Savannah’s Tourism Leadership Council releases statement on River Street incident

/wjcl.com ^ | 5/13/2014 | Ashli Lincoln

[RoosterRedux]

As the leading trade organization representing the tourism industry comprised of thousands of employees and hundreds of businesses who call Savannah home, the safety of our visitors and our community is our highest priority. Allegations of an attack on an Atlanta area family visiting River Street were reported to us early Monday morning. Since then we have been in constant communication with the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police department as well as business and community leaders throughout the city.

Through the review of evidence made available to us, including the police report, the dispatch log, and eye witness statements, many of the specific allegations made by this visitor have already been shown to be false. We are informed that the video recording of the incident has been released. The video evidence shows the attack may not have been unprovoked as initially reported by the visitor. Furthermore, we’re informed that the investigation is not completed and more witness accounts are being taken by investigators.

[RoosterRedux]

Savannah is circling its wagons.

[RoosterRedux]

Ping

[Nifster]

Students who attend SCAD are told to ride school transportation between buildings because the crime rate is so bad. The townies beat up the students and steal thei computers etc. has been this way for a long time

[acapesket]

Great! Heading there this weekend…can’t wait. Not.

[dfwgator]

Savannah is circling its wagons.

[Ladysforest]

We were fricken mugged in view of the B&B we were staying at in the historic area. Yep. I worried about the possibility so I had no jewelry, no handbag, and told my hubby to leave his ring and wallet locked in our luggage when we would go out for walks.

It was broad daylight still, in the square with the big fountain - so plenty of tourists - and the dude(s) mugs us. I told him I was from the Bronx and had enough sense not to bring any valuables with me when walking. My husband ending up giving him a cigg and 50 cents. Oh, and the mugger didn’t even have a light, so my husband did the honors.

Of course I am not from the Bronx, but the mugger seemed impressed.

[Nifster]

Unless you absolutely have to be in Savanna, one is better off going across to Charleston. The whole area is better

[machogirl]

thanks for the ping! interesting

[machogirl]

I’m shocked that they are so aggressive toward the “Atlanta” family. I expected they would say the area was safe, but to attack the “alleged victims” in a press release, I didn’t expect.

If I had any money to visit Savannah, a wee bit of me might wonder if I were a victim of a crime in the NW or NE River District, would I be attacked if I reported it? Is this enough to discourage a tourist from reporting an “alleged” crime?

[Joe Boucher]

Wife and I have been to Savannah many times in the recent past.
Have repeatedly been warned to stay in the tourist areas of the squares and Riverwalk as it is dangerous for whites else where.
Now we need be worried about Riverwalk too?
Holders people.

[Popman]

We went to visit my mother last year and my wife wanted to visit Savannah on the way...

She loves all the historic houses and such...

Looked at the crime rate and told her... not going to happen....

[Labyrinthos]

Through the review of evidence made available to us, including the police report, the dispatch log, and eye witness statements, many of the specific allegations made by this visitor have already been shown to be false. We are informed that the video recording of the incident has been released. The video evidence shows the attack may not have been unprovoked as initially reported by the visitor.

I watched the video at the link and at several other sites. Three things jump out at me:

First, let's just say that the nearly all of the potential eye witnesses in the video seem to have a lot more in common wiht the attackers than with the victims.

Second, the video has been edited to omit what happpened when the two groups passed each other on the street in the moments before the attack.

Third, under Georgia law, "A person is justified in threatening or using force against another when and to the extent that he or she reasonably believes that such threat or force is necessary to defend himself or herself or a third person against such other´s imminent use of unlawful force." The video clearly shows the black guy in the red shirt and the beastie in white as the initiators of the use of physical force and I don't see anything in the video that objectively justifes the use of physical force to defend against an imminent threat of physical force.