Blind woman attacked in bus

[Calvin]

Heroic Actions From Passengers Of A King County Metro Bus, Coming To The Rescue Of A Blind Woman After She Was Attacked On Board

Passengers were stunned after they witnessed an attack of a blind woman on board a King County Metro Bus. The incident was caught on camera and seen only on Q13 FOX News.

SEATTLE - Passengers were stunned after they witnessed an attack of a blind woman on board a King County Metro Bus. The incident was caught on camera and seen only on Q13 FOX News. It happened over a year ago but the video is coming to light now.

Passengers witnessed the attack on a blind woman sitting at the front of the bus. She was minding her own business and holding her cane when the attack happened.

Surveillance video shows a man boarding the bus at about 11am May 18, 2008. Right after he paid his fare, he approached the victim seen in the red hat. Witnesses say he yelled "The sick must die" and proceeded to punch the blind woman.

Charles Capizano is one of six people who rushed to help the woman. He says; "His initial attack was just... I mean she didn't know what hit her and she was just... she got hit pretty good."

Denise Gubernick was also on the bus and rushed to give aid. She says; "He hit her with a full force fist to the side of her head that snapped her sunglasses... Flew off her head... I'm a mother and my instinct is to protect and I just jumped forward to hold her."

Seattle Police say she was punched four to five times in the face and head. The passenger next to the woman came to aid her and blocked the suspect. The passenger was hit four times while blocking the victim.

Several passengers from the back of the bus ran to the front of the bus. One of them can be seen holding back the suspect as he tried to punch the woman. As he was being detained, he yelled "You don't know what you are doing."

The victim sustained swelling and a cut beneath her left eye. The passenger sitting next to her sustained a cut on the left cheek.

The suspect was arrested for the assault but due to his apparent diminished mental capacity, he was never charged. He was, instead, sent to Western State Hospital where he remains today.

The passengers have since been recognized for their heroic efforts. The King County Sheriff's Department honored six of them at an April 22 event.

As for the victim, to those who helped her she says; "It really restores my faith in humanity that these people did in fact join together and protect me. And I want to thank you all for what you did. God bless you."

Photos and videos are here.

Kudos to the heroes who stopped the man from harming the blind woman.

 

[Rio]

Its a good thing those passengers stepped up to protect the blind woman from any more danger. Sounds like a mental issue on the attacker's part. He's hurting people in public, he definitely needs to stay away from the public.

 

[Jiro]

I was JUST about to post it. I was appalled. You know - lately, it's becoming a huge issue within our society that there has been an increasing number of cases of mentally-ill people attacking people for no reason. For ie - I just recently posted an article about a mentally-ill intruder breaking into someone's house and chasing after homeowner with a sharp piece of glass. He was shot to death in self-defense.

Earlier today - I saw the news about the deranged mentally-ill driver who was driving out of control. After long chase, the cops finally took aggressive measure by crashing his car because he nearly crashed a school bus full of children and recklessly drove past school zone during after-school hour.

plus - Virginia Tech shooter. Northern Illinois University shooter.

I don't have anything against mentally-ill people but I think it's time that we need to address this issue for public's safety.

 

[Bottesini]

I don't have anything against mentally-ill people but I think it's time that we need to address this issue for public's safety.

It will get worse in the bad economy as people who were barely hanging on will snap from stress.

 

[Hear Again]

The only time I think someone with mental illness shouldn't be punished for their actions is if they are actively psychotic. I've been in a psychotic state many times and can tell you that when I hear voices, I'm completely unaware of what is happening around me.

As far as this case is concerned, I don't know if this person was schizophrenic or not.

If he attacked this woman while in a hallucinatory state, should he be punished for something he can't help?

This is certainly a difficult call to make, but then again, perhaps I am a little biased given the fact that I have mental illness myself.

 

[Jiro]

The only time I think someone with mental illness shouldn't be punished for their actions is if they are actively psychotic. I've been in a psychotic state many times and can tell you that when I hear voices, I'm completely unaware of what is happening around me.

As far as this case is concerned, I don't know if this person was schizophrenic or not.

If he attacked this woman while in a hallucinatory state, should he be punished for something he can't help?

This is certainly a difficult call to make, but then again, perhaps I am a little biased given the fact that I have mental illness myself.

oh no no Hear Again - I don't want a punishment for mentally-ill people. I meant a new preventative measure to protect the public from mentally-ill people. The article said that this man has a "diminished mental capacity." I don't know exactly what that means but it sounds like a polite way of saying he's a retard. He's currently held at mental hospital.

 

[Jiro]

It will get worse in the bad economy as people who were barely hanging on will snap from stress.

yea but that's different from mental illness such as schizophrenia or those with history of psychotic breakouts, hallucination, or related.

 

[Hear Again]

oh no no Hear Again - I don't want a punishment for mentally-ill people. I meant a new preventative measure to protect the public from mentally-ill people. The article said that this man has a "diminished mental capacity." I don't know exactly what that means but it sounds like a polite way of saying he's a retard. He's currently held at mental hospital.

for clarifying your position Jiro.

It seems the only way this can be addressed is to commit them involuntarily to a psychiatric facility.

