Three Security Guards Stand and Watch Several Teens Knock a Girl Unconcious

[Crazed Rabbit]

From Good Old Komo News, with video. (http://www.komonews.com/news/local/84021562.html)


SEATTLE (AP) - A 15-year-old girl who was badly beaten and robbed in a Seattle bus tunnel as three unarmed security guards looked on told investigators that she thought the men would protect her.

The statements were revealed in court papers filed Wednesday against the teen girl accused of attacking her and the three young men accused of stealing her purse, phone and iPod. The four were all charged with first-degree robbery.

The victim told a King County sheriff's detective that the group followed her from a nearby department store into the bus tunnel at Westlake Station on Jan. 28, and she deliberately stood next to the three guards.

The guards didn't intervene, though. They have standing orders to "observe and report," so they called police but did nothing else as another 15-year-old girl punched and repeatedly kicked the victim in the head.

Luckily she wasn't seriously injured.

This quote really aggravates me, though:

King County Sheriff's Sgt. John Urquhart said the guards were right to follow their training.

"If you're a bank teller and you do something other than give them the money, you're going to get fired," Urquhart said. "We don't expect civilians to take police action. In this case, it was a violent fight, and they were outnumbered by this pack of people 3-to-1."

Apparently now it is 'police action' to stop a group of people from attacking another person, and not simply being a decent person. And of course 'civilians' just can't handle it.

At least some officials have sense;

Metro Transit General Manager Kevin Desmond and other King County officials were less forgiving.

"We are very disappointed in what people see in that video," Desmond said. "It was absolutely unacceptable. I know the Olympic Security folks were also disappointed in the response, but again, the employees were following the letter of the agreement."

Metro Transit contracts with the King County Sheriff's Office for 68 police officers, and supplements that force with civilian guards provided by Olympic Security Services Inc. of Tukwila, Wash. All three of the guards involved are Olympic employees.

The guards' duties include helping customers and reporting suspicious objects, disruptive behavior and equipment problems.

What a pathetic excuse for 'security guards', and what stupid managers who drew up that security contract.

So I guess what I'm asking is; what do you guys think the 'guards' should have done, and how should all people react to stuff like this?

CR

[Husar]

Absolutely agree with you.
Like it takes 3 "security guards" just to call the cops...
I don't get how a grownup man can just stand there and watch a young girl kick another one repeatedly in the head and even let her walk away...

[Major Robert Dump]

Not surprising this in in Seattle. I mean, when your cops have unlimited power and you infringe on the public's freedom of speech and their ability to observe and record things in public, well, I mean, well, you dont think they are going to let security actually secure anytthing do you? ROFL!!! Yhey have to counter-balance the uber corrupt police force scapegoat, powerless security to remind everyone how important copsd are.

[Louis VI the Fat]

My my, these three useless characters took their job so seriously they had forgotten all about being a citizen and a human being.

I wasn't there, but on the face of it, I think I'll call them pathetic little pencil-pushing cowards. Useless.

[HoreTore]

Security guards aren't hired to provide security.

They're hired to prevent the building catching fire.

[Centurion1]

No they are obviously hired to be little *******

pathetic on so many different levels.

[Pannonian]

Is anyone going to point out the infringement of liberty inherent in the existence of this video? The UK is often criticised for having security cameras all over the place, so I'm wondering if this criticism applies to the US as well.

[Centurion1]

its a metro. i expect it to have security cameras. if it was a bathroom or some othe rprivate place i might be a little peeved.

basically anywhere short of the potty is okay..... or a dressing room (even though i could imagine all the shoplifting that would stop)

[Tellos Athenaios]

That's another thing I don't understand about the USA then. Why do those guards not have the mandate to order people to leave the station, and take appropriate action if refused?

[Gregoshi]

That's another thing I don't understand about the USA then. Why do those guards not have the mandate to order people to leave the station, and take appropriate action if refused?
Apparently they are nothing more than walking, talking security cameras. I thought it was a nice touch that one of the mobile security cameras reached out to an assaulter as if to say "hey, don't do that."

