Beggar stabs victim who refused cash request
(CNS): Police are on the lookout for a beggar who stabbed a man in the chest early on Tuesday morning after his requests for money were knocked back by his victim. Officers on the case said that they are now looking for witnesses, but no description of the alleged assailant has been given. The incident reportedly happened sometime after 1:30am 8 August on Shedden Road in George Town in front of Anderson Square.The victim was on his way to the Subway restaurant when he was approached by a man who was asking him for money. The victim told the man that he did not have any money, but the man persisted. When the victim felt threatened and pushed the beggar away, the complainant said he was stabbed with an unknown object in the chest. The beggar then ran away, empty handed, toward Cardinal Avenue and then onto Fort Street.
The victim was treated at the Cayman Islands Hospital for what was said to be a minor injury to his chest, and was later released.
The RCIPS also issued a warning to beggars, stating that according to section 158 (a) of the Penal Code 2017 Revision a person who wanders abroad or places himself in any public place for the purpose of gathering alms, or who causes any child so to do, shall be deemed an idle and disorderly person and shall be liable to a fine of $2,000 or imprisonment for up to four years.
Anyone with information is asked to call George Town Police Station at 949-4222. Anonymous tips can also be provided to the RCIPS Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777, the Miami-based call centre of Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS), or online here.
Category: Crime, Local News, Police
When a beggar does approach me for money, I ask immediately if they have registered with NWDA for job searching assistance and contacted DCFS for social assistance while they are on the look out for a job.
If the beggar answers no, then I ask why hasn’t he/she registered with these two agencies.
The usually answer is no the haven’t or they “can’t” because of xyz health issue. I then ask why they haven’t sought urgent medical care at the HSA (GT hospital) as they provide care for all (I’m not pro or against HSA, just saying they are the public hospital and have to provide necessary medical coverage for the population). If the beggar can’t afford the care, registering as unemployed with NWDA and with DCFS will provide temporary indigent healthcare coverage so that medical care can be sought.
In one instance, a beggar said he had called DCFS but couldn’t get a hold of anyone and his temporary indigent healthcare coverage had expired. After buying him lunch from one of the grocery stores, I actually called DCFS on his behalf, and after the social worker reviewed his case and got back to me (since the beggar said he didn’t have access to a phone), it was reported that he was indeed employed part-time and DCFS had been trying to get a hold of him to do a review as the employer was reporting that he was not showing up to work. DCFS also confirmed the employer provided health insurance coverage.
I went BACK to find the beggar and updated him on this information. He sheepishly admitted the same and I provided him the appointment time at DCFS for him to attend for his review as well as recommended he go back to work. Though somewhat judgemental of me, I held my tongue in mentioning that failing to show up for work as a Caymanian just helps paint the picture that all Caymanians are lazy with poor work ethic and little regard for their employer (without meaning to entertain an unrelated tangent, I know *many* Caymanians that fit that bill and are shocked/angry when they get (justifiably) warned/suspended/fired – be honest, you know the type I’m talking about. I also know many Caymanians that are hard working, qualified and competitive in the market – just saying, both sides to the story have merit).
Recently when I saw the ‘beggar’, he went out of his way to avoid me. Not sure if he did ever attend DCFS for his appointment, HSA to treat his medical condition or went back to work.
I am in no way advocating that people start going up to beggars and grilling them with questions – I think this is prime action leading to an assault. I was lucky that the beggar I did happen to have an extensive conversation with was polite and seemed ‘genuine’.
However, let’s be honest – most (all?!) of these beggars are Caymanian and should have family to take care of them when they are down on their luck. Shame on the Caymanian families who choose to ignore their family member in need. Shame.
Many beggars may also have a history of mental disorders. Someone with a mental disorder can’t be held 100% responsible for their actions without the correct care. Again, the Caymanian family should be the one to step up and bring their family member to receive appropriate care.
Other beggars (as mentioned by other commenters) have a drug problem. I have heard of one beggar who does have family and a home but chooses to live on the streets begging. I hope police will step in to enforce section 158 (a) of the Penal Code particularly for these types of beggars. These beggars (and drug users in general) as well as their dealers are a danger to all of society – allowing illicit drugs to proliferate is a guaranteed way for a small country to end up in third world poverty, corruption and crime (not saying that we don’t have a degree to that here – as do all countries – but (hopefully) we have a far way to go before we end up like Venezuela, Haiti, North/South Sudan etc etc).
Some may mention the bottleneck challenge of accessing social services – that NWDA don’t do anything and DCFS is so understaffed you might as well not bother. My answer to that is – what are you doing about speaking to your MLA rep about these issues? It’s no secret that social services are creaking under the burden of huge case loads. Whether due to understaffing, poor work ethic, too much bureaucracy, “politricking” etc is a discussion for another thread.
