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by Bob_Moore from FOX 6 Milwaukee

Last Post 449 days, 2 hours Ago


Two Views of Anger
Apr 3, 2007 | 7:53 AM
Category: News
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I recently did a story about a 20-year-old man who got angry after hearing about the theft of his sister's $300.00 I-Pod while in high school -- a gift he had given her.  The man's anger and emotional stake in the incident hit a high note when his sister came home in tears over the missing I-Pod.

According to the police report another student says he witnessed a 17-year-old male take the I-Pod out of the girl's unattended purse during a midday class. He goes further and says the teen then sold the device.  This information started circulating around the school the day after the missing I-Pod. Word of a possible thief and the subsequent sale of the I-Pod got back to the man from another relative at the school.

The first view of anger was when I read the police report detailing how the man reacted to the stealing.  The man went to the high school he had graduated from two years earlier, tracked the suspected teen down in the cafeteria, repeatedly demanded "give me back the I-Pod or 300 bucks" and eventually he pulled out a 10-inch hammer and swung at the teen's head.  In a defensive move, the teen swerved out of the way yet the hammer struck him once in his forearm.  

The school reports the entire incident lasted 15 to 20 seconds and was broken up by school staff.  The man confesses to this account on tape to police.

Bottom line the first view of anger -- a maniac totally out of control?

The second view of anger is I speak to the man four-days after the event. It is clear to pick up a human element that the words in the police report do not begin to capture or convey, albeit those words are accurate. You pick up on what some might consider a second victim of the theft. Yeah the young girl who owned the I-Pod was a victim -- but also the brother who worked hard to give his sister an expensive gift.

 

A human explanation for the hammer – the man says it was protection while he attempted to right a wrong -- fearing as he says the suspected teen was a gang member and armed with  gun.

Two views of anger -- and in the end there’s still no I-Pod.  Check out my story in the news section of myfoxmilwaukee.com and share your thoughts. 

Have a great Tuesday and stay dry too.

RAM

The second view of anger -- a working technical college student who stewed for a week over the theft of an expensive device -- and deemed the incident as stealing from his family?Two views of anger -- both hard to reconcile or justify because both views are not good choices. The district attorney will review the case and the booking charges. Police believe their initial misdemeanor battery charge will stick versus the incident being kicked up to a felony aggravated battery charge. Likely the disorderly conduct charge will stick around too.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 7
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Katbird read my blog view my photos
Apr 3, 2007 | 10:42 AM

I believe the teen he suspected of taking the Ipod should be investigated and charged if they have sufficient evidence that he took it and sold it.
The young man who reacted out of anger should have a minor charge because he didn't follow proper procedure. I very much understand his anger. In the end, it would be nice if the person who purchased it came forward. I am sure they got it at a very discounted rate.
jgravelle read my blog view my photos
Apr 3, 2007 | 11:07 AM

I insist that the newspaper and television stations refer to the attacker as the "hammerman".

If that sounds stupid, then you appreciate how gun owners feel about the insipid term: "gunman"...


-jjg
GITRDONE read my blog view my photos
Apr 3, 2007 | 12:10 PM

lol jg! What would you call a rapist other than "a rapist"?
jgravelle read my blog view my photos
Apr 3, 2007 | 2:53 PM

I'm serious.

We never hear about the car-man, crowbar-man, screwdriver-man... but "gunman" we accept. The term is a clever bit of Orwellian newspeak, suggesting that the person and hardware are one, and thus equally culpable in the crime. The result is misplaced fear toward guns, and reduced blame toward the criminal(s).

Nobody's blaming the hammer though, are they?


-jjg
crobsid52 read my blog
Apr 3, 2007 | 3:29 PM

If you deal in crime you may have to pay a very high price ! I think HAMMERMAN knows the police would do nothing ,the courts would do nothing !This young criminal should thank hammerman for teaching him possibly a life saving lesson !You take somthing that don't belong to you and you may get you head smashed !If i was on a jury this man would walk ,not so much as a disorderly charge ! I bet this crook will think twice before stealing again and if not i hope the next guy has better aim !
halfayear read my blog
Apr 3, 2007 | 5:23 PM

I may be very wrong here, but are we trying to justify this attempted retalitory attack. This is the same thing that we hear about on a daily basis about Milwaukee. Would you be reacting to this differently if the thief in this story had reacted in a threatening manner and the brother ended up killing the youth? I think this is the wrong way of looking at this. Where would this have stopped? Day after day we hear this same story only substitute drugs, or girlfriend for the ipod. When we continue to try to justify confrontations like this, we are playing into the thuggery of the senseless killings day after day in all of the Milwaukee's of this country. Stop trying to explain away the ruthless perpetrators of these crimes and let the police do their job. Once the confrontation comes to a head, then it's another murderous black eye on the city of Milwaukee.
crobsid52 read my blog
Apr 3, 2007 | 7:34 PM

I think what your seeing is people fed up with the legal system !If you commit a crime expect the worse !Horse theives were hung in the past maybe something shy of that is needed !If you steal somebodies property a good A$$ kicking is in order ! The parents won't administer the needed behavior corrections but maybe some ticked off citizen will !
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Bob_Moore

Bob Moore helps host the FOX 6 Wakeup weekend edition and reports weekdays for FOX 6 News at 5pm and 6pm. He handles interviews and weather duties on the hugely popular weekend morning show, using his trademark quick wit and easygoing on-air style. Moore joined Milwaukee's WITI-TV in December 1997, after a diverse broadcast career spanning more than 17 years in news, weather and news management in Green Bay, Rockford, Oak Brook, IL. and Philadelphia.

Member Since: 8/24/2006


 

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