[johnhughthom]

If they have security cameras why the need for security guards who just "observe and report"? One guy watching the cameras could do that.

[Gregoshi]

If they have security cameras why the need for security guards who just "observe and report"?
Because security cameras look stupid in those fluorescent green vests.

[Meneldil]

Wow.

There are two disturbing things out there. The 3 security guards who stand there and watch the girl being beaten to pulp without doing anything obviously deserve some harsh punishment for being the lowest cowards on earth. What a group of pathetic morons. And that goes too for the people protecting them. I didn't know that being a security guard prevented you from having feelings and balls.

Then, the fact that a 15 year old girl can attack another 15 year old girl because she 'acts white' and beat her to the ground is even more disturbing. What kind of society are we living in, if we let these little fiendish bastards get away with it? When a kid acts like that you have nothing to expect from him as an adult. Put her and her little crew of morons down already. If that was my daughter being assaulted like that, I'd probably go on a killing rampage on all these little gangsta wannabe useless twats. And then kick the security guards in the face.

[Gregoshi]

And then kick the security guards in the face.
Sure, pick on the defenseless. ~;)

[Strike For The South]

the group made threatening comments that she had "nice things" and that she acts "white."


Well we can't have that now, can we?

[Kadagar_AV]

Thank GOD they had security there, imagine what could have happened otherwise!

What's the point of having security, if they dont, you know, provide security?

[Gregoshi]

What's the point of having security, if they dont, you know, provide security?
I'm SURE they have have blankies for the distressed.

[Kadagar_AV]

This is troublesome on another level too (girl getting beaten with 3 security guards around her).

What does this tell the other street thugs? Article kind of acknowledges that teh security guys are "limp" so to say...

It sets a very dangerous preceedence, for society at large aswell for their fellow security workers.

Here in Austria, or in Sweden, I wouldnt dare messing with security. But then, they have battons and a evil attitude. Most of them would cherish something like this to happen, would give them an excuse to went soem anger in a way normally only cops can.

Behaviour like this puts the rest of the citys security workers at risk, as they lost the/what respect they had to begin with.

Reminds me of a time back in the army. I was guarding the royal castle (we all have to). This week it was the annual racist demontration in celebration of king charles XII birthday. Anyway, some racist thugs, 50 or so, decided it would be a good idea to storm the castle and talk with the new king, show their respect to him, or something (drunken lot all of them).

Why? Cause tehy year before they had been damn close to egtting in as the guards had strict rules NOT to fire their weapons. The guards had instead withdrawn and called for police backup.

So, basicly, we got to sort their mess the next year, only when we did it there were several more racists.

I actually think my regiment was handpicked as we were all rather burly.

Anyway, we stood there a line of 10 soldiers, facing a mob or so of 50 drunken racists, storming towards us. 5 meters away the racists just stopped, and turned away. We hadnt even raised our weapons. No, only thing we had done was show, in eyes and posture, that we would not let them past, and the first 10 or so who tried would be in a world of hurt. We did it not because of bravery, but pride in our uniform and what we stood for. And also cause we were so angry of the guys the year before, and wanted to put a shameful circle to stop.

I am sad tehse security guys doesnt have the same respect in their uniform, but then looking at it, I can understand why.

Security SHOULD stand for something. Walking around with a teddy bear in your pocket to comfort victims is ok, aslong as you have soem sort of melee tool on the other side.

Just my take on it.

[Centurion1]

how were they racists because they like the king.......

i actually want to know, i think

[Kadagar_AV]

how were they racists because they like the king.......

i actually want to know, i think

One didn't lead to the other... We have plenty of people who like the king, or the dead kings. However, this particular demontration on this particular day is very well known to attract racists of the worst sort. You know, steel clad boots, rolled up jeans, bomber jackets, shaved heads... The typical romper stomper :)

[Centurion1]

oh like neo-nazis. so they are actually pro monarchy, weird. or were you kidding abou them wanting to thank the king.

[PanzerJaeger]

The girl, who is black, also told the detective that the altercation began at a nearby department store, where some in the group made threatening comments that she had "nice things" and that she acts "white."

