Crazy Story from Crawfordsville, Indiana (Not FL), on a woman who bit two librarians after they tried to stop her from stealing about $70 from the cash drawer at the Crawfordsville Public Library.
Librarians Debbie Barry and Christina Crouch chased the woman outside Saturday and wrestled with her while library patrons called police. The woman bit Crouch on the chest and Barry’s thumb before a man who had tried to distract the librarians earlier pulled the woman free. They both ran off.
Indiana
Actually, it took place in Indiana, not Florida.
All that for $70?
Wow. I’ve said this before, but I think it bears repeating in some circumstances. I just checked my last pay stub and I noticed that they do not pay me enough to chase down patrons and wrestle them to the ground for a meager $70. And lest you think it may be fear, I offer up the fact that I’m a mixed martial artist and quite skilled in ground fighting. I’m also a bladesman and a marksman, but my library tends to frown on me coming to work heavily armed. Regardless, I do not get paid to chase, tackle, and subdue scumsuckers making off with $70. Actually I don’t get paid to chase, tackle, and subdue them for $700.
At the very least, we have two wounded librarians who have both been battered, bruised, and even worse, bitten. In a street fight, one of the worst things that can happen is to get bitten. Infectious bacteria runs rampant in the human mouth, even in those regularly brushed and flossed. After all, at least some of the bacteria belongs in the mouth. But it doesn’t belong inside one’s chest or thumb. So for $70 in cash, I’m sure both of these librarians are looking at around $300-$400 in medical bills and treatment. Probably more depending on the severity of the blows, bites, and infections.
Was it really worth it?
Re:All that for $70?
Makes you wonder just how significant the fine money is to the budget of the library, doesn’t it?
Re:All that for $70?
I think it is really easy to get stuck in enforcer mode at the Public Library. When you spend your day enforcing little rules and being unappreciated by some patrons (not all), it can be easy to go over the edge when you have proof that someone is cheating the system.
That, and most people have a secret need to be a hero. But, I think that chasing someone out of the library goes beyond what we are paid for and beyond what is safe. It could have been worse than being bitten.
They were robbed before and fed up…
Here is another story with a lot more detailed information about it.
A photo of the librarian’s chomped-on hand is here.
(Yes, I’ve been reading ObscureStore at work again *laugh*)
Re:All that for $70? 😉
In fact, in my library, the emergency handbook explicitly states that it is not my job to protect library property. So, if they worked here, they’d be in trouble for violating institutional policy
The next story
Now, the next story coming from this will be entitled: Woman successfully sues library for $50 million dollars.
The library personnel had no legal right to do what they did. If the thief decides to sue the library and the city she will win hands down. The library personnel are guilty of a wide range of crimes including assault, unlawful detainment, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She probably also can sue for the fact that, if she was wrestled to the ground, that the city and library didn’t provide a soft surface for her to land on.
It’s unfortunate to say this, but we’re at the stage where, if someone steals, it’s probably better just to ignore it. The cost of litigation greatly exceeds the value of the theft.
It’s too bad that thieves have more rights than honest law abiding citizens, but that’s the way it goes. By the way, on another note along those lines, did you know that prisoners are the only Americans legally entitled to health care!! Need a heart transplant and don’t have insurance. Rob a bank. It’s a federal crime and will ensure you that you get your operation.