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."
Comments (77)
He should've called the fire department, but hindsight is always 20/20. Still, it wasn't necessary for these punks to beat the snot out of this guy. I guess they think they're really tough: Five against One. They will soon find out how tough they ain't!— Miss Bunny- He shouldve called the cops FIRST. Were they on HIS property? Probably not, so just call the police and let them handle it, that is their job. Enough with the 'usual suspects' BS...unless you're talking about self-entitled teenagers with nothing better to do.— Paul1215
- Posted 2:37 PM, 04/04/2012
same thing occurs in the woods behind austin meehan M.S. you'd be taking your life in your if you even look twice at the urban youth hanging out there...
— stonewall jackson
Stonewall Jackson, Mayfair does have a town watch
— dmangel 
Comment removed.- @pb: Trayvon was SEVENTEEN! LOTS of us were that way then. Even your Fox "news" source published a story saying that Trayvon HAD NO EVIDENCE OF A STRUGGLE ON HIS DEAD BODY! Did you not hear the police dispatcher specifically instruct Zimmerman not to follow? Skittles?!? Arizona Iced-Tea? C'mon... http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/03/31/trayvon-martin-funeral-director-no-signs-fight/— chris-odessa, ua
- 17yo's are dangerous in my hood. trayvon had no signs of a struggle on his body except the gunshot probably because he was the one doing the assaulting. ever think that? 6'2" 17yo with gold teeth, tattoos, snarling & giving the camera the finger and calling for the shooting of someone who lied on Twitter. nice 'kid'. — pbnewcomer
- edward44 "act tough"? when there's a fire behind your house? You're acting tough with your words. or maybe you wouldn't protect your home and family? do you have one? both? acting like all the no snitch bullies who don't have the ... to be man or a woman to admit when you're wrong. When we were kids we still had some fear/respect for adults whether they were right or wrong in their approach. We were in the wrong for drinking underage and were glad to be allowed to leave w/out getting the cops involved.— ptahan
- The neighbor should have called police instead of going out there in the woods........ALONE............I hope he recovers quickly and thank god he is alive......Never face 5 or more alone.......you won't win let alone 5 or more drunk kids with no guilt and nothing to lose.— merchandiser
- White punks on dope.— Sanchez
- Comment removed.
- @pb: are you SERIOUS?!? What have you (not) read, re: Zimmerman?— chris-odessa, ua
- i've seen them put deceitful pics of martin as a young, prepubescent teen, instead of the 17yo, 6'2", tattoo-covered, sneering young man giving the finger to the camera and calling for the shooting of a liar on twitter. how about you? — pbnewcomer
- I would never confront a group of teens or anybody. I'd call the police. However, if he had a license to carry and these little creeps attacked him, he could have defended himself. just like zimmerman did. or was this man stalking these punks, too?— pbnewcomer
- These kids just need some love and understanding and the Gestapo like responses here are a shadow that is befalling our nation. Won't be long before YOUR kids if you have any (not likely)are tossed into the clink for minor offenses.— edward44
- Ed is on a roll today with his nonsense. Someone round up 5 kids and beat Ed within an inch of his life and see if he still thinks it's all cool to beat people.
— verve - Beating someone almost to death is a "minor offense"? What is wrong with you? — Raz
- Throw the book at them. As adults.— Grazman
- This part: "I'm trying to calm the residents in the area who think it's time for some payback." is a step in the right direction.— brinogordon
- Throw them into jail for at least two years. Have them pay restitution for medical expenses.— Peter of Manassas
- Next time, pack a gun and use it liberally.— EdgarX
- edward44 you are so far out of line on this one. YOU should get what YOU deserve.
- Folcroft ... Kensington West— iggles_rock
- Give these kids a Zimmerman...after the first one goes down the others will get the hint.— 2ndNlong
- I hope they bring charges against the person/s who supplied the beers to the minors as well.— dmangel
- Comment removed.
- I say, let the residents give their own payback. The legal system is a joke.— savealife
- Was the guy who got beaten wearing a hoodie?— Bede19025
- future leaders and pillars of the community!!!— seeker58
- ohokay-curiosity killed the cat. Until it got smart and got itself a semi-auto.To bad the citizen did not use these dirtbags for target practice...I don't care how old they are. A couple less future felons.— MilesLong1
- I didn't read all the comments but I haven't seen anybody mention these kids' parents. I'd be curious as to how they have reacted to the news that their child helped beat somebody within an inch of their life. It is frightening how kids are being raised today. Certainly they are responsible for their own actions at some point but I believe this kind of heinous act is a direct result of how they are raised.— sickoflosing
- Try as adults - call it a day.— kidretdes
- It's shocking how many people commenting on here think this guy should just mind his own bussiness. It's that kind of mindset that is causing this country and the city of Philadelphia to drown in it's own filth. We need more people who are willing to stand up and do the right thing. Bring a gun next time! Also I see a couple people trying to pass the blame on to the police? Really? Get a life... or at least a job.— TakingAstand
- The vicious mentality shown by the hot lead solves everything mentality shows just how far the country has slithered down the rat hole. VALE— edward44
- Just take the punks out back and shoot them. It would save us alot of money in the long term and prevent them from breeding.— Wildman Bill
- It all starts with, 'my Billy wouldn't do that'.