If the innocent girl, minding her own business and just trying to get her shopping done and get home, was acting "white"; I wonder what color her assailants would ascribe to their own actions?

[Strike For The South]

If the innocent girl, minding her own business and just trying to get her shopping done and get home, was acting "white"; I wonder what color her assailants would ascribe to their own actions?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.gifbin.com/bin/sw50sw8sw578.gif (http://www.gifbin.com/981768)

[Strike For The South]

All jokes about Possible racism aside,

I like how you E-tough guys sit behind your desk and claim these guys are a waste of space.

You really think society would reward these security gaurds?

What would have them do? Get taken to the cleaners in civil court? Have this girls homebois come back the next day and beat the shit out of you? Maybe worse?

Hell, we don't even know what the guards contracts where, they may not have even been allowed to lay a hand on them...Most gaurds are instructed to call the cops!

Not to mention both girls were mouthing off beforehand....Someone comes to me looking for a fight I walk away.

Have any of oyu been exposed to violence in your lives?....these are not little girls....I would much rather have to break up 2 grown men fighting than 2 of these girls anyday of the week

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Hell, we don't even know what the guards contracts where, they may not have even been allowed to lay a hand on them...Most gaurds are instructed to call the cops!


Yeah, there are pretty strict and complicated laws about when you are allowed to use force. Most security guards aren't taught them, which is why places will hire off duty cops to work security sometimes. Of course, police brutality sparks a lot of threads too.

[Husar]

I like how you E-tough guys sit behind your desk and claim these guys are a waste of space.
Yes, I know, but that#s what we got this forum for, I'm not a tough guy but I got my limits as well you know, kicking someone in the head is more or less beyond that limit, the things before that weren't.


What would have them do? Get taken to the cleaners in civil court? Have this girls homebois come back the next day and beat the shit out of you? Maybe worse?
I'm very aware of that, I had two young boys come up to me at a bus stop who asked me whether I thought I could beat them during a fight and then they wanted me to fight with them, they argued with me for quite some time but I didn't suspecting some kinda trap like this. However, as a security guard or policeman you should not (have to) be afraid of this or else you can just as well quit and let the mafia and gangsters take over because you're afraid of their buddies.


Hell, we don't even know what the guards contracts where, they may not have even been allowed to lay a hand on them...Most gaurds are instructed to call the cops!
Well, in that case, they're pretty much useless. Then again I don't think it's a good idea to put these contracts above their civil duties, would you like the idea that the girl may have permanent damage that could have been prevented hadn't it been for that piece of paper?


Have any of oyu been exposed to violence in your lives?....these are not little girls....I would much rather have to break up 2 grown men fighting than 2 of these girls anyday of the week
I disagree, I'd much rather hold the arms of a girl than try to stop some guy with 3 times as much muscle mass as I have from beating up someone else, probably because I'd be unable to do the latter without kicking him in the head myself...

[Fragony]

That is one brutal beating she could have been dead.

[Major Robert Dump]

Security guards have no more or less rights for citizens arrest and intervention laws than any old citizen. None at all.

Nonetheless. they were still douchebags. If I were afriad of locals or enforcing the law, then I would not bed a security guard in that neighborhood. It is not a glamorous job by any means, but it is one that induces risks and rewards one must be willing to accept. While I understand their jobs were on the lines, especially when dealing with minorities, there is a certain point where one must evaluate their line of work and make a decision.

I would have tased that little skank and maimed any of her friends who came after me. That is how you deal with situations like this. If you are not ready to deal in that manner, than don't be a security guard in that community.

[Husar]

I would have tased that little skank and maimed any of her friends who came after me.
:thumbsup:

Though I don't think they had tasers but then I got a younger sister and it's not too hard to restrain a girl that age by just holding her hands and body, they were three guys, would still leave two to maim the other little bastards, should it be necessary.

Though Strike may have a point that in the US someone would probably cry that the white guy was abusing his powers trying to sexually abuse the non-white girl when he was really just restraining her... :juggle2:
Conclusion: they need tasers...

[Fragony]

Security guards have no more or less rights for citizens arrest and intervention laws than any old citizen. None at all.

