Hello everyone,
Let me preface this story by stating that by no means am I looking for any sympathy. I am simply telling you all this so you can help prepare yourself to avoid or react to a similar situation and spread this information to the people close to you.
Here we go…I was on my way home from the gym on Tuesday night (01/22) at about 11 p.m. My gym is less than a 5-minute walk from my apartment (I live in downtown Toronto). I was taking my usual route home, when a young guy stopped me and asked if I had any weed for sale. Because I’ve been approached like this before I politely said no and tried to turn the corner onto my street (my apartment is no less than a minute away). He continued to ask where to find some drugs and as he did he kept blocking my forward progress. As he was doing so, he continued to ask me questions (where I’m from, how long I’ve lived here, my nationality, religion etc.). After about 30 seconds of this I finally said that I was late to meet my brother and I had to go. He then got verbally aggressive and came right up into my face asking why I was dissing him and why I was disrespecting him etc. At this point by blocking my path, he had maneuvered me so I was facing him and the front of a Pizza Pizza (which had a few people in it). My other lines of sight were cut off. In hindsight I should have know he was setting me up, but I did not want to turn my back on him.
The next thing I know, I’m hit over the top of my head with a glass bottle. I hear the bottle smash and the pain driving through my skull. I was dazed, but remained on my feet. I turned around and saw his partner staring and laughing. I turned back to the person who distracted me and he was just sneering. I also saw a slight look of shock. I guess they were surprised that I was still standing up and conscious (so was I, I think I was in shock). I quickly regained my composure and took off. I walked into the direction of potentially populated area (in the opposite direction of my home, so they don’t follow me there). Surprisingly they did not follow.
As I ran home, my heart was racing and my head was pounding. I got home and collapsed on the floor to my sister’s surprise. I looked on the ground and there were droplets of blood. I went to the bathroom and say a stream of blood down my neck and a huge stain of blood on my shirt.
I called the police and told them the story. They sent a car to my place. Before arriving the circled the area to try to find these people. The arrived at my home, at which point they informed me they could not find anyone. However, they went to the scene and saw the broken bottle and some blood. I then gave my statement; they took some pictures of me and my wound and then left.
I’ve had a number of concussions in my life from sports and car accidents, so I knew what to look for. The bleeding stopped and I was not getting any serious concussion symptoms. I self diagnosed it as a minor concussion. Thank goodness I have a head made of concrete.
These punks just took my hat – a cheap little wool hat. I think I would have been robbed and beaten up if I had collapsed from the blow to the head. I was very lucky to escape without more serious injury.
I tell you this story because I want all of you and the people close to you to please be careful when you’re out on the streets. Be aware of your surroundings, stay near to people, carry a cell phone, try not to walk alone etc.
My sister, mother and many of my female friends walk alone at night for one reason or another, I’m sorry if I sound sexist on this but I encourage all of you women out there to be extra careful. Take a self-defense course, carry a cell phone, mace, pepper spray etc.
Please take care of yourselves!
It’s been three days since this event and I’ve been on a bumpy ride of emotions. I constantly think about it when I’m not occupied (i.e. with work). For the last three days I’ve changed my normal routine (i.e. routes I walk, avoiding that area) and I hate having to do this, because they win by me doing this. However, it’s not worth setting myself up for another attack. I’ve also been wracking my head on why someone would do this to another human being. My conclusion is that these two individuals simply made this attack for their own pleasure. I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. If it wasn’t me it would have been some other poor person.
The second reason I’m telling this story is because I’m seeking some council on dealing with this. I’m having difficulty in stopping myself from thinking about it all the time. Obviously I am not the only person who’s experienced this type of attack, so I’m asking any of you who’ve had a similar experience to tell me how they handled it. Please post your recommendations or check my profile and e-mail me your advice.
Again, please be safe out there.
Blaise
Let me preface this story by stating that by no means am I looking for any sympathy. I am simply telling you all this so you can help prepare yourself to avoid or react to a similar situation and spread this information to the people close to you.
Here we go…I was on my way home from the gym on Tuesday night (01/22) at about 11 p.m. My gym is less than a 5-minute walk from my apartment (I live in downtown Toronto). I was taking my usual route home, when a young guy stopped me and asked if I had any weed for sale. Because I’ve been approached like this before I politely said no and tried to turn the corner onto my street (my apartment is no less than a minute away). He continued to ask where to find some drugs and as he did he kept blocking my forward progress. As he was doing so, he continued to ask me questions (where I’m from, how long I’ve lived here, my nationality, religion etc.). After about 30 seconds of this I finally said that I was late to meet my brother and I had to go. He then got verbally aggressive and came right up into my face asking why I was dissing him and why I was disrespecting him etc. At this point by blocking my path, he had maneuvered me so I was facing him and the front of a Pizza Pizza (which had a few people in it). My other lines of sight were cut off. In hindsight I should have know he was setting me up, but I did not want to turn my back on him.
The next thing I know, I’m hit over the top of my head with a glass bottle. I hear the bottle smash and the pain driving through my skull. I was dazed, but remained on my feet. I turned around and saw his partner staring and laughing. I turned back to the person who distracted me and he was just sneering. I also saw a slight look of shock. I guess they were surprised that I was still standing up and conscious (so was I, I think I was in shock). I quickly regained my composure and took off. I walked into the direction of potentially populated area (in the opposite direction of my home, so they don’t follow me there). Surprisingly they did not follow.
As I ran home, my heart was racing and my head was pounding. I got home and collapsed on the floor to my sister’s surprise. I looked on the ground and there were droplets of blood. I went to the bathroom and say a stream of blood down my neck and a huge stain of blood on my shirt.
I called the police and told them the story. They sent a car to my place. Before arriving the circled the area to try to find these people. The arrived at my home, at which point they informed me they could not find anyone. However, they went to the scene and saw the broken bottle and some blood. I then gave my statement; they took some pictures of me and my wound and then left.
I’ve had a number of concussions in my life from sports and car accidents, so I knew what to look for. The bleeding stopped and I was not getting any serious concussion symptoms. I self diagnosed it as a minor concussion. Thank goodness I have a head made of concrete.
These punks just took my hat – a cheap little wool hat. I think I would have been robbed and beaten up if I had collapsed from the blow to the head. I was very lucky to escape without more serious injury.
I tell you this story because I want all of you and the people close to you to please be careful when you’re out on the streets. Be aware of your surroundings, stay near to people, carry a cell phone, try not to walk alone etc.
My sister, mother and many of my female friends walk alone at night for one reason or another, I’m sorry if I sound sexist on this but I encourage all of you women out there to be extra careful. Take a self-defense course, carry a cell phone, mace, pepper spray etc.
Please take care of yourselves!
It’s been three days since this event and I’ve been on a bumpy ride of emotions. I constantly think about it when I’m not occupied (i.e. with work). For the last three days I’ve changed my normal routine (i.e. routes I walk, avoiding that area) and I hate having to do this, because they win by me doing this. However, it’s not worth setting myself up for another attack. I’ve also been wracking my head on why someone would do this to another human being. My conclusion is that these two individuals simply made this attack for their own pleasure. I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. If it wasn’t me it would have been some other poor person.
The second reason I’m telling this story is because I’m seeking some council on dealing with this. I’m having difficulty in stopping myself from thinking about it all the time. Obviously I am not the only person who’s experienced this type of attack, so I’m asking any of you who’ve had a similar experience to tell me how they handled it. Please post your recommendations or check my profile and e-mail me your advice.
Again, please be safe out there.
Blaise