Well guess what, Billy did.— mattbagley - I bet the kids parents are obnoxious jerks too.— ej610
- edward44, You are exhibiting ghetto mentality. This man did nothing wrong except not carry a firearm. The punks that jumped him should have had their butts filled with hot lead. You act like a pack of animals, expect to be dealt wit haccordingly. They should be charged as adults, particularly if they are 16 and older.— Getinline
- All 5 should be tried as adults for attempted murder.— Bruno Sammartino
- Hmmm can Upper Darby's Police Chief get some air time for this one? Close enough, right?— bobcitydoc
- eddie44---you must be one off the parents---good job of raising them & instilling moral & ethical values. yea!— pa2cp
This guy will suffer from these injuries for years, no doubt. What will happen to these "kids?" Absolutely nothing. I've seen it play out hundreds of times in this tri-state area. They might go to a detention center for 3-6 months maximum, that's it. Ya think the parents of these animals have any real assets? Nope. Advice to all, please for the love of God listen: get your gun, get your permit, get your training, and carry it with you at all times. Protect yourself in some way!!!- Edward is a tough guy too. Maybe I'll find him and jump him to see how tough he is.— tjlaws
- Arrest the parents for having kids like these. Mommies`s boys need a good beating. Too many kids do what they want and their parents keep feeding them. Jail time will provide these punks with time to fight.
— denjamr - Comment removed.
- Anyone want to estimate the odds that the thugs were wearing hoodies?— Section 730
- Stay classy, Delco.— Dave Clemens
- Comment removed.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- @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
- Just goes to show you....never go anywhere unarmed.— cerberus413
- that community needs to see if that zimmerman fellow is available for a neighborhood watch position.— Branch Manager
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- 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
- The second "sentence" in your post is not a sentence or at the very least it is a complete mess of a sentence.
— UncleStosh - Lighten up Snot. Blogs are like IM, not term papers — cogent1
- @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 - Comment removed.
- To bad the man was not armed and able to protect himself.— Taxpaying Voter
- @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
- edward44 - why is checking on the source of smoke near your home "acting tough"? What do those kids know about fire? Do they know how DRY the month of March was? Do they know that fire can spread out of control very quickly? He did the right thing and they did the unconscionable. Kudos to the ones that did the RIGHT thing and told police who was responsible.— uncle meat
- So, the wolf pack here wants blood. Lock 'em up and throw away the key. Along with the 16 million other citizens to keep the private jailers happy. The guy was just trying to act tough and he got what he deserved.— edward44
- Got what he deserved? Listen up Eddie, when you grow up and move out of your Mom's basement you'll come to find that smoke in the woods behind your house is worth checking out, seeing as you actually pay for the place and own the stuff inside. Sounds to me like you're the one talking tough. Maybe there's something you deserve, genius.
Ohh, and sorry to interrupt your Call of Duty game. I'm sure you just missed your high score.— cogent1 - Police are not doing their job. They want the power and to push people around. But when it comes to locking up the usual suspects, they don't care. Too much paper work.— swimfishie
- Comment removed.
- fire in my backyard = my business. violent youth = society's business. but probably not wise to confront a whole group of kids by yourself. unless you're bringing them more beer..
— Pluski - kids?
Those are not kids..— Nitroglycerin - if you are old enough to drink you are old enough to be charged as an adult.— LGbalsac
- He could have shot them all but then the media and Al Sharpton would be leading a witch hunt because they don't agree with the right to protect yourself.— Dunsmore
- usual suspects. animals.— Tyrone Biggums
- These are locals. The neighbors know them. Sue the parents. Throw the kids in jail as adults.— Tiller
- Lock the punks up. They probably thought he was going to take their beer. The cops let them back there so they can go raid their beer when they need it and it keeps them out of the neighborhoods.— alihajishank
- Sounds to me like the police know about th area and the problem but are not patroling with any frequentcy, leaving the residents to worry about bonfires and drinking parites on a regular basis. Community service for this monsters should be cleaning up the grove they like to trash.— unbelieveable!
- Community service??????? — rgray58
- Usual suspects?????— SHARONANDTONE
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