If so they are allowed to act, over here they could even face criminal charges, you are allowed to make a 'citizen arrest' as long as you don't use excessive force. Doubt it's any different in the States.

[Tellos Athenaios]

The reason they could face criminal charges in the Netherlands over this, is for failure to render aid. And charges depend heavily on circumstances.

And they aren't equipped with tasers or the like. They are people to oversee health & safety of the tunnel. But no matter how you put it, I would expect that health & safety duties would imply more than emptying trash.

[Fragony]

You don't need a taser to take out kids. Look how vicious the attack is it usually doesn't look like much on camera, she gets kicked in the hard she could easily have died. And these apathy-muppets just watch, make them watch that video 100 times Clockwork Orange-style.

[Beskar]

You don't need a taser to take out kids. Look how vicious the attack is it usually doesn't look like much on camera, she gets kicked in the hard she could easily have died. And these apathy-muppets just watch, make them watch that video 100 times Clockwork Orange-style.

Kicked in the hard?

[Fragony]

Kicked in the hard?

My bad, I meant kick out of fart

[CrossLOPER]

My bad, I meant kick out of fart
That still does not make any sense.

Anyway, I heard that the guards' contracts pretty much stated that they can't do anything. At least they called, however useless they seemed. Is there seriously a law that says you civilians can't get involved in anyway? Such regulations should come with an official presence that can get involved.

[Meneldil]

Bollox. Contracts don't take precedence over basic humanity.

[Fragony]

Bollox. Contracts don't take precedence over basic humanity.

^- that

[Strike For The South]

Bollox. Contracts don't take precedence over basic humanity.

I'm sure that will console them as they lose everything in civil court.

Do we even know if these guys were allowed to carry tasers? We still don't know what these guys were allowed to do!

It's easy to sit there and call these guys pussys.

You're right these guys should've lost there job, then gotten sued. Or they would've gotten really luck or been shot. Or the next day homegirls boyfriend comes back and gives you a new face curtosey of a lead people.

People who do these kind of things DO NOT CARE. If the guards where worth there salt they would've realized that violence was going to happen and defuesed it way earlier.

Let me be as clear as I possibly can;

Society will not reward or even protect these men. . So it's either keep there livleyhoods and health or get yelled at by a bunch of people on a wargaming website.

I have no problem with what they did.

If you want to blame someone blame our sue happy culture

[Sasaki Kojiro]

I agree with strike. This is a news story designed to piss us off. I mean, look at the first quote:


SEATTLE (AP) - A 15-year-old girl who was badly beaten and robbed in a Seattle bus tunnel as three unarmed security guards looked on told investigators that she thought the men would protect her.

They write the story to spark an emotional reaction in the reader. If we just go along with that then we can't possibly complain about glenn beck, o'reilly, olbermann etc.

In the video, the guards are standing there and they see two girls fighting ineffectively. The one guard is calling it in on his radio and then intervenes when one girl starts kicking the other girl in the face.

[Beskar]

Reminds me of a cause in England where two security people didn't jump in the save a child and only "stood there" while they conducted the authorities, or said to them not to get involved. (as jumpining in could put them at risk.) There was a big outcry about that, one against the security people (lead by the parents), then there was a counter outcry at the parents for abandoning their young children at a dangerous lake.

[Fragony]

I agree with strike. This is a news story designed to piss us off.

It worked, look at it.

[Husar]

I agree with strike. This is a news story designed to piss us off. I mean, look at the first quote:
Well, maybe that's what she did, you know, it makes sense to go to a "guard" when you feel threatened.


In the video, the guards are standing there and they see two girls fighting ineffectively. The one guard is calling it in on his radio and then intervenes when one girl starts kicking the other girl in the face.
Intervenes? By pointing his arm in the general direction of the girl that just keeps kicking the other one in the head regardless?

and strike, if that is how it is, then, as I said, these "security guards" are basically a waste of money, I don't think it takes three guys in colourful vests to ensure the "health" of a freaking tunnel every day...