Instead of complaining that “it’s all going to sh!t, what happened to the good ol’ days” which is 90% of the ‘action’ ever taken, let’s start accepting that times (and people and politics and the world) are changing (as has always happened and will always continue to happen), and recognize that we need to be adaptable and creative in our dialogue to finding appropriate solutions.
Let’s be proactive in helping our fellow Caymanian residents (Caymanian and expat alike) to have a safe, beautiful, thriving and peaceful country.
There is an extremely aggressive man who i see on Elgin Avenue, Midtown Plaza, and towards downtown. He is well spoken, has a good long story and claims medical issues that he needs help with. Claims he used to be a somebody.
He is late 50’s early 60’s, used to use a crutch or two but recently has been riding a bike.
But… Wont take no for an answer. I have told him not to come inside the coffeehouse, not to harass people on the patio or in the parking lot, told him he was now trespassing as I have asked him to leave, multiple times, he is oblivious and likely the threat of jail is no deterrent whatsoever. But it is good to know that we can call the police as his actions are against the law.
I recently saw him follow a woman to her car from the ATM and stood in a position that is was impossible for her to close the door. I in no uncertain terms ( I used my outside voice) told him to move away from her car and let her close the door.
Live and let live, do your thing, ask for a little change, tell people they look nice and to have a nice day, the coins will add up. But this aggressive con stuff… Its nasty.
There was one that harassed me at the HSA, there of all places, when you are not feeling well. Didn’t see a security guard anywhere. This money they are begging for is wanted for drugs!
Are you talking about the man that goes around with crutches and a bag of medicine tied on to the crutches? He is all over. As of recent there seems to be some lady friend and he is now graduated to being in a car rather than walking with crutches.
His hard work is paying off.
It is obvious the real offender was the person who did not give his earned money to a beggar who has been given the green light by Cayman culture to continue not earning his own way.
In the old days, we gave to the poor because of unfortunate circumstances until they figured out a better way, now we give to the poor so they stay the same.
Why are you pushing this beggar? Do not touch him and assault him because he pricks your conscience to give. Do not assault him and he will not assault you. Many think they love doing this. However, getting to know them, you will discover how they hate themselves and hate that they need to ask the most “better than you” society that exist in the world. Gasp. I am Caymanian born and bred by the way. I know how we are.
Poster has a point about shoving the beggar. Felt threatened? Beggar felt attacked….. because he was.
WTFE! These beggars have become very demanding and not taking no for an answer. The person told him NO and I bet the beggar continued to walk in his face and I’m sure if it were u you would have felt threatened by the beggar and wanted him to move back but too scared to do anything else but give the P of S money to get him or her to leave u alone. And don’t believe a word these beggars tell you about how bad they feel having to beg, that’s another load of BS. They beg because they r too lazy to get off their buttocks and do an honest days living like the majority of us.
Why do you need to tell us you’re a “born and bred Caymanian”? What has that got to do with anything? Or do you think that makes your opinion better than everyone else’s?
I’m a tourist and I was in a my car with the window 1/2 down when a beggar began hustling me for money last year. I was very nervous, but I put the car in reverse, gave him two notices that I had no $, rolled the window up and backed up. I prayed he moved , which he did, but I was a nervous wreck.
I was afraid the situation was going to escalate if I did not get out of there immediately.
more than likely crackheads, cayman full of ’em
“RCIP issued a warning to beggars” … and how was this achieved exactly – I’m sure they aren’t reading CNS in their spare time lol
The difference here is they are asking the public, we already have thousands asking Government for alms, and getting them.
I find some of the panhandlers are becoming more aggressive in the past few years. While I think there are a few genuine individuals who are looking for food I suspect many of them want the money for alcohol or drugs. I was going into Kirk Market one morning a few months ago and a man approached me in the car park as I was about 50 yards from the store entrance. He asked me for $10 to get some food. I told him I would not give him money but I would buy him some breakfast in the store. He told me that he didn’t like “any of the food they have in there”. I couldn’t believe it. He told me he wanted the money for a nearby fast food place but I refused. He later followed me inside the store and asked if he could get a loaf of bread and a tin of corned beef, so I bought him that.
Bread and corned beef? No wonder he doesn’t like the food in there. I suggest he try the BBQ chicken and a big ole Cadbury bar with almonds. Teach a man to fish…
Not too long ago, Caymanians were too proud to beg and their families helped them out. Drugs have ruined all that.
Because of the socio-economic barrier that has always existed sice abolishing any local industries. You wanted finance so you got it…groped and all, buddy.
