Police: 10 Witness Rape, Do Nothing

Minnesota Police Say Video Shows Neighbors Ignored Woman's Cries For More Than An Hour

(AP)  A security video from an apartment hallway shows at least 10 witnesses ignored a woman's cries for help for more than an hour as a man beat and sexually assaulted her, prosecutors in Minnesota said.

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.

[carolrhill]

This a sick story everyone of the people that were watching this needs to be prosecuted for rape as well because they did nothing to help this woman. I do not care where she is from she was being raped and rape is crime against women.
I 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!!!

[huskerarmy]

The "me generation" strikes again. It''s trickle down economics. They told us that social responsibility was "communist," commercialism would be our great equalizer. They said if we buy SUV''s and designer clothes, everything else wouold fall into place, no need to worry about our neighbors. Now we have rabid self interest, uber materialism, a government driven by greed and neo-con (corporate) corruption at all levels. It''s time to regroup and rethink!

[rochest]

shocking.... outrageous

CRIMINAL CHARGES SHOULD BE PURSUED AGAINST PEOPLE WHO STARED AND DID NOTHING!

[rushlimpdrug]

sad to know this is real.
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.

[jetlizhan]

drunk, sober, high or whatever - someone should have stopped this in the beginning! 90 mins of this horrible animalistic behavior?? Lord help us.

[blazercoach1]

huskerarmy....SHAME. You are so callously displaying another VERY related theme to what you call the "me-generation" and that is the "blame generation". Sad that you don''t see the connection between your post and this story. You are right about the "me generation"....but then I think you show us where it really comes from with every word you type....

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"?

[bonedogg2]

Wake up an smell the Starbucks folks, this is the world you live in. No one wants to get involved because if they do, either the police will charge them with a crime too or tell them to mind their own business. The only time the police want help is when it is of benefit to the police. Im not bs''ing you, Im an ex cop. Mind the safety of you and yours, no one else, because they wont do it for you.

[usa118]

The problem with this horrible tragedy is that there is so much violence that you now risk your life to help others, "do not try to apprehend" is a good motto to go by, a lot of people have no respect for human life, I want to live with my family not have them stand at my grave with a perp that will spend 3 months in jail

[rushman71]

Those who witnessed and did nothing are weak minded and weak hearted. Out of the 90 minutes of this occurance someone should have done something, at least call the police. Instead, one person claimed that he called 911, but it really never happened. How pathetic!!! This woman could have possibly been killed, and no one lifted a finger or said a word. That''s a shame!!!

[klingon69]

Maybe she should''ve yelled "Fire!!!"

[gunownerdan]

Cops use guns to fight crime and save lives.
YOU CAN TOO.
That''s why it''s called self defense because only you can defend yourself!

Self Defense:
A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com

[gman80214]

This is terrible. Had this been my daughter the police would need to be called again cause I would be busting down doors kicking some butt. This is so unacceptable I hope every one of those bystanders get fined and have to perform community service at a battered women''s shelter.

[dumbfounded5]

This is nothing new and has been going on for decades and probably centuries. No one wants to get involved, which I find is truly amazing. I have always been one to be the first one to respond and have a plan going on in my head as I am responding. It is a shame that with cell phones, 911, and god knows what kind of communication we have at our hands that no one would take a minute to help. By the way I am a woman.

[wiccantexan]

This is the same as that woman years ago who was stabbed numerous times in an alley. Despite the attack being witnessed by numerous people, nobody did a thing.

[gunownerdan]

"I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but
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/

[infidel_us]

How were we supposed to know it was rape? What if it was a ''cultural'' thing......like genital mutilation or dog fighting? Haven''t you ever seen Jungle Fever, the Spike Lee joint? The cops could have gone in there and broke up a ''cultural'' ritual and been sued. Then where would we be?????

