Woman beats up would-be rapist - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

JumpinJesus · 01-04-2005, 03:01 PM

There have been a few cases of women being attacked either on the CTA in broad daylight or shortly after getting off. I wish we could read more stories like this. What I find unsettling is that when he was arrested, he had the woman's driver's license. It's a good thing he was caught.

Story can be found here

Quote:

Woman fights off man accused of rape

January 4, 2005

BY MAUREEN O'DONNELL Staff Reporter Advertisement

He crisscrossed the city by CTA, police say, using his knowledge of neighborhoods to hunt for victims in Wrigleyville.

He never counted on meeting up with a street-smart woman who used her fists, her wits and a cell phone to outsmart him.

After the woman fought back with all the strength she had, Paul Cruikshank was so sore "he asked for paramedics,'' said Detective Pete Morrissette. "She gave pretty good.

"She probably saved a number of other women an untold amount of grief."

"Without a doubt'' she's a hero, Forest Park Sgt. Steve Zanoni said. "She did one heck of a job that night."

Wanted in Wrigleyville

Cruikshank, 24, of the 4000 block of West Cullerton, is due in court today on charges including aggravated kidnapping and aggravated criminal sexual assault after police said he gave videotaped "remorseful comments'' about the crimes.

He's been charged in attacks on women on North Sheffield Avenue on Dec. 18 and 20, as well as the assault of the woman in Forest Park whose vigorous self-defense led to his arrest. Police are still searching for a second man in a separate assault in the Wrigleyville area.

Cruikshank, a laborer, knew the city and suburbs well from traveling the CTA, said Belmont Area Cmdr. Michael Chasen. In fact, he allegedly trailed the woman as she left the Blue Line train at Circle Avenue in Forest Park as she headed to visit friends about 11 p.m. on New Year's Eve.

She had traveled from her home in Wrigleyville, using the Red Line before switching to the Forest Park branch of the Blue Line. Police said they aren't sure whether he actually began stalking her in Wrigleyville. The woman does remember seeing him on the Blue Line before she got off, police said.

Armed with an ice pick and masking tape, Cruikshank trailed her for several blocks, then grabbed her arm and tried to force her into an alley, Zanoni said.

Cruikshank is about 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds, while the woman, in her early 20s, is about 5-foot-6 and of average weight, police said.

"She realized, 'If we go into the alley, something bad is going to happen,' '' Morrissette said.

" 'I'm sorry, I just can't do that,' '' she said, and adrenaline kicked in and she fought back, he said.

She "told us that she started punching him several times and kicking him,'' Zanoni said.

A neighbor came out and asked if there was trouble, but Cruikshank said, " 'It's an old girlfriend, it's OK,' '' Morrissette said.

Police stop bus

"Her face was covered in blood,'' Zanoni said, but she managed to call 911 as Cruikshank fled and tried to board a Pace bus on Harlem Avenue.

Oak Park police heard about the assault on the radio, and Oak Park Officer Chris Pedicini and Detective Jim Sperandio stopped the bus by book-ending it with their squad cars. They said they found Cruikshank trying to hide behind a seat.

He was carrying an ice pick, duct tape, a license belonging to the woman in the Forest Park assault and jewelry that police are still trying to identify, a law enforcement source said.

Link to earlier case

The victim of the Forest Park attack knew about the Wrigleyville assaults and told Forest Park investigators "this could have been the same guy,'' Morrissette said. They checked out the Chicago police composite sketch and realized "this looked just like him,'' he said.

The Oak Park officers who nabbed Cruikshank also thought he resembled the man wanted in the Wrigleyville cases, and Chicago police were called in.

Cruikshank has no known criminal record, Chasen said. A woman who answered the phone at his home -- and identified herself as his grandmother -- said he wasn't struggling with any problems she knew of, even though he was jobless. Of the charges, she said: "I don't believe them.'' He previously attended Holy Trinity High School in Chicago, she said.

Cruikshank was mentioned in a 2003 Chicago Sun-Times story about students receiving culinary training at Academy Bakery, 1239 S. Pulaski. He was learning to make pastry there, according to his grandmother.

Chasen singled out the victims of the attacks in Wrigleyville for their courage, saying they "assisted our detectives in hours of interviews and creating of composites.''

