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Police Investigate Somali Attacks (Maine)
SunJournel ^ | Dec. 17, 2009 | Mark LaFlamme

Posted on 12/19/2009 5:43:01 AM PST by Travis McGee

LEWISTON — In the early evening on the first day of summer, a large group of Somali boys approached a woman on the corner of Ash and Pierce streets. According to police reports, they intimidated the woman and slapped her in the back of the head before scattering into the downtown.

Five days later, shortly after midnight, a man was accosted by a group of Somali boys outside the Big Apple on Main Street. Police reports say several members of the group punched the man and took money from him. They then fled in a car.

Later that night, a woman in her late 60s was beaten by a group of Somali boys and relieved of cash while walking in Kennedy Park.

Five nights later, another man was jumped by a group of similar description. He resisted the gang and was beaten badly. He required surgery.

Throughout the summer, similar reports have come into the Police Department. Witnesses and investigators say swarms of Somali boys, some as young as 8, others in their late teens, overwhelm solitary victims through sheer numbers.

"It's not gang activity in the traditional sense," Deputy Chief James Minkowsky said. "We're not seeing the colors or the monikers, but it's still a gang mentality."

Often, these gang members carry sticks and rocks with which to intimidate their victims. There are often four or five of them, sometimes as many as a dozen. Typically, they threaten or beat their victims until they give up the goods: money, bicycles, cell phones, prescription drugs, or other items of value.

Then they scatter.

"By the time the call gets to us, the group has dispersed," Minkowsky said.

The attacks continued all summer; more than a dozen were reported to police. There were more in the fall and a series of them in recent weeks. In each attack, the victim is one who may have appeared weak to the group that descended on them.

"They single out a person who is walking alone. The victim is often intoxicated," Minkowsky said. "Or he might be small. They look for someone who is not likely to fight back or present much of a challenge."

On the first day of December, a man walking through Kennedy Park after leaving a Park Street club said he was attacked by four Somali males. The group came at him from behind, knocked him down and stole prescription drugs and $150 in cash. That man told police it was the second time he was attacked in such a fashion. The first time, he was able to escape.

On the last day of November, there were three such attacks reported in Lewiston: one in the area of Central Maine Medical Center, another on Bartlett Street, the third in Kennedy Park.

In another attack, a woman walking a dog in the park was set upon. The assailants, a group of Somali males, beat her dog with a stick. Police later tracked down one of the attackers. He was a 10-year-old boy.

In late summer, an off-duty civilian police employee was eating at a local restaurant. A local boy ran to the window, screaming for help. The police employee ran outside and found a group — roughly a half-dozen — of Somali boys. When confronted, they ran off.

Police say they are investigating the attacks on several fronts. They are using new technology and new techniques. A bigger break came in recent weeks when they were approached by a group that wants to help.

"Members of the Somali community came to us," Minkowsky says. "They set up a meeting with us and came in to talk about it. They want to help us combat it."

Police Chief Michael Bussiere pointed out that the attackers do not appear to involve large segments of the Somali population. It seems to be a select group that has organized to carry out the attacks.

Police say group robberies are almost unheard of in Lewiston. In the past, when multiple people have attacked a lone victim, two or three assailants were reported and the assault was typically prompted by intoxication or old rivalries.

Not so with the Somali attacks.

"We haven't seen that it's been fueled by alcohol or drugs," Minkowsky said. He added that robbery appears to be a primary motivation among the Somali gangs. "But in some cases, they seem to do it for the thrill of it."

Stephen Wessler, director of the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence, said he was not aware of the Somali assaults in Lewiston. After hearing the nature of them, he said the attacks likely were not the type that involve his group. The motive appears to be robbery, rather than race.

While investigating the ambush-style attacks, police have little to compare them with, at least locally. A search of assaults dating back to spring revealed no incidents of a similar nature involving non-Somalis.

"This is unique," Minkowsky said.

There have been a few arrests since the attacks began. Minkowsky said many of the suspects had dropped out of school. Their parents seemed to have no idea that their children had become part of a roving gang.

Seeing children as young as 8 running the streets with teens closing in on 20 is something police are not used to seeing. There is a lot about the attacks investigators have not seen before.

That's why it helps them enormously to have input from the Somali elders.

"It's an interesting dynamic for us," Minkowsky said. "We're still on the learning curve with this. Getting help from the Somali community is probably our best chance to resolve it."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Maine; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: cwiiping; delinquency; delinquents; immigration; immigrationlist; maine; minnesota; somalia; somalis; somaliteens
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1 posted on 12/19/2009 5:43:04 AM PST by Travis McGee
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To: Eaker; AK2KX; Ancesthntr; An Old Man; ApesForEvolution; aragorn; archy; ArmedSkeptic; backhoe; ...
More racist hate crimes for the MSM to ignore, because the victims are only whites.