[bambiee49]

It''s a dam shame the way people are now!! The people who didn''t help should get something for not helping a defenceless woman!!! I saw on the news the other day wher Ron Jermey, the pron star was defending the age of the girl s in porn movies, saying they were all 18 or over. With this kind of stuuf going on in this country no wonder it''s ok ith people to do this. America shouldn''t even have porn!!!!!!!!!!!!! That''s 1 of the major things that''s corupting our youth!! They learn what they see. We the adults put this stuff out there for our young people to get ahold of. It''s our own fault for having no moral values!! Like the drinking age.They can teach children from 18 to 20 to pull a trigger & kill people but they can''t have a beer!! America is messed up bad. U don''t hear of this stuff much in other places or they would be severly punished for it!!

[xzavierbrown]

This is the same as that woman years ago who was stabbed numerous times in an alley. Despite the attack being witnessed by numerous people, nobody did a thing.
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

[starleo146]

The "me generation" strikes again. It''''s trickle down economics. They told us that social responsibility was "communist," commercialism would be our great equalizer. They said if we buy SUV''''s and designer clothes, everything else wouold fall into place, no need to worry about our neighbors. Now we have rabid self interest, uber materialism, a government driven by greed and neo-con (corporate) corruption at all levels. It''''s time to regroup and rethink!
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.

[bogusbones]

Find those that turned their back on the crime and prosecute them. Jesus H. if our society has instilled so much fear and/or ambivalence towards the worst of crimes, our moral fiber is in tatters.

[mitch0927]

Yes I would sacrifice my life to help someone in need. My family knows that, and I am comfortable with it. Here in Oklahoma years ago there was a law called the "Good Samaritan" law. In other words, if someone was in need of help and you turned to go the other way or refused to help, then you were ticketed for not being a "Good Samaritan"%u2026Of course times have changed and very few people will help someone in need, especially on the side of a highway. So, the person who said they wouldn''t have helped the victim is a true coward and can''t be trusted with anything important. If you have children, then you are teaching your children to turn and walk away and not jump in and help. "COWARD!!!"

[skyhawk761]

I am also retired from Law Enforcement and it amazes me at some of you people saying you would do this or do that. More than likely this attack happened in a low income housing complex by the description they give. If you have never lived in that enviroment or policed it you have no idea what those people would have gone through if they had reported it. This by no means is to try and say they were right because they were not, but in "brick city" calling the police for anything can bring the death sentence to you or your family. It''s easy for those of us who don''t live this on a daily basis to say what we would or should do. If you lived this life daily more than likely you would have done the same thing.

[mitch0927]

Again GunOwnerDan copy and pastes things on here. Must be sad that he can''t even speak for himself, instead always encouraging people to go out and purchase guns. What is it with you? You own a pawn shop and hurting for business?

[psk123-2009]

Something similar happened in my city a few weeks ago. A woman could be heard screaming for help. Neighbors just closed their windows. No one wanted to get involved, the woman was an assumed prostitute, as that sort of thing happens a lot in that area of the city.

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!)

[infidel_us]

If you lived this life daily more than likely you would have done the same thing.
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!

[gunownerdan]

Relying on others for your own personal protection does not work unless you are a politician or you''re filthy rich.
Self Defense:
A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com

[nyckate]

Dear God - what kind of animals are these people??

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.

[zibulki]

Yo, what''s that number to call the police?
522? 999? Ah, forget it.

[condumism]

Posted by xzavierbrown:

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."

[gunownerdan]

Posted by nyckate
"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.

[nexgen99]

Just a bunch of Muslims doing what Muslims do.

[mnelsonix]

Relying on others for your own personal protection does not work unless you are a politician or you''''re filthy rich.
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!

[retmilspouse]

I don''t care if this was a low income area or what. These people could have called 911 anyway. The people in the hall wouldn''t be able to know who in any of the numerious apartments was the one who called. These are the same people that don''t want us fighting the war on terriorism and such things. They think what happens outside of their apartment door does not apply to them. One day they will be enlightened.

