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

From Good Old Komo News, with video.

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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.

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Luckily she wasn't seriously injured.

This quote really aggravates me, though:

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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."

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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;

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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.

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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

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...

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.

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.

Security guards aren't hired to provide security.

They're hired to prevent the building catching fire.

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

pathetic on so many different levels.

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.

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)

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?

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Originally Posted by 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?

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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."

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

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Originally Posted by johnhughthom

If they have security cameras why the need for security guards who just "observe and report"?

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Because security cameras look stupid in those fluorescent green vests.

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.

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Originally Posted by Meneldil

And then kick the security guards in the face.

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Sure, pick on the defenseless. ~;)

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

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

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?

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Originally Posted by Kadagar_AV

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

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I'm SURE they have have blankies for the distressed.

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.

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

i actually want to know, i think

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Originally Posted by Centurion1

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

i actually want to know, i think

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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 :)

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

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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."

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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?

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Originally Posted by PanzerJaeger

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?

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

http://www.gifbin.com/bin/sw50sw8sw578.gif

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

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

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!

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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.

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

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

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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.

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

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?

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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.

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

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!

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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?

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

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

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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...

That is one brutal beating she could have been dead.

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.

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Originally Posted by Major Robert Dump

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

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: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...

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Originally Posted by Major Robert Dump

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

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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.