Just An Ordinary Day
Four teenagers were having a great time skateboarding in a parking garage. They decided to leave because it was late. On their way out, they saw something that made them stop in their tracks. They decided to see what was going on…
Just An Ordinary Day
A Turn Of Events
As they were exiting the parking garage, they could see a young girl and two older men walking. They were crossing over the grass in the direction of the parking garage. The girl seemed to be upset about something.
A Turn Of Events
What Was Going On?
The teenage girl was acting quite strange and disorderly, then one of the older men grabbed her forcefully. He was walking very close to her right behind her. Then it seemed like they were aware that they were being watched.
What Was Going On?
The Situation Was Escalating
Carsyn Wright, one of the skateboarders recalled that the girl had started screaming and yelling. He said that he could see she just wanted to get out of there. At this point, the boys decided to confront the older men.
The Situation Was Escalating
Was That Enough To Raise Suspicion?
Even though the boys could see that the situation looked unusual, they weren’t suspicious of it being a compromising situation. They had to find out what was going on and they were hoping the men would be able to explain.
Was That Enough To Raise Suspicion?
Their Explanation Made Sense
Upon confronting the men, the bigger of the two explained that he was the girl’s father. The girl appeared to have been drinking so maybe her dad was just upset because of it. She was definitely too young to be drinking.
Their Explanation Made Sense
The Boys Decided To Back Off
Hearing that one of the men was the girl’s father made the boys back off. It made sense that her dad was upset because of the state that she was in. She wasn’t asking for help and didn’t contradict the man either.
The Boys Decided To Back Off
Something Didn’t Seem Right
They gave each other a look to signal that it was time to let it go. The boys had been concerned but everything seemed to be in order. But was it? The story sounded logical but something didn’t feel right.
Something Didn’t Seem Right
Time To Go Home
The boys needed to leave as it was getting late. They started making their way home with their skateboards. The man seemed honest enough and the girl never disagreed so they pushed aside the nagging feeling that something was off.
Time To Go Home
Were The Boys Being Too Trusting?
It seemed evident that the girl looked like she’d had too much to drink, but was that really the case? The more the boys talked about it the more questions they had. Should they have trusted those men so easily?
Were The Boys Being Too Trusting?
Was He Really Her Father?
The man who had claimed to be the girl’s father came across as extremely confident, and even arrogant. Would an upset father act that way with his young daughter? Then the boys remembered a small detail that was very unsettling.
Was He Really Her Father?
That Uneasy Feeling Just Wouldn’t Go Away
The girl looked scruffy and dirty and a little shaken as if she’d been struggling with someone for quite some time. As the boys walked further away, they noticed that one of the men picked her up over his shoulder.
That Uneasy Feeling Just Wouldn’t Go Away
The Girl Was Trying To Resist
The boys watched the girl trying to resist as the man carried her like a bag of potatoes. Should they go back and help her? Every instinct was telling them that she needed help and they should do something.
The Girl Was Trying To Resist
It Seemed Like A Scene From A Movie
With every second that passed, the boys couldn’t believe what they were seeing. This didn’t seem real, it felt like they were watching a scene from a movie. But it didn’t seem right. Did the girl really know these men?
It Seemed Like A Scene From A Movie
Why Were They Outside The Underground Parking At This Hour?
The boys were trying to make sense of the situation. Why were these three heading towards an underground parking lot at this time of night? The more questions they asked the more they thought that something suspicious was going on.
Why Were They Outside The Underground Parking At This Hour?
The Boys Decided To Go Back
The boys decided to go back and see if the girl was in real trouble. They hurried back as fast as they could. They were hoping that they weren’t too late, but they also hoped that they were just overreacting.
The Boys Decided To Go Back
They Weren’t Convinced
They weren’t fully convinced that the girl was in danger but they’d never forgive themselves if she had been and they had done nothing to help her. It was worth it for them to go back and make absolutely sure that she was okay.
They Weren’t Convinced
The Three Were Nowhere To Be Seen
The boys arrived outside the parking lot but the girl and both men were nowhere to be seen. They eventually figured out that they must’ve gone inside. They didn’t want to think the worst so they hoped for the best.
The Three Were Nowhere To Be Seen
The Dark Underground Garage
The boys had no idea what they were walking into. There was definitely more going on than meets the eye in that underground garage below Chinook Center. The boys didn’t realize they were entering Calgary’s dark side.
The Dark Underground Garage
There Was No Going Back
Once they entered the underground parking garage there would be no going back. The boys were not aware of the problem that had been growing in their community. Something dark and sinister was going on underneath the up-market Chinook center.
There Was No Going Back
A Dark And Corrupt Underworld
There had been a lot of criminal activity in Southwest Calgary lately and officer Arthur Doner was investigating this sudden spike of crime in the community. He had been involved in several sting operations, but there were no leads as of yet.
A Dark And Corrupt Underworld
Could It Be Gang Related?
There had been many rival gang dealings and when the police were able to capture one member, another two would replace him. Officer Doner had no idea that these teenagers were about to confront the Hydra without any police assistance.
