Heard in the Hall

Nutter doesn't condone vigilante justice, but he doesn't condemn it either

Mayor Nutter today refused to condemn last night's apparent case of vigilante justice, where Kensington residents seized and beat a man wanted by police in connection with the rape of an 11-year-old girl.

69 comments

Nutter doesn't condone vigilante justice, but he doesn't condemn it either

POSTED: Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 3:01 PM

Patrick Kerkstra

"I do not generally condone what someone might consider vigilantism out in our streets, but it’s indicative of the anger and the compassion that many of our citizens have," Nutter said. He went on to call the episode a "demonstration" of the fact "that Philadelphians care passionately about this city, about our quality of life and certainly about our children."

"I think we need to maintain our primary focus on the young girl who was viciously assaulted. There is no place in this city for that kind of behavior and our thoughts and prayers should remain focused on her and her family," Nutter said.

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69 comments

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Comments (69)

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:57 PM, 06/03/2009

it's not underfunded, it's poorly run. single defendants requiring several cases and different lawyers, endless paperwork etc.

— dreinterests

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:08 PM, 06/03/2009

It was wrong to beat that man. The people could have restrained him for the police. He should have a trial before he is punished. What if he isn't the right man? Its wrong, in the spirit of Dr. King, for a people who've been victimizied by lynch mobs for 250 years to participate in the withholding of justice for a fellow citizen, and its shocking that the authorities apparently condone it. There is no excuse...

— ClarkU

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:18 PM, 06/03/2009

They should have killed that POS. If you do not want to get beat then do not rape and 11 year old girl....sounds reasonable to me.

— Bmoney123

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:20 PM, 06/03/2009

The victim was the girl...don't forget that. This has nothing to do with MLK. MLK himself would smack this guy in the head with a board if he knew he raped a little girl. There is no mistake here..This guy was the rapist, the guys who beat him down knew it and so did the cops..Justice was served.

— Choie

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:21 PM, 06/03/2009

ClarkU, let us know if you are still opposed to these "vigilantes" after your 11 year old daughter is raped!

— irish3m

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:29 PM, 06/03/2009

Clark your absolutely right. However he did have time to turn himself in. He did not. He didn't even leave the city. After your picture is posted on TV, detectives are all over your neighborhood passing out photos, and a million articles are written, its time to flee or turn yourself in. If you don't I don't blame the people in this not so well off neighborhood for doing what they did and detaining this guy, even it was a bit violent. Especially after they read: Carrasquillo has a history of drug charges and other offenses, according to court records, and at least 12 convictions. He has pleaded guilty to manufacturing drugs, driving under the influence, and simple assault. He was charged with attempted rape and aggravated assault in 2002, according to court records, but those charges were later withdrawn."

— Zues