[likeitis5050]

What good are laws if takes an act of Congress to enforce them? Why have a law on the books that is so vague that it can''t be enforced because lawyers will eat it alive?

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.

[mnelsonix]

I should mention...We have guns too.

[mitch0927]

You own a gun and carry it concealed; you just increased the odds of you dying by that same gun or another one by 50%. With all your words and wisdom GunOwnerDan, why didn''t you bring that one up? The second amendment was written during a war over 200 years ago, but all you backwoods people can preach about it all you want, owning a gun only proves that you have the means to get one, not the intelligence to use it properly.

[russ1985]

This is obscene. They should identify these people who let the woman get attacked and even if they can''t arrest them, put their pictures up in billboards with a message "Don''t count on this person for help"

[nyckate]

darkmeat4 - no I am not a liberal - I''m just so sick and tired of you sobs arming drug dealers, gang bangers, rapists, thieves and pimps.

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.

[luigi999-2009]

Seems like our government is allowing immigrants into this country without any background checks or checks of any kind. All too many of these immigrants detract from our culture instead of adding to it. This is beyond stupid. This rape case is an excellent example.

[nyckate]

mitch0927 - gunownerdan and the rest of them aren''t sane on the subject - they think it should be like the wild wild west days - everybody wearing their gun on a gunbelt - getting off horsies and shooting it out in the Okie Dokie Saloon - they''re living in LaLa Land and refusing to accept that their ''hard'' work of making sure animals are armed is harming too many people.

[drputt45]

Hey George, what were you doing while all of this was going on?

[nyckate]

trouble1985 -- I agree with you - there is something inately evil about them shutting their doors to this, walking away from it - they could have call 911 and that''s all -- but I guess somehow some areas have deteriorated to living like animals.

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.

[mitch0927]

nyckate, so you agree with me?

[mnelsonix]

""...but I guess somehow some areas have deteriorated to living like animals."" Posted by nyckate

Don''t insult animals...they aren''t that bad.

[lawandorder7]

I live in an Apartments in Indianapolis IN. I called the Prosectuing Attorney Office to complain about the Illegal Immigrants, I was told they NEW about it but no would do any thing about it. I can''y belive that no one cares. This people are here illegal and live 6 tp 10 in a apartment and no one cares, are will do any thing. What is going on in the US, no wonder we keep getting threats. Someone neededs, has to do something about this, all Apartment wants is MONEY. Someone needs to go door to door and see, find out what is going on. So I would think this would happen, the policewont do any thing why would someone alse? As for the NRA, Go to He--. You are worst then the rapest. You need a gun to stick up your A-- and pull the tricker.

[mitch0927]

Elichez1, go to school and learn some English. RACIST PIG!!

[nyckate]

Luigi999 - I agree - my parents are immigrants - when they came over they had to first be interviewed in American Embassy in Dublin, pass a physical and mental exam, a literacy test and have someone claim them out here and promise to house them till they were able to support themselves.

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.

This is another result of the U.S. not having stricter control of who comes in the country. As for the people who did not help, they must have been intimidated by the big black man. Shame, shame on all of those people, it only takes several seconds to call 911. I hope when they are in the same situation, no one will call 911 to help.

[mitch0927]

darkmeat4, you''re just another creep that will probably end up a statistic like the other morons who believe our "slave owning" "fathers" were always right.

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.

[Netterz]

Ok, this was 90 MINUTES!!! not 5, not 10, but an hour and a half, and noone did ANYTHING?!?! I dont are WHAT culture, religious, WHATEVER.. no one did a dammed thing? I hope the people who stood back and allowed this to go on that long, listening to another person scream an cry, get what they deserve, that justifies ''accesory'' if I ever heard it, and when the same thing happens to them, or some one they love. It doesnt take 90 mins to get a set of keys, most people I know, couldnt keep up a fight that long, so had to me more going on, than just the fight.