Got to the warehouse at 6:00 AM to prepare for a client call in Indiana. Left the front door open.

A young guy with a knife came in. I have 6 stitches in my left arm, lots of bruises and a possible fracture in my left hand.

The kid is in the hospital with a dislocated sholder, a broken wrist and other bruises and cuts. Then, it's off to jail.

Thing is, I know the guy. He has been around frequently asking for hand-outs and work. A few weeks ago, he worked a day stacking inventory and saw instruments and electronic equipment. That was stupid on my part.

Really feel bad about hurting the guy. I was lucky; could have ended up much worse, for everyone.


A real wake-up call.

Be careful out there!

Russ

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 05-04-2009).]

Rus

Good lord what have we come too? I feel really bad about what happened to you and certainly wish you a quick recovery. I am really happy this did not turn into the real Cluster that could of happened.

The fact that you helped this kid out in the past and he pulled this crap is a sad commentary about our times.

I've been toying with getting a gun permit & carrying a weapon. I'm 64 outta shape and no match for a long drawn out confrontation with some punk unless I get the first punch or two in but that's another story.

Take Care

Jerry

Keep us posted

.

[This message has been edited by Fran Carango (edited 05-12-2009).]

Russ..
Here's wishing you a speedy recovery. Really happy to hear the perp didn't get away with hurting you or stealing your property.
Eddie

G'day Russ,
You didn't hurt the guy, you were not even into first gear were you. You are too kind hearted for that.Just goes to show, who can you trust.
Anyway, your disability might engender a new style of playing that you never new, and further astound your audience.
Get well soon, and do not let it stop your charitable ways.
Ray

------------------
Ray The Saint

Speedy recovery Russ. Really a pity you didn't break both his wrists.

Wow...glad you're (more or less) fine...

Could've been a much worse outcome...

Heal up & be safe!

------------------
Bill in Dayton

Good news...no break in the left hand, just severe bruising. It's firmly wrapped, really sore, and I've decided to cancel jobs until Friday, where I'll use an arranger for week-end work. Can't play guitar, bass or left-handed bass on a B-3, but will be able to cover the week-end (carefully) by just holding chords with my left hand. Right one is fine.

Sadly, I lost it, and hurt the kid more than I should have. I keep a weighted metal defense baton in the drawer, and broke his wrist and really bruised him up, including dislocating his shoulder. Haven't been that mad for a long time, and should not have reacted that way.

I'll be fine. Just a little sore and ashamed at how I handled things. Scary thing is, right beside the baton is a 5 shot Tarus 45/410 shotgun pistol (the Judge)loaded with buckshot. Not sure I want to keep this thing here after this. Came really close to using it.

If I had, I'd never gotten over that.

Thanks for the concern.

Russ


[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 05-05-2009).]

Leave the Taurus where it is, you may really need it someday.

The fact that you did NOT use it is evidence enough of a clear head to me.

You beat the little miscreant because you cared.

Perhaps your bit of tough love will influence him to aspire to better heights, time will tell.

--And load the last two of that Taurus with .45 rounds so that if the shot don't stop, you will be able to throw the last punch anyway.

You defended yourself, nothing more, nothing less.

Any knife or gun fight that you walk away from is a good fight.

--Mac

hi Russ,
Happy to hear that you didn't suffer more injuries then you did.
maybe you need someone to watch your back.
take care.
Bebop

Proper use of the left hand in soft spot so the hand doesn't get injured:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xpdR6s8kJk

In this case, the carotid.

Creates a sudden bloodflow problem and down they go, everytime.

Now that the weekend is here,
How you doin' Captain Russ?
Eddie

Thanks, Eddie. I'm sore, but will make it. Tomorrow, I'll do an 8 straight hours for Mothers Day at a private club I've worked for over 20 years.

The thing that really pisses me off is, this little jerk has found a BS lawyer, and is threatening to sue me for assault and lots of other stuff unless I agree to a $50,000 out of court settlement.

The guy has a sheet 4 pages long, including assault, breaking and entering, armd robbery, etc. He is claiming that he only pulled the knife after I attacked him with the club I pulled out of the drawer. He is claiming that he was just looking for work at 6:00 AM in the morning.

Sad thing is, my lawyer says that, in the end, paying the guy off might be the least costly and time consuming way to go. The guy is in jail and will be prosecuted for terroristic threatening, bodily injury, being a repeat offender and other criminal charges. This little weesel lawyer is threatening a civil action, and I'm told he can do that even though the little jerk who cut me is convicted on the criminal charges. The guy also wants me to cover court costs, medical expenses, compensate for loss of work (HA HA)
and other stuff.

What a deal!


Russ



[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 05-09-2009).]

I am really shocked Russ and hope you get over your injuries very soon. This type of behavior isn't typical of most people you try to help but we have always got to remember there is always the occasional bad apple.

And I also agree leave the Taurus where it is because you may really need it someday. You obviously have good judgement when to use it or not .... cos I would have been very tempted to pull that rather than the club when someone threatened me with bodily harm. But you must have decided that was not the time.

Personally I think I would pay more on principle just not to pay him off. It would be worth the extra money not to have someone like that come out on top. Of course that would depend how much extra that could turn out to be.

And don't feel bad at all that you hurt him. It just may make him think twice about doing the same to someone else and could possibly end up killing an innocent person. He should consider himself lucky that his injuries weren't much much worse.

