Snowy (my dog) and I were attacked this morning [View all]
on our regular morning walk. Now that weather is warmer, more homeless people are sleeping on the streets and out early in the morning. We have a regular morning route here in downtown Raleigh that goes from the apartment building up to Fayetteville Street and on up and around the State Capitol Building if Snowy is feeling like she wants to walk that far.
There are people out and about. Other dog walkers. People going to the YMCA to work out. Getting coffee. Going to work. City workers cleaning up the streets.
We had just passed the Y and I noticed a homeless woman I've seen on our walks. She was sitting at a metal table and chairs next to a pizza restaurant. All of a sudden she stands up, picks up one of the other chairs and starts toward us, then heaves the chair up over her head and throws it at us! I barely jumped out of the way but didn't pull Snowy fast enough. The chair just touched Snowy coming down, but didn't hurt her. I yelled at the woman not to do that! She turns around, picks up another chair and starts heading toward us. I hollered at a guy coming towards us from across the street--with his phone out--to call 911 and we took off up the street. Didn't have my phone with me. Went in to the Raleigh Times (a restaurant) asked to use their phone and called 911.
We waited outside the restaurant for the police--saw 3 police cars going down one street over--but couldn't wait any longer because Snowy needed to finish her walk! When we were walking back, I saw a police car stopped at the plaza where this woman attacked us, so I went over and made the report. They had arrested her. She was known to them. She had taken off the other direction and someone with a phone followed her.
One of the public workers who cleans up the streets came up to me after I'd left the Raleigh Times and gave me his name as a witness.
About 30% of homeless are mentally ill. Most of them are not violent. This woman was one of the few who is dangerous. I told the officer that she was probably in need of a 72 hour hold to be evaluated. Off her meds? Or never had any meds? Or has no family to monitor she takes her meds?
It's really a very sad situation.
We were no threat to this woman and probably weren't even closer than 20 feet to her, but she still attacked us.
Be careful out there!
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