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Strike is exaggerating for effect -- but only in part. Lawsuits using all of the "angles" he noted HAVE been lodged against security personnel and their companies in the past. I think Husar is correct though, in that if they ARE that hamstrung, why bother employing them?

[lars573]

For appearance sake. And to ward off all but the real trouble makers. Prime examples of whom are featured in the OP article.

[Husar]

For appearance sake. And to ward off all but the real trouble makers. Prime examples of whom are featured in the OP article.

Well, they gave the girl a false sense of security, she might have looked for real policemen instead of awaiting her attackers there had she known these guys are essentially almost useless...

[Scienter]

This story is disturbing to me because I (used to) think that if someone started beating the :daisy: out of me, security guards would do something to protect me. It's kind of hard to go and look for a real cop when someone is kicking you in the face. It reminds me a little of that story from CA where a teenage girl got gang raped in front of a bunch of people and no one did anything. The by stander effect is scary.

If security guards are contractually bound not to interact with people, what's the point of having them?

[Beskar]

If security guards are contractually bound not to interact with people, what's the point of having them?

To give the illusion of security.

[Fragony]

The by stander effect is scary.

So were the tree days I spend in a police cell because I tried to help.

[Strike For The South]

Im willing to bet neither party really cared that secuirty was there.

[Louis VI the Fat]

'Security' is nothing else but citizens in fancy outfits. I myself can don on my Obi-Wan uniform and lightsaber and call myself 'Jedi defender of the peace' and parade around a bus station. It does not give me any rights to maintain order whatsoever.

I do not blame these three useless guys for not doing their job, I blame them for not interfering as citizens and fellow human beings, when from what I can tell from the video, there seemed to be no unreasonable danger to do so.


Me, I'm not a hero. 'Eunuch', I believe, is the term in fashion. There's this gang of thugs that has set up shop across the street from me. They sell their drugs quite openly on the street and terrorize the scared local whites. I don't play Clint Eastwood, I rush to the metro with my head down and then write angry letters to the police to get their :daisy: act together and :daisy: do something about it.
But a girl when I'm with three guys? Yes, i think I would interfere. The exact moment is where the one girl is on the ground, and the other is repeatedly kicking her in the head. I think I'd stand between them and simply say: 'enough'. Not more, not less.



On the upside, I suppose that at least in America nobody got fired for posting that video, unlike the police officer who released this infuriating footage of a gang of thugs hijacking and beating up a bus full of passengers, then got fired for inciting racial hatred:
http://www.gamaniak.com/video-3642-agression-par-racailles-bus-a-paris.html

[ICantSpellDawg]

It's like a jungle outside. If we weren't afraid of being sued by the misguided people who protect "them", citizens would intervene in these things. Years ago the government turned away when people brought justice down onto criminals. Now, If "they" don't stab or shoot you in the scuffle, you will get nailed by their lawyer and either lose your house or go broke defending yourself from a frivilous lawsuit. If the government wants to gang up and open the door to lawsuits on do-gooders after something like this, they can expect the do-gooders to turn into do-nothings.

We need to figure out what kind of society we want and then protect those who would defend the innocent. Too bad our modern courts have decided that we don't have the right to self defence or the right to defend others. These guards did nothing wrong. They did nothign at all.

It's easy to suggest that these security guards put their lives in danger around a pack of marauding blacks in their own neighborhood, when they know that they will be involved in an ongoing lawsuit and probably lose their job if they touch anyone. for 15-20k a year at best. Give me a break.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Im willing to bet neither party really cared that secuirty was there.

Hehehe, sad but probably quite true. Especially in larger cities, most people don't want to get involved and walk right by stuff like this. It can be a jungle out there, and I doubt these "security" people have any legal obligation to do more than report the incident. Police Officers have a legal duty & obligation to act, these guys aren't police officers. As far as a moral duty or acting out of common decency, well, we know how "flexible" that can be. If they can live with their decision not to act that is their cross to bear.

[Strike For The South]

But a girl when I'm with three guys? Yes, i think I would interfere. The exact moment is where the one girl is on the ground, and the other is repeatedly kicking her in the head. I think I'd stand between them and simply say: 'enough'. Not more, not less.

