Props to the Cops and Heads Up for Bloomingdale

“Dear PoPville,

I wanted to relay an incident that happened to my daughter this morning [Sunday] on Rhode Island Ave just past N Capitol. The two of us were walking down Rhode Island Ave around 8:00 am enroute to a yoga class (carrying only non threatening yoga mats). We were walking behind a male (late 20’s). There were 4 other males standing on the bridge by N Capitol St. The man in front of us stopped and we walked by. We continued past the other lane of N Capitol and I could hear someone coming up behind us. Just as I was about to turn around, the guy we had been walking behind ran up and smacked my daughter on the side of her face and knocked her into the street and then walked down N Cap St. (the other guys on the corner did NOTHING to assist) Neither one of us had a phone (a rarity!) so we borrowed a phone as soon as we could and called 911.

While we were in front the yoga studio waiting for police to arrive, the guy came down to the corner of RI Ave and 1st street, saw my daughter and yelled some insanity at her and then walked down RI Ave. The police came about 15 seconds later and apprehended the guy. Fortunately, my daughter was not seriously injured (swollen lip, cut about her eye from her glasses), but we were both very shaken up. Clearly the guy has mental issues, but it was terrifying nonetheless. I wanted to commend the DC police for their quick action and compassion towards my daughter and stress the importance of calling 911 should anyone witness or be involved in an assault like this. Hopefully this disturbed individual will be off the streets for a good while and/or get the help he needs.

But I really wanted to share how quickly and compassionately police responded and how important it is to call 911 to get the disturbed off the street. And always be aware of your surroundings.”