Woman was brutally beaten on public transportation while 15 passengers watch.

[TyC]

Link to story:
http://www.kutv.com/content/news/top...a-69f2d23a48dc

The story:

A woman was brutally beaten by a large man while riding on UTA trax. When the beating ended the attacker ran, leaving her lying helplessly. Helplessly, in its most literal sense; 15 others watched the attack take place and did nothing.

The woman (who wishes to hide her identity) was riding southbound on UTA trax when she claims to have been sexually harassed by 37-year-old, Raymond Deherrera. She said she ignored him, but when the train arrived at 7720 south in Midvale, Deherrera began to brutally beat her.

“I turned my face and he just socked me right in the face. I felt my nose break instantly.”

Deherrera allegedly continued to throw fast punches at the woman. Unable to sustain the attack herself, she relied on the 10 to 15 other passengers in the train for assistance.

“There was somebody sitting RIGHT NEXT to me on the other side. So he had seen the whole thing.”

No one stopped the attack, no one pushed the emergency button on the train and no one called 9-11.

“Oh my Gosh!” exclaims Sgt. John Salazar from Midvale Police Department.
“If you see someone being taken advantage of, or victimized; please call!

Besides wondering why no one helped her, the woman wants to know why there wasn’t an officer on duty to protect passengers.

“It makes me mad because they pay all this money to have all these “Trax Cops” to check our tickets to make sure that we get our fair taken care of; but they can’t make sure that innocent bystanders are safe?”

UTA says that safety is their number one concern and that officers were in fact in the area, but that they were dealing with another issue on another train.

What would you have done? and what is legal to do? Cant believe 10-15 just sat there and did nothing.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Ram Rod]

What would you have done? and what is legal to do? Cant believe 10-15 just sat there and did nothing.

Not hard to believe. That's the sorry state of affairs this country is in, and I personally don't see things getting any better. In this case, I would have defended the defenseless. If the attacker did not cease and desist, and turned on me, I'd have to do whatever is necessary for my survival.

[Creature]

Push e-button, demand BG to stop his attack...and prepare for self defense.

[goldshellback]

Is public transportation in Salt Lake City a GFZ?

A possiable domestic can be a bad situation to just "jump into", but to do nothing??? NEGITIVE!

Worst case, I'll bet I can take the beating better than her. That NOBOBY did anything is complete HORSEPOOP!

[ccw9mm]

Not hard to believe. The moral integrity of most people is a sorry state of affairs. Few things are so true as that. A perfect example of what Kitty Genovese went through, and why here town was villified for its callous disregard for innocent life.

By comparison, when "The Nightstalker" (aka, Richard Ramirez) was identified on a city street in the 1980's, he was forcibly detained by a crowd of people in the neighborhood that tracked him town, so he could be held for arriving police. He was, shall we say, a little worse for wear. (I'm surprised he survived, with the beating he reportedly took.) THIS is how it should really happen, with an honorable group of people personally witnessing heinous violence. Nothing less. But then, it's a perfect example of the sheep-ification of the average dweebe. For many folks, the pacification and fear is nearly complete.

[ExactlyMyPoint]

No one had pepper spray?

Sorry to say, in my firearms class, we were instructed to NOT get involved as we have no idea what is going on, history of these two, gang related, etc, etc, etc. You do not know if the BG has a gun and may have taken it out and start shooting. If you are not armed, it could get even uglier.

I would probably have a hard time doing nothing. At least call 911. Or how about videoing it for later posting on YouTube?

[tns0038]

Just because we have a permit to carry a weapon, does not make us a police officer at large. That being said, in times I came across similar situation, I have taken the below action.

Many years ago, I came across a lady who was being held and bitched smacked back and forth. I grabbed the BG by the hair on the side of his head and pitched him on to the floor. When he went to get up, I advised him to leave, or I would not be so friendly. He left… The lady then explained that the BG was her husband. I told her she, should call the cops and report him.

