False Accusations: Man attacked in Owen Sound

[Blunt]

until these people are brought to Justice.

I'm not sure how much of a hick town Owen Sound is, but this sounds like a racially motivated attack.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/470332
Owen Sound mob attacks Toronto man
Jul 31, 2008 07:40 AM
Dan Robson
STAFF REPORTER

In what police are calling a case of mistaken identity, a Toronto man was stabbed and savagely beaten late Tuesday by a group of strangers in Owen Sound.

Investigators say a drunken woman apparently sparked the attack by physically and verbally assaulting the 42-year-old man as he was walking near 2nd Ave. E. and 10th St., just after 11:30 p.m.

With no other option, they say the man held on to the woman with one arm and called the police with his cellphone.

Then, as the man again attempted to get away, police say the woman encouraged a nearby group of men to attack him.

The man, who is black, was stabbed in the chest, struck with a piece of wood, kicked and punched by a group of as many as six white men, who fled after the attack.

The victim was taken by taxi to the Grey Bruce Hospital Centre, where he was listed in serious but stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery.

The man had been in Owen Sound working for a hydro company, and it appears his attackers did not known him, said Owen Sound police Sgt. Ted Kitto.

One suspect was arrested and more arrests are likely, Kitto said.

He added that police haven’t determined whether the attack was racially motivated, but said the incident is still under investigation.

Shawn Dyer, 19, has been charged with assault with a weapon and aggravated assault.

[Talamasca]

It's a bit extreme to boycott an entire town because of the actions of a few yahoos. Owen Sound, like all small towns in Canada, is mostly white but I wouldn't call it a racial hotbed. It's only what, a couple hours from Toronto?

[3weddings]

Sheesh...sounds similar to what happened in Georgetown about 10 years ago!!

and I KNOW first hand what a hick town Gtown is! I don't cry wolf often, but these types of incidents are usually racially motivated....unfortunately.
http://www2.ca.nizkor.org/ftp.cgi/people/h/harrison.craig/press/tns.20060627

I hope he recuperates quickly.

[Blunt]

Yeah, mainly said to boycott make a point...
But then we had all those -racially motivated- incidences of pushing asian fishermen into the water up north as well.

Oh well, crazy day of violence, I guess.
Decapitication in Manitoba...

[ricoboxing]

well if everyone boycotted toronto for every homeless bum that attacked an out of towner, well toronto would be a ghost town.

[DaVibe]

I don't think the Toronto Owen Sound relation had anything to do with the attack ... it just sounds like this woman got a group of men involved, who shouldn't have even been around or involved in the first place. Things definitely got out of hand and the result sounds like something from an action movie or an attack in the 60's.

That's really disgusting to be honest. Upsetting and disgusting.

[DaVibe]

well if everyone boycotted toronto for every homeless bum that attacked an out of towner, well toronto would be a ghost town.

Yeah, you gotta hate those up and about, pro-active homeless.
I much prefer the lazy ones!

:evil: :lol:

[sexpuppet6000]

My mom wanted me to go to Owen Sound. :confused:

[teknoluv]

Boycott? No, no. Let's all flock there, and take the town! LOL!

[M_Matt]

I was in Owen Sound a number of times last week, as I am each year during summer holidays. It is a pretty if quiet little town, and I fail to see how it is culpable for this unfortunate incident. If you’re going to boycott anything, boycott the 6 alleged perps.

[ndrew029]

well if everyone boycotted toronto for every homeless bum that attacked an out of towner, well toronto would be a ghost town.

I think in both these cases, you could replace the word "boycott" with "I'm scared so I'm not going there". Which is justifiable if you believe that these once in a blue moon incidents are actually frequent occurences.

[thelefteyeguy]

well if everyone boycotted toronto for every homeless bum that attacked an out of towner, well toronto would be a ghost town.

sounds great...Toronto was awesome when SARS hit...no one at shopping malls...has the mall to myself

and no need for reservations/lining up at restaurants


(esp for dim sum)

[dairymandip]

"The victim was taken by taxi to the Grey Bruce Hospital Centre, where he was listed in serious but stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery. "

they don't have ambulances in owen sound?, anyways I hope they release the 911 tape that must have been a scary situation.