Nah...no way. Is our legal system so screwed up this could actually happen? I think I would shop around and get a second opinion. Keep us posted, Captain.

Eddie

Russ, just saw this.
You shoulda used the gun, the 45 part, then the guy wouldn't be suing you. We wouldn't have to pay for prosecuting him then housing and feeding him for the next few years. He will also receive free advanced crime lessons while in jail.
Still, you probably did the right thing. Hope you recover quickly.
DonM

Killin' ain't the way to go, man.

Only justifiable if given absolutely no other reoourse in order to save other human lives.

Russ

If you had pulled out the 45 then the guy would have backed off and ran.

You really did the right thing about the lawyer, these scum bag bottom feeders are the lowest form of predator. He figured you for easy pickings. Check with your lawyer about where to report this incedent, most people are just happy to get away from this sort of scum. There are agencys that deal with this stuff and one would want it on the record for the next poor guy this sleez bag tries to rip off.

Tack care

Jerry

Hey, Jerry, I've already reported this guy to the director of the Bar Association. I play for the group often. And, the Association knows about his antics. I think he'll pay-big-time.

And if it takes a suit or other legal action to have him reviewed, I'm going to pay for it.


Russ

Hi Russ,

I'm surprised you lower your standards to play for these guys. But then again....it always helps to keep in touch for the good of mankind. I think that they will track this weasel down and let him know what life really is all about !!!!Hang in there Captain !!!
Ray
PS where does the CAPTAIN originate????

Rus

you've done man kind a service.

Ray, I'm in Lexington, Kentucky.

Russ

Yeah Russ I know.
Sorry, my mistake. I meant the origin of "Captain". Was it The Mayflower,PT Boat, The canoe in Deliverance. Just curious. (some times called nosey).
See Ya !!!
Ray

------------------
Ray The Saint

Testing-got a new email address and password.


R.

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 05-20-2009).]

Ray, I played on a patio 4 nights a week for 14 years, starting at 5:00 P.M. A local owner of a hat store brought me 4 Greek fishing hats. Soon, the owner, workers and customers began calling me "Captain". When I had to choose a name for the "Zone", it seeemed like a natural.

Now, the customers from the Merrick Inn still call me "captain".

Russ

Hi Captain, I salute you.
I always did think you wore many hats, and they all fit well.
See Ya !!!
Ray

------------------
Ray The Saint

It's been a month, and, sadly, I have some residual nerve damage in my left upper arm.

Just can't get the job done, yet on bass or left-handed bass on keys. It's a wait and see deal. I'm starting theraphy this week. On guitar, I have a loss of some feeling and am slower than I need to be.

I may end up-kicking and screaming-a full-time arranger player...at least until things improve. No problem holding chords with my left hand.

Please be careful out there. I was very optomistic that I would be 100% in a week. That didn't happen.


Russ

G'day Russ,
Put on your favourite hat, throw your shoulders back, head up, go out and play your best, and to hell with the dregs of the world who have no respect for the rest of us
Ray

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Ray The Saint

Hey Cap'n,
How are all those wounds(mental and physical).
I had a pergola collapse under me yesterday while doing a bit of home maintenance. Luckily it was only about 10ft. to the sudden stop,and I survived with little damage. Apart from a gash on the back of my head and a large bruise on my bum,dented pride,(being a burnt-out plumber) and a ban on me going any higher than middle C in future. On reflection, I could have broken my back and been a burden on my family and
society, so I guess we can be lucky.
I told all those waiting in the Doc's surgery that "The Gardener" pushed me Ha Ha!!
Keep on smiling Brother
Ray

------------------
Ray The Saint

Ray, what a great sense of humor about something that could have been a trajedy. "Higher than middle C"....FABULOUS!

Glad you're OK. If it was me, I cut my butt
and I was younger, I'd spend time trying to get a cute young thing to kiss it better.


Oh, well...old age is a bitch!


Be well, friend. I'm healing fine.


Russ

Ray, so glad to hear it wasn't worse than it was. Yep I think you better stay closer to the ground now

I haven't been to "The Bar" in ages - NO I haven't stopped drinking ...
Russ, So sorry to hear about your problems ... you did the right thing twice - you defended yourself physically, and now you will defend yourself in the courts ... even though these situations don't always work out the way they should, you are doing the right thing ...best of luck ...
Hope you get back to full health quickly ...
t.

Russ, I don't visit here often but in reading your post what stood out so strongly was you thinking of how you hurt the other guy.
This world would so much better with more people like you.
The guy comes in to do you harm and you are concerned about what you did to him. That will stay with me for a while. A good heart!

John C.

Thanks, John. Recovery has been rough. I just had an operation on my left sholder to try to repair nerve damage from the altercation. I really have limited motion and feeling in my left hand. That's not good for a guitar/bass/left-handed keyboard bass player.

It's been painful, and I don't know whether I'll fully recover, but I still regret hurting the guy a lot. Some things in life just aren't pretty.

I feel bad about that.

Russ

Russ

My guess is you should be angry about being put in that position. Maybe because you did hurt him he just might turn away from a life of crime. Just maybe he might get the idea that the next time it could a 45 Cal that could do the hitting. That man stole a part of your health and there is no quick and easy replacement.

You may just have done him a favor as odd as that sounds.

You also may have saved someone's else's life or others from bad run ins.

I do hope you mend, problem with our age is we don't mend as quickly as we used to.

My Thoughts and prayers are with you.

Jerry



[This message has been edited by Mainer (edited 07-14-2009).]