ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 24, 2007
Police: 10 Witness Rape, Do Nothing
Minnesota Police Say Video Shows Neighbors Ignored Woman's Cries For More Than An Hour
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The surveillance video clearly showed men and women looking out their apartment doors or starting to walk down the hallway before retreating as the woman was assaulted for nearly 90 minutes, police spokesman Tom Walsh said.
Police said they responded to a call of drunken behavior and found Somali immigrant Rage Ibrahim, 25, and a woman lying unconscious in the hallway early Tuesday. The woman's clothing had been pulled up and she had fresh scratches on her face and blood on her thigh, according to the criminal complaint.
Ibrahim says he is innocent and that the incident was a misunderstanding, according to Omar Jamal, the executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center, who spoke on Ibrahim's behalf.
Ibrahim was charged with several counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, prosecutors said.
Walsh said police were shocked by the behavior of the bystanders.
"(The video) shows one person looking out of her door probably three times," Walsh said. "It shows another person walking up, observing what's going on, then turning and putting up the hood of his sweatshirt."
At one point, the 26-year-old woman knocked on a door, yelling for the occupants to call police. A man inside that apartment told police he did not open the door or look out, but said he did call police — although they have no record of his call, according to court documents.
Minnesota law makes it a petty misdemeanor to not give reasonable help to a person in danger of "grave physical harm."
Walsh said it is unlikely police would pursue charges against witnesses in this case because authorities would have to show that witnesses knew the woman was in extreme danger.
Jamal said Ibrahim went into the hallway after the woman because he thought she was too drunk to drive. They struggled over car keys, and "he is saying there was a huge misunderstanding," Jamal said, adding that the police report does not show "the truth of what happened that night."
"He did not rape her," Jamal said.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



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See all 262 CommentsI feel so badly for that lady I hope that she will recover as I am sure she will but the rape will always be with her especially the manner of the rape. I was raped starting when I was twelve (12) and it did not stop until I was twenty-one (21) and I never got over it never. It will always be with me no matter what.
GOD BLESS THIS LADY THROUGH THIS TIME AND MAKE HER HOLE AS I AM SURE HE WILL!!!
CRIMINAL CHARGES SHOULD BE PURSUED AGAINST PEOPLE WHO STARED AND DID NOTHING!
The man saying he called the police being a flat out liar.
Too many of these kinds of people walk around yet when the tables are turned they wonder what is wrong with people.
Minnesota, you''ve got a problem and it ain''t going away any time soon whether it is in the news or not.
I wonder if this hallway of onlookers is inhabited by so-called "neo-cons" to use your word......in an apartment in St. Paul, Minnesota.......I''m sure you think Somali immigrants are and love to hang around and live amongst other so called "neo-cons"?
YOU CAN TOO.
That''s why it''s called self defense because only you can defend yourself!
Self Defense:
A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com
must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand."
-- Susan B. Anthony
"We live in a world where more and more women are unaccompanied at odd hours, or they are vulnerable in dangerous places - a world where restraining orders are often ineffective and the police cannot be counted upon to arrive in time, if at all. In such a world, women must be able to protect themselves. In terms of both deterrence and lethal force, guns are among the most effective tools available for self-defense."
-- Mary Zeiss Stange, "Guns, like abortion, are a matter of choice"
"In being confronted by the reality that government cannot and will not guarantee my personal safety, I am infinitely thankful, both as a woman and an American, that the Bill of Rights still guarantees my right to defend myself with a gun. Any true feminist must support this position. Any woman who claims to be a feminist, but who supports disarmament of law-abiding citizens is simply a dangerous hypocrite."
-- Katherine von Tour, "My Transformation From Anti-Gun Feminist To Armed Feminist"
Second Amendment Sisters
http://www.2asisters.org/
Women To Arms
http://womentoarms.net/
Posted by WiccanTexan at 11:32 AM : Aug 24, 2007
+ report abuse
******
we are creating a society that is devoid of a soul.NOT IN A RELIGIOUS SENSE..but in a way that we just simply ''dont give a sh*t''...its an MTV mindset
Posted by huskerarmy at 10:51 AM : Aug 24, 2007
Don''t criticize he is not condoning this action he is explaining society as it is today and he is right no one has time but for themselves anymore when was the last time you asked anyone in your neighborhood is there anything I can help you with. Let someone else worry about it I just do not have time.
These same people were outraged and upset the following morning when her mutilated and naked body was found right outside their doorsteps where their children could see. Someone should have done something. ...Someone...
Well, hate to break this to you all, but each and every one of us is SOMEONE. We are the SOMEONE that should (have done) do something.
All of those people that saw what was going on and did nothing should be charged with aiding the crimminal. Each and everyone of them are just as guilty of her assault through doing nothing to help. (calling 911 would have been a big help!)
Posted by skyhawk761 at 11:55 AM : Aug 24, 2007
That''s right! The "no snitch" rule....I forgot about that. It''s a cultural thang!
Self Defense:
A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com
to infidel_us - you are worse than these animals - you are making excuses for the inexcusable. Shame on you,
And GunOwnerDan -- for the love of GOd - when you think this poor woman would ahve had a chance to find gun in her pocketbook, pull it out, take safety off and fire it?? STOP BEING SO STUPID.
522? 999? Ah, forget it.
we are creating a society that is devoid of a soul.NOT IN A RELIGIOUS SENSE..but in a way that we just simply ''''dont give a sh*t''''...its an MTV mindset
YOu just described the polital mindset that you support, your Republicon "ownership society." In other words, greed, self-centeredness, bigotry, all the backbone of the Republicon Party is what has created an America culture "devoid of a soul."
"for the love of GOd - when you think this poor woman would ahve had a chance to find gun in her pocketbook, pull it out, take safety off and fire it??"
Let''s see, I imagine at some point during that hour or so she was yelling for help, she could have pulled out a gun and used it to protect herself. It takes only a second or two to pull out a gun and there are many purses made especially for women who carry concealed weapons.
"STOP BEING SO STUPID."
Please don''t accuse others of having your own faults.
Self Defense:
A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com
Posted by GunOwnerDan
WRONG...WE HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. This would not happen in my ''hood.'' Ain''t no cultural thang. Just neighbors who look out for each other. Of course, you need permission to trim trees or paint your house, but it''s safe!
The people caught not doing anything are guilty up to their eyeballs. They should at least be identified and outed for their total lack of civic duty.
As for the poor guy being charged with rape...if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck..just be sure you don''t blurr the ''cultural boundaries'' and have the ACLU and Jesse Jackson strutting before the public for their annual media who...ring convention. Who knows...where these two come from it might be perfectly okay to beat and rape a woman into submission if doesn''t hand over the keys the first time. Welcome to the melting pot called the U.S.A. where anything goes until you become a bonafide citizen with not enough money to hire sleezy high profile lawyers to keep you from doing time.
If it weren''t for the NRA the scum of America wouldn''t have arms.
Yeah - that''s right - you and Rapper-t side by side armed by the same thugs.
And even worse again there are other animals here trying to find excuses for them - one thug even wrote that this could have been a cultural act and other morons are trying to preach Get Guns To All Even Drug Dealing Rapist Gang Bangers.
Don''t insult animals...they aren''t that bad.
That''s the way it should be today.
But we also need Civics Classes for incoming immigrants and also non-english speaking must take english classes - as other earlier immigrants did.
I doubt seriously you would have the courage to speak to me like that in person, so take your bullying ways and go back to your knitting class.
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