Skip to main content

Another fight in Austin Park

By Billie Owens

Yet another fight involving juveniles is reported in Austin Park. Police are on scene.

Christopher Putnam

Um yeah, boys will be boys and all. OMG you mean that as a teenager, you might get into a fight over something trivial. What is this world coming to when children get into fights!
Oh wait, pretty sure thats part of growing up. . . Just for the record, if two teenagers want to "fight", there is no force on earth, including the police force, that is going to stop them. When your that age, its like a sporting event. lol.

Jul 13, 2013, 5:38pm Permalink
Steve Hackett

Greg.....you and I are on the same page my friend.....Christopher....things are different today than we we were kids....these kids today are gangsters walking around with knives and guns....a school yard fight back when I was growing up was the way to settle a score.....today ...they are shooting each other...

Jul 13, 2013, 6:53pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Chris, the point is kids today don't fight each other one on one. Yeah initially there might be a fight that breaks out one on one. But the loser goes and gets a few friends then they beat down the other unless he finds out about the coming beat down. The he grabs his buddies then things escalate to weapons and so on.

That's not the way we grew up but thanks to society's current acceptance of misbehavior and the influences of popular movies and music this has become the norm now ganster and thug lifestyle have been popularized.

Jul 13, 2013, 7:44pm Permalink
Fred GUNDELL

Violence is never the answer. To accept it as a playground disagreement is like sticking your head in the sand. Besides there are others who might like to use a park they pay for. This Austin Park thing seems to be the norm lately. They need a lesson, and apparently so do the parent or parents.

Jul 13, 2013, 9:12pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

That's a great idea, lock up every parent whose kid gets into a fight. Build bigger jails, hire more CO's, call it a tourist attraction,
and gcedc can cover the taxes.
Steve, are these gangsters in Batavia? I haven't heard of shootings and stabbings in
the city recently.
Kids have been duking it out in Austin Park for the last 50 years or so, whats new?

Jul 14, 2013, 3:00pm Permalink
John Woodworth JR

Not Guilty. Offer MR Zimmerman a place to stay in Batavia or Genesee County and he can be the Captain of your neighborhood watch group.

Jul 14, 2013, 6:22pm Permalink
John Woodworth JR

Hello Frank, there is gang activity moving into rural places like Genesee County. You are right that, we have not heard of any stabbings or shootings like Rochester. Does not mean it won't sooner or later. Egos have a funny way of getting revenge or involved in confrontations. We can count our blessings that, Batavia is not like Rochester or Buffalo but, as Batavia grows so will its problems.

Jul 14, 2013, 6:03pm Permalink
John Woodworth JR

I may not agreeing with the shooting but, I was happy the Jury was not swayed by the so call discrimination BS. I was not there in the moment and I cannot guess what was going through the minds of either party. The evidence was not there to convict him under Florida State Law and I was amazed that, the prosecution focused on race. If anyone demonstrated racial discrimination it was Martin. Even Obama put his BS two cents into the mix and made it seem racial. Not all States are as Liberal as NY where he would have been convicted for murder under our laws. However, NY Justice is known to care more about the criminal and their rights rather than the victim's.

The only action I disagree with was Zimmerman getting out of his car after Police instructed him to stay in his car. I can understand Zimmerman's frustration with the criminal activity in his community but, when a Police Officer tells you to stay put and you do not. Well you put yourself into that situation. At least I know Zimmerman is part of that 15% who has no issue with taking a human life in a fight or flight situation.

Jul 14, 2013, 8:09pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

John, I am replying to your comment, but it is for the majority of people I have talked with (or overheard) about the Zimmerman trial.

EVERY person I've talked with has said, "The police (dispatcher) told him to stay in his car", or, "The dispatcher told him not to follow him (Trayvon Martin).

Those two statements are absolutely false. If you listen to the 911 call that Zimmerman made, the dispatcher does NOT tell him not to follow Martin. What the dispatcher says is, "We don't need you to do that". They NEVER say DON'T do it, just that they don't need him to do it.

Now, I realize it's a 'minor' difference, but it just goes to show you how people can hear the same thing, but as it get's 'passed around', it seems to take on a life of it's own. It just irks me when everybody says he was told to stay in his car.

As for Zimmerman, the man was DUMB for following Martin. He had already reported it to the cops. At best, he should've gotten back in his car and waited for them to show up. That's what the police are paid to do.

And what will be Zimmerman's reward for doing such a DUMB thing? For the rest of his life, he will be looking over his shoulder, wondering whether somebody is seeking revenge. Where's the man going to go? His name and face has been flashed all around the world. As soon as he puts his name down on a job application, most employers are gonna hurt their neck when they look up so quickly in surprise.

Best thing he can do is grow a beard, have tattoo's all across his face and change his name. Guilty or not, he's a marked man.

Jul 14, 2013, 8:58pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

Ed,
He was NOT told to stay in his car, that is patently false

The Dispatch went like this

DISPATCHER: Are you following him?

ZIMMERMAN: YES

DISPATCHER: YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THAT

NEVER DID THE RECORDING SHOW THE DISPATCHER TELLING HIM TO STAY IN HIS CAR

I watched the entire testimony streaming live online, the response to that point in testimony and the positioning of the bodies clearly indicated that Zimmerman was returning to his car. Every police officer testified said that they believed Zimmerman's account from the very beginning.

This should have NEVER come to trial in the first place, and contrary to all the talk of 'Stand Your Ground' it wasn't even a 'Stand Your Ground' case it was deemed and defended as self defense.

Regardless of how anyone feels about whether Zimmerman was stupid, dumb or what ever. There was a tragedy, but NOT a crime. There was absolutely NO evidence that it was racially motivated as was determined by an FBI investigation last year in which all 32 witnesses were interviewed.

This case was filed strictly for political appearance and should NEVER had gone to court. The second Tragedy besides the death of that young man, was the false hope that the district attorney's gave Martin's parents that they were going to get a conviction when in reality they knew the chances of the were slim at best.

This is a perfect example of why public opinion has absolutely no place in the courts or justice system.

Jul 14, 2013, 9:43pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Sorry, Mark, but you might want to listen to Zimmerman's 911 call again.

I hate to repeat myself, but, the dispatcher NEVER said, "YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THAT".

The dispatcher quite clearly said, and I quote: "OK, we don't need you to do that".
To which Zimmerman replied, "OK".

But, I agree with the rest of your comment, Mark.

Jul 14, 2013, 10:10pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

The point was Ed, that never was he told to stay in the car, and the physical evidence indicated to the officers on the scene and apparently the jury that he was in fact heading back to his car.

Jul 14, 2013, 10:31pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Thank you, Mark. Because you are the first person I've come across that has admitted 'he was never told to stay in the car', or, 'don't follow him'. As the dispatcher testified in court (and this IS NOT a direct quote), their training doesn't tell them to give a caller direct orders. Instead, they give 'suggestions' as to what might be better for the caller.

I only pointed out to John Woodworth that he (Zimmerman) was never told to stay in the car. But, Mr. Woodworth is only one of multiple dozens of persons that have told me that he (Zimmerman) was instructed to do just that - stay in his car. I'm just amazed at the number of people that apparently listen to the 911 call, and repeat something that wasn't there. That's what I had a problem with.

And, with that, I'll quote Lorie's memorable phrase, "I will walk away quietly!".

Jul 14, 2013, 11:34pm Permalink

Authentically Local