2024-03-29

Random Punching Guy strikes again (and again)

From the Star: Why Jean has to watch her back

A few years ago I was walking along Dundas a few blocks west of Yonge near the bus terminal, and all of a sudden some random guy punched me HARD on my upper arm as he walked by. Really hard — it made a lovely fist-sized bruise. There was no provocation; I wasn’t even looking at the guy, as I’d been watching something across the street. I barely saw him, really. I kept walking, and so did he — I figured he was a bit disordered, one way or another, and it wouldn’t help much to run after him shouting “Hey, buddy, what the F??” So I kinda shook my head, figured it was one of those things that’s a freak occurrence in a big city and got on with finding myself some lunch.

Now I find out it’s practically an epidemic. Bizarre!

It didn’t for one second occur to me to report it to the police, although I was within easy walking distance of 52 Division. In Fiorito’s article the police say they want to hear about such things but really, what could they have done? I saw the guy for maybe one second and couldn’t have given a useful description (“Asian I think or maybe white, looked pretty normal, uh, wearing some clothes… sharp knuckles…”), I was not seriously hurt, I didn’t know where he went. I imagine the poor overworked 52 Division guys would’ve been all “yeah, thanks lady, now pardon me while I round-file your statement and get back to working on Homicide #43”. Plus I was hungry: I can never decide what I want to eat so by the time I head out to search for lunch, I’ve probably been hungry and indecisive for two or three hours.

This guy (these guys?) seems to be OK with broad daylight and doesn’t seem to care whether or not the woman is alone. At least, for once, we won’t have to hear the tired “don’t go out alone”-type advice.

I wonder, has anyone ever punched him back?