrant Place. Katch said he didn't say anything to provoke them. Or get a chance to discuss the issues. "I said hello when I first saw them. Asked them if they were ready for school on Tuesday," he said. "I want to be neighborly." And then: "I got hit in the face. A lot."
Katch wound up at Fairview Hospital with a nose he said will have to be reconstructed. He said he hasn't filed a police report and doesn't intend to. "I don't really want some child to end up in the system because they were stupid and hit me in the face," he said. "It's hard enough for them, the things they have to overcome."
The complete story is available here.
posted by E.L. Lipman | 9/02/2006 01:20:00 PM
There is always someone willing to open the gate to the enemy in the middle of the night - even if it means their own death and death to their family and civilization. We should never forget that.
In this situation, one could make an intelligent argument for "Survival of the Fittest". If the gang member(s) had done the same to his bride or child, would this individual have also not filed a report. Did he check the gang member's ID to know they were or weren't over 18? At what point does such an unwarranted or provoked attack get reported according to this candidate for inclusion in crime statistics.
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