Recall that back in June, Chief Hurtt downplayed Houston’s surge in violent crime:
“Overall in the city of Houston, you’re pretty safe,” says Hurtt. “If you’re not involved in specific types of behavior, not out on the streets at particular times of night and particular areas of the city, you have a pretty good chance of not becoming a victim of violent crime in the city of Houston.”
On Friday, KTRK-13’s Stephanie Guadian reported on a violent robbery just outside Dillards by the Galleria:
“I was very careful when I walked in and walked out to notice if there was anyone standing about and just kind of not doing anything in particular,” said shopper Kay Martin. “Someone sent me an email.”
Kay received an email in which a mother details how her 29-year-old daughter was attacked, beaten with a gun and robbed at the front door of the Dillard’s store near the Galleria. The email warns shoppers the store’s parking lot is becoming a scary place.
John Breeding, President of the Uptown Houston District, was also forwarded a copy.
He said, “The first thing I thought was, I was concerned, but let’s find out if this is true or is this an urban myth going around.”
HPD confirms the attack but calls it an isolated incident.
[snip]
We tried reaching Dillard’s for a comment, but our calls were not returned. HPD is calling the incident isolated, but there are plans to bring additional officers to the area.
Apparently, it’s one of those isolated incidents that will be made less likely to recur by concentrating police manpower?
In any case, add shopping during the holidays at the Galleria to those times/places/behaviors that Chief Hurtt might recommend avoiding if you’re concerned about not becoming a victim of violent crime in Houston. And be careful out there!
ANNE ADDS: This part from KTRK’s story baffles me:
John Breeding, President of the Uptown Houston District, was also forwarded a copy.
He said, “The first thing I thought was, I was concerned, but let’s find out if this is true or is this an urban myth going around.”
HPD confirms the attack but calls it an isolated incident.
Why would the president of the Uptown Houston District think it was an urban myth? The story was first reported by KPRC-2 on December 2nd:
A woman was attacked as she left a Galleria-area department store on Thursday night, KPRC Local 2 reported.
The woman said she was attacked a few feet from the front door of Dillard’s.
“He ran towards me. He grabbed me; he pulled me up to the side of the building,” the victim said. “He put me in a headlock, banged me over the head with a gun and shoved it into my side.”
The woman said the store’s security guards let her down.
“There was no security in sight at the front of the store,” she said.
A witness said security was slow to respond after the attack.
“I kind of wondered, too, where were they?” the witness said. “I don’t know if maybe they were on another level of the store.”
Urban myth?? There was a witness to the attack! If KTRK could call HPD and get confirmation of the attack, why wouldn’t the president of the Uptown District do the same? You’d think it’d be a part of his job to know such things.
