Man beaten by 5 kids drinking in woods
But this weekend, that right of passage turned brutally dark in Folcroft when five kids from age 14 to 17 who were drinking in the woods beat the pulp out of a 31-year-old "concerned citizen" who dared to check on why there was smoke coming from the woods behind his house.
Man beaten by 5 kids drinking in woods
Stephanie Farr
Listen, I drank in the woods in high school. Granted, we had a lot more woods in central Pennsylvania and probably a lot more people with a lot less teeth willing to buy us beer, but I know the same thing goes on in Delco.
But this weekend, that rite of passage (which we here at Daily Delco are in no way condoning) turned brutally dark in Folcroft when five kids between 14 and 17 who were drinking in the woods beat the pulp out of a 31-year-old "concerned citizen" who dared to check on why there was smoke coming from the woods behind his house.
Folcroft Police Chief Robert Ruskowski said about eight kids were in the woods behind Windsor Circle, drinking beers and sitting around a bonfire around 7:30 p.m. Saturday night. A nearby resident came out of his house, saw the smoke rising from above the trees and went to check on the source.
What started as a normal conversation between the 31-year-old "concerned citizen" and the teens, ended up with five of the boys beating the man all at once, police said.
"Some of the kids we arrested this time we've had numerous times," Ruskowski said. "They're not even worth the air they're breathing."
The victim suffered two fractured eye sockets, a collapsed lung and a puncture wound to his back, among numerous other injuries. He remains in serious condition at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital.
"He has bruises from head to toe on both sides," Ruskowski said. "All over nothing."
After they beat him unconscious, the kids ran away and other residents concerned about the smoke from the woods went to check on the source, found the victim and carried him out, Ruskowksi said. Several of the kids who were in the group drinking in the woods but who did not participate in the assault came back and gave information to responding police officers.
Four of the five kids charged were arrested on the street and a fifth was arrested at his home, according to police.
"We had them in custody that night and they thought it was a big joke," Ruskowski said.
The teens have been charged as juveniles with aggravated assault and related offenses but Ruskowski said he'd like to see them charged as adults with attempted homicide.
"The violence is just unbelievable," he said. "I'm trying to calm the residents in the area who think it's time for some payback."
@edward44 So by checking on the property behind his house, he got what he deserved? Collapsed lung? Broken orbital bones? Stabbed? In what world did this guy get what he deserved?— EaglesFan32- To bad the man was not armed and able to protect himself.— Taxpaying Voter
Comment removed.- @edward44: What??? We all have a right to check up on our own property. Or should we cower like sheep in our homes?
Absurd!— nikki1231 - The grammar in some of these posts is absolutely atrocious! It is pervasive, consistently observed, and a sad commentary on the education of the individuals in question. "To" instead of "too"?! Seriously?! "Your" instead of "You're"?! Really?— 5NOT4
- Lighten up Snot. Blogs are like IM, not term papers — cogent1
- The second "sentence" in your post is not a sentence or at the very least it is a complete mess of a sentence.
— UncleStosh - Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- that community needs to see if that zimmerman fellow is available for a neighborhood watch position.— Branch Manager
- Just goes to show you....never go anywhere unarmed.— cerberus413
- @AngryChair: The victim was probably protecting his house. The smoke from the woods behind it WAS his business. Call 911 next time. Let the police handle it. I hope he's ok. The kids should be charged as adults.— PotteryPete
- It wasn't his property.He should have called the cops or fire department. What business was it of his? He probably got tough with them and it backfired. Rule #1.. Mind your own Fing business.— edward44
- is Ruskowski trying to be the next ChitHollyWood? Have a little decency and talk like a mature adult when you're giving your statement to the media. scumbag. I'm sure there are 2 sides to this story, not that it makes beating someone justified, but the dude should have just called the cops. with that said, all these kids should do some time in jail.— KingOfPhilly
- I hope the victim sues the parents of these teens for his medical bills, pain and suffering. Give these teens some time in prison and see if they find that funny.— zeke128