Please do, I'd help you find your testicles after they've ripped them off.




On the upside, I suppose that at least in America nobody got fired for posting that video, unlike the police officer who released this infuriating footage of a gang of thugs hijacking and beating up a bus full of passengers, then got fired for inciting racial hatred:
http://www.gamaniak.com/video-3642-agression-par-racailles-bus-a-paris.html

That was underwhelming

[lars573]

'Security' is nothing else but citizens in fancy outfits. I myself can don on my Obi-Wan uniform and lightsaber and call myself 'Jedi defender of the peace' and parade around a bus station. It does not give me any rights to maintain order whatsoever.
Which is why it would be more effective to done Supercommando armour, call yourself Deathwatch, stack your 9 and start taking what you want at gun point.

[aimlesswanderer]

I thought that all Americans carried guns to protect themselves against things like this. The silly girl, she should have been carrying a gun like all proper Americans are supposed to, so she could have shot her attacker. Then the attacker's friends would have shot her, then...

[Hosakawa Tito]

If you don't like cops (or armed citizens), the next time you're in danger-- call a hippie!

[Devastatin Dave]

I don't get how a grownup man can just stand there and watch a young girl kick another one repeatedly in the head and even let her walk away...
I can answer that with two words: law suits

[Husar]

I can answer that with two words: law suits

Well, Louis posted this in a completely unrelated topic in the Monastery:
http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/958132/bus_attack_caught_on_video

People there are not just standing around and were actually celebrated as heroes, that's the way it should be.

[Shaka_Khan]

So were the tree days I spend in a police cell because I tried to help.
This is what bothers me when trying to defend others or oneself. The hero also gets penalized. The banker several months ago is one example. I see this with non-gun related situations in the school also. That's why I was reluctant to fight back in school. The teacher doesn't take sides because the teacher didn't know what happened. Even when friends try to explain, the teachers won't listen. I even heard of an incident in which a student defended himself very successfully but was expelled for it. With the appeal by many other students who confirmed that the offender was a bully, he was accepted back in. He was fortunate that he had many friends who supported him.

[edyzmedieval]

Not to mention both girls were mouthing off beforehand....Someone comes to me looking for a fight I walk away.

Have any of oyu been exposed to violence in your lives?....these are not little girls....I would much rather have to break up 2 grown men fighting than 2 of these girls anyday of the week

First one, I agree. Second one - well, depends what kind of a fight. If its some drunkard ten times me,I walk away. If its some guy trying to act cool and is the same size or smaller than me, that's a different story and you deal with it depending on the circumstances at that moment.

I've been through a lot of violence. Fights were common back at home for me. I broke up two guys fighting and in the end I received the punches, from both of them. 2 of these girls - I'd love to set them apart and watch their reactions. Plus when you have a girl acting all tough like that you have a free hand to do whatever you want.

[HoreTore]

Security guards are absolutely no different to any other civilian, except that they are given the rights of the owner of the building they are working in.

They are NOT "mini-cops". They have no more rights or obligations than you do. The reason they are hired is to provide security - but not for you. They are there because their presence makes theft less likely and to watch out for fire and unnecessary waste of energy.

[Strike For The South]

First one, I agree. Second one - well, depends what kind of a fight. If its some drunkard ten times me,I walk away. If its some guy trying to act cool and is the same size or smaller than me, that's a different story and you deal with it depending on the circumstances at that moment.
Oh yes the ever popular "if he's smaller than me" So being the bully is en vouge now? What if he's bigger than you? Are you just going to get pushed around?

Fighting should be your last resort, always. And if you must fight your job is to incapcitate the guy and walk away.

[/QUOTE]I've been through a lot of violence. Fights were common back at home for me. I broke up two guys fighting and in the end I received the punches, from both of them. 2 of these girls - I'd love to set them apart and watch their reactions. Plus when you have a girl acting all tough like that you have a free hand to do whatever you want.[/QUOTE]

LOL, These girls are hoodrats of the highest order, Im not even going to bring up what touching a woman entails in a legal aspect.