Tracing use of an ATM card stolen from one of the victims in Wrigleyville was a key part of the investigation, Chasen said.

Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) praised police, the CAPS program and the public for their vigilance.

Unsolved cases

"We've got somebody behind bars within a week,'' he said. "Now that's pretty incredible.''

In the unsolved Wrigleyville case, a woman entering her apartment in the 3700 block of North Wilton Avenue on Dec. 19 was forced inside and sexually assaulted. DNA evidence shows it is not linked to Cruikshank, police said.

Authorities also were searching for a man who attacked a woman Monday on the 54/Cermak Branch of the Blue Line, formerly the Douglas branch.

Contributing: STEFANO ESPOSITO

f6twister · 01-04-2005, 04:20 PM

The only thing he didn't get is the ice pick he was carrying shoved up his ass or other places. Chances are, had she not fought back, she would be raped then killed. She saved her own life and provided some whoop-ass in the process. Nice work!

Hard8s · 01-04-2005, 04:56 PM

Yeah I wish we could hear more of these stories, then maybe some of these guys might think a little differently before grabbing someone. The only problem is most people believe they will get hurt more if they fight back, A lot of times they will get away, but other times.....

MageB420666 · 01-04-2005, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f6twister

The only thing he didn't get is the ice pick he was carrying shoved up his ass or other places.

Would have been extremely nice if he had. Rapists are the scum that actual scum won't even touch because they're too disgusting. There should be an exception in the Bill of Rights about rapists not recieving protection from cruel and unusual punishment. And I know this is me being a hypocrite and it doesn't make that much sense, but rapists are the only people that deserve to be raped. They should have to experience the pain, violation, and terror they cause others.

raeanna74 · 01-04-2005, 05:20 PM

This is one thing every woman should learn. Be it street fighting or a self defense class. Having PRACTICED hitting someone will give her the courage and confidence to do it when she needs to. I've heard too many times of women who were frozen because they didn't think they could fight the attacker off and were afraid of getting hurt worse BY resisting. Learning to fight is empowering. I plan to put my daughter in a self defense class or martial arts class eventually. It may actually be something I do fairly soon. Empowering kids to learn to fight against this kind of thing is worth so much. As soon as she can tell the difference between fighting other kids over stupid stuff and defending herself - that's when she needs the class.

JStrider · 01-04-2005, 07:18 PM

if i ever have a daughter im gonna sign her up for a self defense class...

wish we could here more of these kind of stories...

JumpinJesus · 01-04-2005, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JStrider

if i ever have a daughter im gonna sign her up for a self defense class...

wish we could here more of these kind of stories...

Our daughter took self defense classes. Along with those, we've always taught her to grab low, grab the balls (we called them testicles when talking to her) and to squeeze and pull as hard as she could.

Like Mage said, rapists are among the lowest of our species. I hope this guy makes a lot of new "friends" in jail.

ironman · 01-05-2005, 08:32 AM

His balls should be cut off... with an oxidated spoon.

bbrown4 · 01-05-2005, 09:11 AM

The more women decide to step up and whup ass - the less rapists you'll get.

You only have to graze nuts - Eddie Murphy

whocarz · 01-05-2005, 09:20 AM

The best story I've read about a rapist getting his due was when some scumbag got his balls bitten off when he tried to force a woman into giving him oral sex. It's just too bad the bastard didn't bleed to death.

braisler · 01-05-2005, 09:42 AM

Good for her for refusing to go into that alley. Fighting back on the street saved her from being raped if not from being killed. I too agree with a couple of posters here that rape should be punished as severely/more severely than murder. But then, I think that the criminal justice system in the US is so screwed up when it comes to enforcement.

Do you realize that 1/4 of the people in prison on this planet are in US prisons? Most of that from silly drug enforcement laws... get the drug possession busts out of there and extend the death row to include rapists.

snowy · 01-05-2005, 11:25 AM

Good for her.

On a side note, rapists are only second to pedophiles in the likelihood of their being killed once they reach prison.