Could It Be Gang Related?
The Best Place For Criminal Activity
The center’s underground parking lot was dark and it meant that it was the ideal place for criminal activity. Plus the boys knew that the security guards had already left for the night because they had seen them leave earlier.
The Best Place For Criminal Activity
Criminals Took Advantage Of The Situation
Kids would sometimes go to the underground parking to get up to mischief because they knew that the security guards would not be there. For that same reason, this place was used by criminals to carry out their shady dealings.
Criminals Took Advantage Of The Situation
CCTV Caught Them On Camera
There may not be any security guards on duty at night but there are CCTV cameras in the underground parking lot. The cameras caught the two men pacing up and down looking for something between the dark parking spaces.
CCTV Caught Them On Camera
A Place To Hide
The girl was still with both men. It seemed like they were looking for a place that was hidden and out of the camera’s view. After pacing for a few minutes it looked like they found the spot they were looking for.
A Place To Hide
A Dark Stairwell
Out of the corner of his eye, one of the men sees a door that leads to a secluded stairwell. CCTV footage showed him escorting the girl inside. Next thing, all three disappear as the door closes behind them.
A Dark Stairwell
The Boys Were Determined
The boys entered the dark parking garage as quietly as possible. They didn’t want to alert them that they were coming in case these guys were dangerous. It was particularly empty that night which meant there wasn’t anywhere to hide.
The Boys Were Determined
They Decided To Investigate
There weren’t many cars around but they couldn’t see the girl or the two guys anywhere. They walked around until they found the door that led to a stairwell. Little did they know that they had gone in there too.
They Decided To Investigate
Fear Gripped Them But It Didn’t Stop Them
The boys didn’t know what to expect when they opened the door to the dark stairwell. The youngsters recall giving each other a look before Arnaud opened the door. That look meant that they had to be ready for anything.
Fear Gripped Them But It Didn’t Stop Them
It Was Now Or Never
There was no time to waste as the girl could be in real danger. Without further hesitation, Arnaud gripped the handle and flung the door open. They looked inside the stairwell and what they saw left them puzzled and disturbed.
It Was Now Or Never
Their Search Led Them To The Girl
After searching the underground parking garage in between the cars, the boys were anxious to find the girl and two men. They had a sinking feeling that she needed help and they were the only ones that could help right now.
Their Search Led Them To The Girl
They Couldn’t See What Was Going On
They had finally found them hiding in the shadows of the stairwell. They couldn’t see clearly what was going on but they knew it wasn’t good. This could be something worse than what they could possibly imagine.
They Couldn’t See What Was Going On
They Remained Hidden
The boys could hear voices but couldn’t see much so they decided to move towards the voices carefully. They were completely frazzled by what they saw. All they could make out was the shape of the men in the darkness.
They Remained Hidden
They Had To Follow Through At This Stage
The youngsters were petrified but they fought their instincts to run and took action instead. If they left the scene now that girl would never get the help she clearly needed and they wouldn’t be able to live with that.
They Had To Follow Through At This Stage
A Shocking Discovery
The teenagers finally saw all three and were utterly shocked and disgusted over what the men were doing to the girl. They admitted at a later stage that they didn’t know what to do. They were frozen in shock.
A Shocking Discovery
Caught Red Handed
It didn’t take them long to snap out of it and jump into action. They immediately tried to get them off of her. This was not going to be easy because the men were furious to see these boys there.
Caught Red Handed
The Teens Had No Idea Who They Were Up Against
These were good kids and they had no idea who they were dealing with. The bigger man didn’t want to make an even bigger scene and just started walking away. His accomplice hesitated for a few seconds but followed suit.
The Teens Had No Idea Who They Were Up Against
An Aggressive Exit
Nimeya recalls how as the older men were leaving the one pushed him aggressively so he’d get out of the way. He also had a smirk on his face insinuating that there’s nothing the boys could do to stop them.
An Aggressive Exit
They Couldn’t Just Let It Go
The boys felt naturally afraid and intimidated by the older men but they couldn’t let them get away with it. They had to let them know that what they were doing was wrong and there would be consequences.
They Couldn’t Just Let It Go
Time To Take Action
At that moment the teenagers realized they couldn’t let these men escape. As the men were walking away three of the youngsters began to chase them. The other teen stayed with the girl as she was visibly very shaken up.
Time To Take Action
They Were Catching Up Fast
When the men realized that the boys were chasing them they started running faster through the streets of Calgary. These boys were fit and were catching up really fast until they caught up. Now the men had nowhere to go.
They Were Catching Up Fast
In The Meantime The Police Were Tipped Off
Officer Doner was ready to take action when he got the call. He received a tipoff that one of the men he had been after for months was spotted in the vicinity of the Chinook center and he was not alone.
In The Meantime The Police Were Tipped Off
The Officer Arrived Just In Time
The officer put on his siren as he sped through the streets of Calgary until he reached Chinook center. He knew who he was dealing with but didn’t know what he was walking into, so he radioed in for backup.