[chickenbones]

Don't boycott, get Jesse Jackson to lead a rally there.

[molala]

why does torontonians have to boycott owen sound?

OP...i think you should change your title...your title is a bit too offensive

[15-20_God]

I'm not sure how much of a hick town Owen Sound is, but this sounds like a racially motivated attack.

that is a great idea since owen sound is such a tourist hub for canadians. imagine the economic fallout in owen sound when their tourism revenue declines by $12 when someone decides to pass right through it rather than stopping and buying lunch at the burger king drive-thru as they pass through it.

[goob3r]

Is it still a boycott if I was never planning to ever visit there, anyway?

[Spray]

I dont even see how this is racially motivated.

It sounds like a group of men saw him scuffling with this woman, she said god knows what to the group, and the group attacked him.

If i saw a WHITE guy scuffling with a woman I'd probably do the same thing.

[15-20_God]

If i saw a WHITE guy scuffling with a woman I'd probably do the same thing.

you'd stab him in the chest and hit him with a piece of wood?

[Spray]

No but I'm sure there would be an altercation.

you'd stab him in the chest and hit him with a piece of wood?

[Shaner]

My mom wanted me to go to Owen Sound. :confused:

Maybe your mother hates you. ;)

[drunkgoat]

It is interesting that without any actual reason to believe there was a racial motivation to the attack, the allegation of racial motivation is put forward.

Would people still be putting forward these allegations if it were a group of blacks beating a white man?

[hempopotamus]

Owen Sound hosts the Emancipation Celebration this weekend which celebrates its Black History.

Historically it was the one of the Final Destinations of the Underground Railroad helping slaves resettle in Ontario.

http://www.emancipation.ca/

[Blunt]

UPDATE:
Well, at least the victim got a good a shot at the female and 2 offenders. I hope he can recoup.

The attack was probably not racially motivated, but I can still see it being a factor in the severness of the beating.
It is ironic that this weekend is the emancipation celebrations and it's sad to see the town be tarnish because of these idiots.


Beaten man a case of 'mistaken identity'

Aug 01, 2008 04:30 AM
Jim Wilkes
Staff Reporter

OWEN SOUND, ONT.–Just hours before he was savagely attacked by a pack of thugs here, a Toronto man had complained to police he was being harassed and accused of being a rapist.

When a 17-year-old girl later confronted him on a downtown street and made similar allegations, the man was attacked by as many as six youths and young men who stabbed him twice in the chest, once in the back, hit him with a piece of lumber and, according to a witness, "beat the crap out of him."

The 42-year-old Toronto man is black. His attackers are white.

But Deputy Chief Bill Sornberger of Owen Sound police said the Wednesday night attack wasn't racially motivated.

"He was absolutely innocent, simply in the wrong place at the wrong time," Sornberger told the Star. "He was a victim of mistaken identity."

The man, who lives in Etobicoke, has been working with the local hydro authority in recent weeks, staying in Owen Sound Sunday to Thursday, Sornberger said.

"He's just a decent guy up here to do a job and make a living," he said.

The victim has asked police to withhold his name. Owen Sound Mayor Ruth Lovell was on her way to visit him in hospital last night.

Hints in the local media yesterday that the attack might have been racially motivated spread through this Georgian Bay community like wildfire.

"It's embarrassing," said book-shop owner Bea Miller, on the eve of a weekend emancipation festival to mark the end of slavery. "We're the last stop on the Underground Railway. We're just a normal little tourist town, a hockey town. Every town wants a great reputation and we do. We don't want this kind of thing happening. But every town, small or large, has people who will cause problems."

Delia Burtwistle, 41, watched the attack about 11:30 p.m. from her apartment overlooking the downtown four corners at 2nd Ave. W. at 10th St. W.

"I saw about five guys beating on a black guy with a 2-by-4," she said. "They had him right up against a van, beating the crap right out of him."