Another time, I pulled into the parking lot of a “Jiffy Mart” and to my surprise, I saw a good friend of mine getting beat on by a guy much bigger than he was. I walked over and hit the BG in the temple. The BG hit the ground hard and was out like a light. Later I found out the BG was a drill instructor at the local base, and he was mad at my friend because he had called him regarding a past due bill. It’s important to understand that if I had not known the guy being beat on, I would have stayed out of it

Two years ago, I was at a High School dance (off campus) with my wife (works at the school), when a student came up to me and said the deputy at the front door asked if you would come up there. When I got to the front door, I found the deputy was having a discussion with a group 10-12 young men, who where insisting upon entering, and kind of verbally bulling him. When I walked up to stand beside the deputy, one of them grabbed me by the front of my jacket and almost picked me up. (Read big guy) I stepped back and through him on the floor, as the BG was about to get up, I turned and was about to snap kick his head, when the deputy laid his hand on my shoulder and said cover the door. He then grabbed the BG, (arm behind) and escorted him to the door, and advised him to leave or he would call for transportation, and charge him with assaulting me.

The BG complained assault? He assaulted me. The deputy responded with “the moment you laid hands on his jacket you where assaulting him, and he was only defending himself. And you’re lucky I stopped him or you would be getting a ride to the hospital instead.”

In each of these cases, I had my Glock or Walther PPK at 4 O’clock OWB covered by a jacket. I never drew a weapon because it was not necessary, and no one’s life was threatened, and no weapons where involved.

Will I do the same in the future? No, I am not going to get involved unless I feel that I have no choice. Further, as others have said, we never know what the circumstances are, but my point is drawing a weapon is of the last resort.

[lacrosse50]

Someone should have taken action. Even just distracting the guy by talking at him could have helped. Clubbing him over the back of the head would also have been a good course of action. But, as with anything we do nowadays, you need to be ready to be sued. Just as beaten wives have been known to stick up for their "loving" husband, this victim could have easily turned around and helped to sue anyone that may have intervened. I'm sure that thought ran through at least one witnesses mind.

All of that notwithstanding, I would have done something. Not sure what, but I couldn't just sit by as someone is assaulted.

[ree]

Someone should have taken action. Even just distracting the guy by talking at him could have helped....

Hell, even call 911. Not it that would have stopped the attack, but someone could have at least called 911. Presuming they're in fear of their own safety, they can still probably make the call without drawing the guy's attention on them.

[ccw9mm]

You do not know if the BG has a gun and may have taken it out and start shooting.

Good point. Even if you know exactly what has transpired, there are no guarantees of safety.

Still, had three or four individuals been prepared to take on and detain the BG, this probably could have been short-circuited in short order. I'm all for sitting in the sidelines when it's unclear. But, if such a thing was happening right in front of me and the problem (and solution) was clear, I'd have a hard time to standing up for what was right. Most of us are not sworn police, no. We're also not stupid. Hence, the balancing act. But, neither are we heathens.

[Scott]

Sorry, the large man has to go down. The large man has to stay down. Not saying I'd shoot him since there are other options. I would not warn him though.

There are leaders and there are followers. When a leader emerges the followers will emerge as well. I'm sure if one man had taken action others would have assisted.

[Janq]

Welcome to the jungle, it gets worse here everyday.
You learn to live like an animal, in the jungle where we play.
If you got a hunger for what you see you'll take it eventually...

- Guns n' Roses, 'The Jungle'

[blueyedevil]

And if somebody would have jumped in and beaten the crap out of the guy or possibly killed him, the cops would be saying "We do not recommend taking the law into your own hands like this, give the badguy what he wants and call 911".

[obxned]

This is far too sick for any printable comment.

[Scott]

And if somebody would have jumped in and beaten the crap out of the guy or possibly killed him, the cops would be saying "We do not recommend taking the law into your own hands like this, give the badguy what he wants and call 911".

My response to them is what if it had been your mom, girlfriend, wife or daughter. Bet the type that would say something like that would just shrug. The other way it plays is they have to say it in public for the news, but buy you a drink afterwards.