An Upper East Sider from the New York Bird Club had a rather rowdy interaction with a police officer over feeding pigeons. I don’t know the person who sent this. Go here to view the thread at the NY Bird Club: http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/luciedove/vpost?id=2556564
While feeding a smallflock of pigeons in my upper east side neighborhood this afternoon in a quiet out of the way area, a woman aggressively rushed up to me posing in a threatening and confrontational manner and
remarked"You are not supposed to be feeding pigeons, you are feeding the rats".
My reply:
"I don’t see any rats".
She then proceeded to punch my arm with her fist.
Now when someone physically attacks you, your instinctive reaction is to strike back. I had a small nylon bag with me which touched lightly on her arm as she ran away. Several feet into her retreat, she shouted back
"I’m coming back with a gun".
I then ran after her into a supermarket where we continued a shouting match. I left her in the supermarket.
I had planned a nice quiet late lunch and afternoon of shopping, which was ruined.
I returned to my apartment and called the 19th Precinct and spoke with Officer Adler who answered the phone. After telling him I was hit and the incident that proceeded it, his answer was
"You are not supposed to be feeding pigeons, it is against the law".
My reply
"You are not supposed to be hit either".
His reply:
"You should have called 911.
My reply:
"I do not have a cell phone".
His reply:
"Well, duh, duh, duh".
I immediately called Community Affairs at the precinct and left a message for a Peace Officer to please return my call after explaining the situation. I then called Officer Adler back and informed him that it is not against the law to feed pigeons, he said that is not the case. I told him to check his law books.
His reply:
"Well, they crap all over your car".
I hung up the phone after asking for his name.
This is the response that law abiding citizens can expect from the Police Department after they are assaulted, even though I was not breaking the law. He was protecting the assailant. If I had parked a car in the wrong spot with the same aftermath occuring, who would Officer Adler have sided with then? Certainly not with the attacker I am sure.
The New York City Police Department public servants needs to familiarize themselves with the law and protect the innocent as they are hired to do –protect the innocent from crime, because by siding with the guilty one he is as guilty as the attacker is. If not the Police Department, who can we turn to for help?
I cannot believe that these two morons, Getosama and BKmami are willing go victimize again the person that was attacked by a crazed pigeon-hater (there’s a lot of those in NYC). You two will find yourselves in a situation where you need police assistance and you will not be able to get any. Regardless of whatever or whoever you complain about. You side with the abusive police now but, we’ll see then who screams like a 4 year old!
the ANONYMOUS story teller here appears to have left out a lot of the incident. she follows after the “attacker” when a gun is announced. come on, that’s utter nonsense! this is clearly two women acting like 4 year olds. and she has the nerve to bother the police with this half-a-tale? oh please!
Feeding pigeons is not something of which I am a fan; I don’t know if it’s against the law yet. I know NYC was considering a ban recently.
However, this person’s claim at being assaulted would have been stronger without her reaction: “Now when someone physically attacks you, your instinctive reaction is to strike back. I had a small nylon bag with me which touched lightly on her arm as she ran away.” It lightly touched her arm? Probably only because the pigeon feeder has bad aim. Claiming assault after retaliating – and not in self-defense since the offender was running away – is a dubious stance to take.
Sounds like drama without a cause to me.