Two of the attackers were also stabbed, one on the hand, another on the leg near his groin. Police arrested four youths, including the 17-year-old girl, who face charges ranging from assault to assault with a weapon.

Sornberger said the attack occurred as the man left a coffee shop where he had been accused of being a rapist just hours earlier.

"It upset him so much he called us," the deputy said. "He was quite upset and affronted by the whole thing. He asked if a rapist was at large in the community. We sent an officer down there to try and sort it out."

But the man was confronted again as he crossed the main intersection.

"It wasn't who he was, but he fit a description of a man," Sornberger said. "It wasn't `There's a black guy, let's go get him.' In the middle of the assault, he's on his cellphone trying to call us. He's innocent in all ways."

Witnesses told police the man was attacked before he fought back, punching the young woman and stabbing two of his assailants.

Sornberger has been deputy police chief in Owen Sound for about a year after 30 years on the Toronto force. He said residents are appalled by what happened.

"It's a safe city of really decent, hard-working people who hate this stain on their community," he said.

As for a rapist on the loose in Owen Sound, he said there isn't one.

"We are not currently looking for a black male for rape or sexual assault," the deputy said. "He doesn't exist."

[poedua]

UPDATE:
Well, at least the victim got a good a shot at the female and 2 offenders. I hope he can recoup.

The attack was probably not racially motivated, but I can still see it being a factor in the severness of the beating.

It is ironic that this weekend is the emancipation celebrations and it's sad to see the town be tarnish because of these idiots.

Are you suggesting that if he were white he would of been beaten with the same, less or greater degree of severity ?

[Blunt]

Are you suggesting that if he were white he would of been beaten with the same, less or greater degree of severity ?

I will say with more severity. But I'm not going to debate, this. It's just an opinion and I know this opens a can of worms.

[teknoluv]

Don't miss out the MOST IMPORTANT LINES:


As for a rapist on the loose in Owen Sound, he said there isn't one.

"We are not currently looking for a black male for rape or sexual assault," the deputy said. "He doesn't exist."

So, mistaken identity? Probably, but with the quotes, if you know what I mean.

[gordholio]

until these people are brought to Justice.

I'm not sure how much of a hick town Owen Sound is, but this sounds like a racially motivated attack.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/470332

I don't think you'll find a city or town in the world where there isn't at least one racist (if even this attack was due to racism). Boycotting a town or place because of the actions of a few people is pretty silly.

[Blunt]

I don't think you'll find a city or town in the world where there isn't at least one racist (if even this attack was due to racism). Boycotting a town or place because of the actions of a few people is pretty silly.

Yes.. Yes.. I did change the title.

[licious]

that is a great idea since owen sound is such a tourist hub for canadians. imagine the economic fallout in owen sound when their tourism revenue declines by $12 when someone decides to pass right through it rather than stopping and buying lunch at the burger king drive-thru as they pass through it.

LOL.

[dairymandip]

update

http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/471021

[Nikita]

It is interesting that without any actual reason to believe there was a racial motivation to the attack, the allegation of racial motivation is put forward.

Would people still be putting forward these allegations if it were a group of blacks beating a white man?

The fact that you're surprised to see this kind of allegation surprises me. And makes me believe you don't visit Off Topic very often.

[CSK'sMom]

I caught an interview with the Mom of the girl involved on tv last night. Her son was also involved in the attack and arrested as well. She made herself look like a real winner. She kept going on about her kids were "innocent victims" and about how the daughter was assaulted and the son stabbed. She also made sure to repeatedly say her kids are mixed race and are not "white like me", like somehow that made everything alright....

[Dano76]

I think we need a new "Racialism" forum.

[sketchED]

The story has made it to CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/08/01/canada.attack.ap/index.html

[dairymandip]

The story has made it to CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/08/01/canada.attack.ap/index.html

im shocked

wow things must be very slow in america, thats two straight days canada is looking like crap

[ali123]

This and the decapitation thing are the 2 most popular things on cnn.com as of now!

[dairymandip]

This and the decapitation thing are the 2 most popular things on cnn.com as of now!

oh canada my home and native land.......