Fire · 01-07-2005, 09:56 PM

on a professional note- the balls are not the best target- some guys just get really pissed off and then start breaking people- the EYES- those are a great target- never yet seen anyone want to fight or do anything else to a victim after that- yes its gross, but being raped is far worse.......

mr_burns · 01-08-2005, 09:45 AM

Good for her. Its so often we hear about women being raped or killed, that we start to think it reality. It's always good to know that there are those that beat the odds, and if this could inspire jsut one other women to take self-defense, so much the better

MTLPromoter · 01-09-2005, 05:31 AM

If a girl is going to get attacked tell her to fight cheap. Aim for the genitals or punch them in the throat. A friend of mine's gf got attacked now she carries around pepper spray. Might not be legal but if it saves you life it doesn't matter.

01-04-2005, 04:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
f6twister Addict	The only thing he didn't get is the ice pick he was carrying shoved up his ass or other places. Chances are, had she not fought back, she would be raped then killed. She saved her own life and provided some whoop-ass in the process. Nice work! __________________ A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day. Calvin

01-04-2005, 04:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Hard8s Addict Location: Wherever I am!	Yeah I wish we could hear more of these stories, then maybe some of these guys might think a little differently before grabbing someone. The only problem is most people believe they will get hurt more if they fight back, A lot of times they will get away, but other times..... __________________ If ignorance is bliss, then wipe this smile off my face!

01-04-2005, 05:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	This is one thing every woman should learn. Be it street fighting or a self defense class. Having PRACTICED hitting someone will give her the courage and confidence to do it when she needs to. I've heard too many times of women who were frozen because they didn't think they could fight the attacker off and were afraid of getting hurt worse BY resisting. Learning to fight is empowering. I plan to put my daughter in a self defense class or martial arts class eventually. It may actually be something I do fairly soon. Empowering kids to learn to fight against this kind of thing is worth so much. As soon as she can tell the difference between fighting other kids over stupid stuff and defending herself - that's when she needs the class. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

01-04-2005, 07:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	if i ever have a daughter im gonna sign her up for a self defense class... wish we could here more of these kind of stories... __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

01-05-2005, 08:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
ironman Smithers, release the hounds Location: Guatemala, Guatemala	His balls should be cut off... with an oxidated spoon. __________________ If I agreed with you we´d both be wrong

01-05-2005, 09:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
bbrown4 Upright	The more women decide to step up and whup ass - the less rapists you'll get. You only have to graze nuts - Eddie Murphy

01-05-2005, 09:20 AM	#10 (permalink)
whocarz Jarhead Location: Colorado	The best story I've read about a rapist getting his due was when some scumbag got his balls bitten off when he tried to force a woman into giving him oral sex. It's just too bad the bastard didn't bleed to death. __________________ If there exists anything mightier than destiny, then it is the courage to face destiny unflinchingly. -Geibel Despise not death, but welcome it, for nature wills it like all else. -Marcus Aurelius Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever? -GySgt. Daniel J. "Dan" Daly

01-05-2005, 09:42 AM	#11 (permalink)
braisler Addict Location: Midway, KY	Good for her for refusing to go into that alley. Fighting back on the street saved her from being raped if not from being killed. I too agree with a couple of posters here that rape should be punished as severely/more severely than murder. But then, I think that the criminal justice system in the US is so screwed up when it comes to enforcement. Do you realize that 1/4 of the people in prison on this planet are in US prisons? Most of that from silly drug enforcement laws... get the drug possession busts out of there and extend the death row to include rapists.

01-05-2005, 11:25 AM	#12 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	Good for her. On a side note, rapists are only second to pedophiles in the likelihood of their being killed once they reach prison. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

01-07-2005, 09:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
Fire Warrior Smith Location: missouri	on a professional note- the balls are not the best target- some guys just get really pissed off and then start breaking people- the EYES- those are a great target- never yet seen anyone want to fight or do anything else to a victim after that- yes its gross, but being raped is far worse....... __________________ Thought the harder, Heart the bolder, Mood the more as our might lessens

01-08-2005, 09:45 AM	#14 (permalink)
mr_burns Upright	Good for her. Its so often we hear about women being raped or killed, that we start to think it reality. It's always good to know that there are those that beat the odds, and if this could inspire jsut one other women to take self-defense, so much the better

01-09-2005, 05:31 AM	#15 (permalink)
MTLPromoter Upright Location: Montreal,Quebec	If a girl is going to get attacked tell her to fight cheap. Aim for the genitals or punch them in the throat. A friend of mine's gf got attacked now she carries around pepper spray. Might not be legal but if it saves you life it doesn't matter.