Local industries? Like making rope?
There’s a guy sleeping rough across the street from the Hard Rock restaurant, right in our capital where all of the cruise shippers disembark. So the cruise shippers first see and smell the dump when they arrive then as soon as they step on land they see homeless people sleeping rough. It appears we have many many issues to address before we consider a cruise port.
Like living in any big city in US.
Doesn’t mean we cant’ do better than them.
And what doesn’t this attacker look like. Cameras??
RCIP. REST IN PEACE CAYMAN.
??? How can Cayman rest in peace when you can’t get the initials order correct? Or HCCRIPWYCGTIOC, if that is simpler for you.
maybe this person is lysdexic
Or possibly to seeing the RCIPs at his door.
If the suspect is caught he should have to do years of community service.
lmao
A begga na da was a teif…
We have a few of these women on Cayman Brac. They tend to hang around the tourist grocery store at West End. I am continually embarrassed.
The police, along with store management and security should easily be able to do something about that!
One of them approached me. Never thought I’d see con artists and swindlers working the parking lots of the Brac. We trade notes on who they are, though…
State of the economy. There is one who persists at the hospital and around the glass house who even rides a bicycle named Tom something or other and needs police intervention.
I had a bicycle named Nuni when I was a lad.
Long hair? That guy is a Jack of all Trades.
CCTV footage should show the incident , if available .Between the banks, offices and other commercial retail locations , This is after all the Capital, central business district and future center point for the cruise berth facility. The incident does not bode well for central GT.
Doesn’t work at night.
there are a lot of men begging in west bay, strong ,able bodied young men who apparently do not want to work.
this happens right in front of the west bay police station around the shops right there.
you do not see one police around there,
come on people lets do not have the police force of one foreign nationality. its not good.
The police need evidence to convict! If they go about arresting and charging people based on CNS comments, how will that help?
If people want police to get the beggars off the street then they will have to provide written statements so that the police have evidence to take to a judge. Or video footage or something. Police cannot walk up to an individual in the street and arrest them because the marl road says they’re out begging.
They can observe it for themselves, just like me! You ever seen anyone begging? Do you not think the police have too?
It was probably the skinny little crackhead looking one that was aggressive towards me at the farmers market a couple of weeks ago. He’s light brown skinned with very light colour dreadlocks. Looks like he’s been on a meth binge for about 10 years. Think he goes by the name Jonny. He often hangs out on the other side of town in Hogsty Bay where they clean the fish.
The little creep saw me tip the lady making the smoothies and lost his marbles when I refused to give him a couple dollars. “You’ll help foreigners but you won’t help your own kind (Caymanian)” to which I replied “she’s working for it” and then he really went off the deep end cussing shouting like he was going thru the worst withdrawals. I shoulda knocked out the last few teeth he has but was in a rush that day.
RCIPS you better do something about him before he assaults a tourist.
Oh, he regularly shouts and curses at them in the street and has harassed me in my workplace.
Yep I know which you are referring to. He indeed looks scary and meth binged. Yells out indiscriminately at passersby. I always look the other way and avoid him whenever possible.
Let him live mon
It’s part of the culture. We need to focus on why this beggar had a momentary lapse of reason and decide and figure out how we can give him free unearned stuff. It is the victim’s problem for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Hasn’t anybody read about “routine activity theory?” We need to give those cultures that glorify crime their right to be heard. Criminal lives matter!
Can’t go into Burger King in town without being pestered for money by beggars. And the staff stand by and do nothing
Why should the staff do something? So they can get stabbed? Call the Police you lazy dimwit and don’t expect others to sort your problems…
should I as the customer be calling the police? @ 8.51am or should the staff of that business be taking the safety and security of their customers and premises into account. nothing causes customers to leave and never come back than unsafe conditions and having beggars pester you is an unsafe condition. when enough customers do not return because of these beggars then that business will surely eventually close with the lose of jobs.
signed in your words lazy dimwit
P.S. you damn fool
Well, Cayman has enough police to have a presence on every corner of every business establishment on all 3 islands. No staff member or manager should have to call police on people loitering or/and begging.
Police presence in GT especially is needed from 7am-7pm.
They are staff, probably poorly paid at that, not your personal security guards. If the guy is in the building, then yes, they should call security, whatever. If not, your problem bobo. Your name sticks, why on earth would anyone eat at those outlets anyway? No sense, that’s why.
this occurs inside of the premises
You mean I can’t ask for some alms anymore?
Why the warning Police? Just enforce the law!
Mandatory life imprisonment for violent attacks. Enough is enough!
Foruiners bobo no misspelling.