Kensington Street Justice Is Oh So Real
By now, you’re probably aware of the horrific rape and abduction of an 11-year-old girl in Kensington that was discovered earlier in the week, as well as the vigilante attack that nabbed Jose Carrasquillo, now a person of interest in the case, pending DNA test results. Now, whether he turns out to be guilty or not, Carrasquillo’s capture tells us a lot about both the truly abhorrent nature of this crime, and what we think about street justice as opposed to, say, legal justice. In media reports far and wide, the neighborhood guys who apprehended and then beat down Carrasquillo are rather frank in their admissions of what happened and their own involvement in it. So, too, are neighbors and eyewitnesses, who openly encouraged the beatdown. And if we are reading between the lines of what Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey is saying about the incident, there’s not gonna be an investigation into the vigilantes — unless, of course, it turns out, Carrasquillo turns out to be innocent. The latest twist in the case comes via Mayor Nutter, who would seem to be giving tacit props to the vigilante crew, if not altogether walking over eggshells on the whole deal:
“I’m glad that that part of the situation has been resolved. It will go forward through the normal criminal justice process. But it’s a further demonstration that Philadelphians care passionately about the city, about our quality of life, and certainly about our children.”
The translation, here, is pretty much, “If this is in fact the guy, he deserved everything he got, and more.” But the nagging, gnawing issue here is obvious: What if he’s not?
June 4th, 2009 at 11:16 am
If not, I suspect Nutter will recommend ‘Little Children’ for the next ‘One City, One Book’ campaign.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:25 am
I asked just that and got in a huge argument with my family, as if my belief in the criminal justice system, innocent till proven guilty was a condonation of the rape of children.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Innocent until proven guilty is the law, and I agree with it.
It seems, right now, that its very likely he’s the guy, and if that’s the case… well, no tears here. If not, it still shows at least one thing: People are sick and tired of crime in this city and want it stopped, even if they have to do it themselves.
At least we get that much.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Instead of a monetary reward, if you catch a criminal, you get a free 10 minute beatdown if he/she is convicted. Street justice plus judicial process. Problem solved.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
By not charging the people that beat this guy, Ramsey is sending a message that street justice is the way to go. And maybe it is, until they beat an innocent person to death.
While this dirtbag should get everything that he has coming to him, the people who beat him should be forced to face justice of their own.
If every person in North Philly/Kensigton decided to dole out their own justice, bullets would be flying all over town. This isn’t the wild wild west.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Agree with Philthy Dan. It’s irresponsible on Nutter’s part to rationalize those people’s actions in that way, whether or not Jose Carasquillo is guilty of that horrific crime.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
philthydan: Kensington, by most accounts, is already a war zone, largely because people don’t call the police when something happens due to a feeling that the police don’t care there. So by them retaliating… well, its actually a semi-good thing.
I don’t fully enjoy the message Ramsey and Nutter are sending by not charging them, but… well, how badly was he hurt? How long did the beating go on? If it was more-or-less to detain him until the police arrived, I think its one of those “better safe than sorry” things.
If anything, I wouldn’t be shocked if he tries to sue the “attackers” down the line.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Larry, they put him in critical condition. As one of the guys put it “he had a hole in his head”.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Woah. Didn’t know it was that bad.
Well… if they aren’t charged, look for a lawsuit.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Pardon me, people -
If you believe in justice and the concept of innocent until proven guilty, then street justice is its counterpoint, an abhorrent characteristic of a degradated society. There’s nothing semi-good about it.
If you feel some kind of relief or project some sort of joy or positivity regarding this suspect’s beating by these people, then you, too, are part of the problem.
The legal system and due process are the very hallmarks of civilization. Shame on Nutter, Ramsey, and anyone else who lauds otherwise, in any fashion.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
They should be charged either way. Just because someone deserves a beat down doesn’t make it OK for citizens(or police for that matter) to deliver one with impunity. What if they’d wound up killing the guy? What if the cops had been caught doing the exact same thing? Ramsey and Nutter are putting politics before professionalism and should be ashamed of themselves.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I can’t say what exactly it is statistically, but over and over again you hear that a HUGE amount of gun violence and homicide in the city is retaliatory in nature. It’s just another form of vigilante justice. If Nutter and company are ok with that assault, they might as well be cool with the 300+ homicides every year.
That said, the philly.com commenters set finally got a heartwarmer.
June 4th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
I was taught that 2 wrongs don’t make a right. Yes the crime was heinous. Yes, I’m proud the community captured the alleged suspect. But beating the man within an inch of his life? It doesn’t change what happened to that little girl and it’s just not right.
June 4th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
“I was saying, ‘He wants to rape babies? Kill him!’” said Linda Steeves who watched the mob scene from her front porch. “Everybody was applauding.”
dude was put in critical condition, on a breathing machine. had the cops not arrived when they did, he would probably be dead. and these people would have been proud of themselves. but ya know what? the victim in the attack couldn’t even ID him. she told the police a description of him that didn’t match the post-rape video footage they had of him. so we don’t even need to go far out on a limb here to assume it’s possible they got the wrong guy.
and even if not, at the end of the day, thou shalt not kill applies to us all.
the people who attacked this man are guilty of assault and attempted murder. i don’t see how that makes any of them any better than the man they attacked, even if he ends up being guilty.
June 4th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
this just in via philly.com:
The Fraternal Order of Police offered $10,000 to anyone who could help get Carrasquillo into custody by 5 p.m. yesterday. Carrasquillo was apprehended about an hour earlier.
Last night, FOP president John McNesby said two Kensington residents who helped apprehend Carrasquillo were going to receive the reward. “They stepped up big time,” he said.
once again, the FOP does the “rule of law” proud.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
poverty is not excuse an to be an animal. I commend the people the who beat this scumbag to an inch of his life. I hope it sends a message that the poor do not have to accept rape, murder, drugs and prostitution in their neighborhoods. Get behind me devil. and all you square rimmed four eyed train riding prius drivers can go fuck yourselves.