I mean, this is understandable in light of the 500 year history of oppression of Somalis by whites in Maine.

Right?

CW2 Ping


2 posted on 12/19/2009 5:45:31 AM PST by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: Travis McGee

Send them back to Somalia!


4 posted on 12/19/2009 5:50:46 AM PST by SWAMPSNIPER (THE SECOND AMENDMENT, A MATTER OF FACT, NOT A MATTER OF OPINION)
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To: Travis McGee

Solution:
Firearms.


5 posted on 12/19/2009 5:50:46 AM PST by Bon mots
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To: Travis McGee
a group of Somali boys You mean Muslim punks?

Hey Maine, the 2nd amendment should fix that.

6 posted on 12/19/2009 5:51:55 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Bon mots

Yep. Carry always.


7 posted on 12/19/2009 5:52:10 AM PST by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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To: Travis McGee
"It's not gang activity in the traditional sense," Deputy Chief James Minkowsky said. "We're not seeing the colors or the monikers, but it's still a gang mentality."

Yo! Yo! Minkowsky! You are an idiot! Dis aint NYC.

8 posted on 12/19/2009 5:54:00 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Travis McGee

“”It’s an interesting dynamic for us,” Minkowsky said.(Yeah, fascinating) “We’re still on the learning curve with this.(DUH)

“Getting help from the Somali community is probably our best chance to resolve it.”

Yeah that will work for us!

Sheesh......


9 posted on 12/19/2009 5:54:31 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops, and vote out the RINO's!)
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To: mylife

Minmkowsky is obviously a moron.


10 posted on 12/19/2009 5:55:44 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops, and vote out the RINO's!)
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To: Travis McGee
Often, these gang members carry sticks and rocks with which to intimidate their victims.

Ban sticks and rocks! I'm skeered.

11 posted on 12/19/2009 5:55:44 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

It is pirate mentality. Sink them.


12 posted on 12/19/2009 5:56:04 AM PST by Concho
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To: Travis McGee

Diversity....ain’t it great?


13 posted on 12/19/2009 5:56:54 AM PST by Minutemen ("It's a Religion of Peace")
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To: Travis McGee
I do believe the 500 year figure is way off. According to unnamed middle eastern sources, speaking on behalf of the Somali community, claim that Somalis settled the US shortly after the beloved prophet's death in 625 AD. Harassment began when the so-called native americans refused to submit and continued with the arrival of the Europeans dogs.

Their reactions today are no more than can be expected by this downtrodden and oppressed community. It is well known that women who do not dress properly are of the lowest class and fit only to be slaves and that only the faithful believers may own property. It is also well known that nonbelievers call ‘their property’ is free for the taking by the faithful who in this case just happen to be the downtrodden Somalis.

14 posted on 12/19/2009 5:59:14 AM PST by PIF
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To: Travis McGee

“Police say they are investigating the attacks on several fronts. They are using new technology and new techniques.”

“New technology” is always supposed to cover for bad policy. The mistake is importing Somalis in the first place. To Maine? Good grief! Send them to San Francisco, where they might be appreciated.

And another thing! I notice that once again the elders are supposed to be interested in helping with this problem, which they themselves are unable to control, in spite of all their strict rules. The problem is that the second generation of many immigrant groups (most, actually) is much worse than the first one, as far as crime goes. The half-assimilated are worse than those who are not assimilated at all. The same is true with Mexican immigrants: the parents are often polite and hard-working, but the half-Americanized children are unruly and violent.


15 posted on 12/19/2009 5:59:33 AM PST by docbnj
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To: mylife

Look at the picture at post 3, to see what can come of mere “sticks and rocks.”


16 posted on 12/19/2009 6:01:02 AM PST by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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To: stephenjohnbanker
Minmkowsky is obviously a moron.

A New World Order "Team Player"

17 posted on 12/19/2009 6:01:11 AM PST by Minutemen ("It's a Religion of Peace")
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To: PIF

Hey, it’s all in the koran!


18 posted on 12/19/2009 6:02:20 AM PST by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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To: stephenjohnbanker

The old slap ‘em upside the head with one hand and pat them on the head with the other routine...

Yokels fall for it every time - just ask the former residents of Detroit...


19 posted on 12/19/2009 6:02:28 AM PST by PIF
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To: Travis McGee
"It's an interesting dynamic for us," Minkowsky said. "We're still on the learning curve with this.

Hey Minkowsky... learn this...


20 posted on 12/19/2009 6:03:22 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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