Aside from that, I don't know what else can be done to protect the general public against mentally ill people who are dangerous since they have a right to live alongside those without mental illness until they harm or threaten another.

Perhaps off-duty police officers could start riding the public transportation system and use a tazer whenever something like this happens.

 

[Hear Again]

yea but that's different from mental illness such as schizophrenia or those with history of psychotic breakouts, hallucination, or related.

Exactly.

 

[Hear Again]

Sounds like a mental issue on the attacker's part. He's hurting people in public, he definitely needs to stay away from the public.

Most people with mental illness are not dangerous.

For example, many people are afraid of those who have schizophrenia, but if truth be told, schizophrenics are more dangerous to themselves than they are to someone else.

 

[Jiro]

for clarifying your position Jiro.

It seems the only way this can be addressed is to commit them involuntarily to a psychiatric facility.

Aside from that, I don't know what else can be done to protect the general public against mentally ill people who are dangerous since they have a right to live alongside those without mental illness until they harm or threaten another.

Perhaps off-duty police officers could start riding the public transportation system and use a tazer whenever something like this happens.

yea but problem is - they get involuntarily admitted to psychiatric facility AFTER the incident happened - where people get hurt. I don't know what can be done to protect the public either. This is a very tricky and tough issue to address. I absolutely do not want any kind of knee-jerk reaction to round them up and send'em to "crazy camp."

I'm sure we can find a way to balance the line between mentally-ill people's rights and the public safety.

 

[Hear Again]

yea but problem is - they get involuntarily admitted to psychiatric facility AFTER the incident happened - where people get hurt. I don't know what can be done to protect the public either. This is a very tricky and tough issue to address. I absolutely do not want any kind of knee-jerk reaction to round them up and send'em to "crazy camp."

I'm sure we can find a way to balance the line between mentally-ill people's rights and the public safety.

Here's the problem. If this person is on meds, but wasn't med-compliant, we won't know that until after he has done something wrong. You can't punish someone just because they are mentally ill. That's discriminatory.

 

[dreamsfloatjoe]

I'm not on any mental health medications and most of my friends don't agree with my doctor's opinion. I, for one am grateful, I cannot be locked up for my thoughts. Having Mental Health issues is not a crime and it's not against the law in the USA!

The man who attacked the lady who is blind, needs help, not punishment, IMHO.

 

[Hear Again]

I'm not on any mental health medications and most of my friends don't agree with my doctor's opinion. I, for one am grateful, I cannot be locked up for my thoughts. Having Mental Health issues is not a crime and it's not against the law in the USA!

The man who attacked the lady who is blind, needs help, not punishment, IMHO.

 

[Lissa]

I totally agree with dreamfloats joe!

I hope the blind woman was okay after recovering. Must have been awful

 

[Mrs Bucket]

I'm not on any mental health medications and most of my friends don't agree with my doctor's opinion. I, for one am grateful, I cannot be locked up for my thoughts. Having Mental Health issues is not a crime and it's not against the law in the USA!

The man who attacked the lady who is blind, needs help, not punishment, IMHO.

Thank you!

Mental illness, itself, holds so much taboo. So many people are quick to pass judgment on mental illness.

Punish society's attitude towards mental illness and help those who suffer from mental illness. Work with those who have mental illness and we all would have a lot less ignorance.

 

[Hear Again]

Thank you!

Mental illness, itself, holds so much taboo. So many people are quick to pass judgment on mental illness.

Punish society's attitude towards mental illness and help those who suffer from mental illness. Work with those who have mental illness and we all would have a lot less ignorance.

Well said Mrs Bucket! Like the quote at the bottom of my signature says, stigma and bias shame us all.

 

[Beowulf]

Thank you!

Mental illness, itself, holds so much taboo. So many people are quick to pass judgment on mental illness.

Punish society's attitude towards mental illness and help those who suffer from mental illness. Work with those who have mental illness and we all would have a lot less ignorance.

Awwww, that is the Patty I know!
I agree that we all can stand to learn more tolerance of the others' differences from ourselves, and I understand that in American Indian culture, they ARE looked at differently!
I remember a few years ago I was in a restaurant with a friend who was rather high-strung. A puppy wandered in, and my friend shrieked and stood on her chair (or table, I cannot remember which, lol). I calmed her down amid the stares of the other few customers. The manager of the joint came to our table and asked us to leave, since we were "bothering" his customers. I refused, so he called the cops, who were sympathetic of us, but insisted we leave. (My friend was mortified by all the attention, but hey, she is a sweet lady who doesn't deserve such behavior exhibited by others, grrrr.) Anyway, it makes me wonder...who was mentally unstable at the time, my friend or the others? It depends on perspective I suppose. Oh well.

 

[Hear Again]

Anyway, it makes me wonder...who was mentally unstable at the time, my friend or the others?

In many cases, I think people with mental illness are more "normal" than those without.

 

[Mrs Bucket]

Beowulf!!

I'd have to say it is the others that are unstable if they have to order a person out of the restaurant to make everything copacetic. What is normal nowadays?

HearAgain brought up a point that those with mental illnesses are far more normal and in balance with themselves than those without.

Keep up with this wonderful rapport!! to you all!!