The Officer Arrived Just In Time
He Didn’t Need To Search Long
As soon as he put in the request for backup he got out of his car in search of this man. He didn’t need to search for long because he practically ran straight into the side of his vehicle.
He Didn’t Need To Search Long
The Men Were Prepared To Fight
As the boys caught up with the men and they felt trapped, the older man became violent with one of the teens. He ripped the skateboard out of his hand and was trying to use it to harm the kid.
The Men Were Prepared To Fight
There Was Nowhere To Turn
The men realized that they were trapped but thought they could win the fight using sheer force. They were not afraid of a bunch of teenage boys on skateboards. What the assailants didn’t know was that Officer Doner was approaching.
There Was Nowhere To Turn
Office Doner To The Rescue
The police officer arrived just in time to save the boys from harm. He rushed to the scene in his police vehicle. When he saw what was happening he leapt out of the car and tackled the assailant to the ground.
Office Doner To The Rescue
Backup Finally Arrived
Doner finally had him. He proceeded to handcuff the older man when backup arrived. By that stage, the second culprit had managed to escape and was long gone. But what about the girl and the teen that had stayed with her?
Backup Finally Arrived
Running Scared
When the three teens saw the police car they instinctively ran. They were worried about the girl and wanted to see if their friend was ok. They ran straight back to the underground parking garage where it had all begun.
Running Scared
She Was Finally Safe
The girl had been through a horrible ordeal and one of the boys stayed behind to comfort her and keep her safe until the authorities arrived. The boys had no idea that they had just challenged a notorious gang leader.
She Was Finally Safe
The Police Took Over
The police arrived where the girl and her hero had been hiding and took over from there. When the boys saw that the situation was under control and she was safe, they went home. That’s when the phone calls began.
The Police Took Over
The Phone Calls Kept Coming
The phone calls did not stop for days, but the boys were too afraid to answer because they were petrified that they might be in trouble for some reason. Maybe the police thought they were involved in the gang somehow?
The Phone Calls Kept Coming
The Ordeal Was Not Over Yet
Maybe the police kept calling because they were in trouble for fighting the older man? Why were they calling so much? There was one way to find out, just answer the calls and face the consequences, if there were any.
The Ordeal Was Not Over Yet
The Chief Of Police Was Now Involved
Chief Constable Roger Chaffin was calling the boys but they didn’t know he wanted to thank them for being so brave and for saving that girl from those men. The boys were still frightened to be contacted by the police.
The Chief Of Police Was Now Involved
They Eventually Put Their Fear Aside
The boys finally put their fear aside and answered the call. They were pleasantly surprised to hear that the chief of police wanted to thank them for their bravery that fateful night. They had helped bring down a gang member.
They Eventually Put Their Fear Aside
Notorious Gang Members Were Arrested
The man that these boys fought with was a notorious gang member which the police had been after for years. He was the head of the FOB gang which was well known for their shady dealings.
Notorious Gang Members Were Arrested
The Criminal In Question
His gang was an especially dangerous one and had been responsible for an extensive list of crimes, even some murders in the Calgary area. He had been actively sought by the police for a long time at this point, but they had not been able to track him down.
The Criminal In Question
He Ended Up Snitching
Fortunately for Officer Doner, once he had found his man, the gangster was more than willing to disclose and divulge details about his gang and the other criminals he was involved with.
He Ended Up Snitching
They Got Crucial Information
This was exceptionally useful for the police force. It meant they became far more aware of gang activity in Calgary and were able to arrest far more people, and it was mostly down to the actions of the four skater boys!
They Got Crucial Information
They Were Honored
The boys were invited by the police force to attend the Chief’s Award Gala in order to celebrate their actions in the face of grave danger. Thanks to them, the girl’s life had been saved, and the police also had a much greater handle on the organized crime situation in Calgary.
They Were Honored
Humble Heroes
The boys were very humble in their response to the honor, stating that they simply hoped that other people would help them in their time of need, if it was ever necessary. They emphasized that they were simply doing the right thing.
Humble Heroes
Inspiring Young Men
It’s hard to imagine what the boys must have been feeling when they went through their ordeal. It would have taken some tremendous courage for them to have stood up to the gangsters in the way that they did, especially chasing them after they ran in order to make sure they were caught and that justice was served to them. It’s a really inspiring example of bravery for the rest of the world to consider.
Inspiring Young Men
The Boys Became Heroes That Night
What would’ve happened to the girl if they hadn’t intervened? The boys shuddered at the thought of what could’ve happened to them too. They had no idea at the time who they were dealing with and the danger they were in.
The Boys Became Heroes That Night
An Incredible Act Of Bravery
To thank them for their bravery the boys were invited to attend the Chief’s Award Gala. they were presented with a trophy for their service. They shared that they’d hope others would do the same if any of them were in trouble.
An Incredible Act Of Bravery
Who The Boys Are
The four boys should be named and praised for their bravery. Their names are Carsyn Wright, Arnaud Nimenya, James Hielema, and Starlyn Rivas-Perez. The boys only intended to go to the parking lot to skateboard, but ended up saving the life of the young woman who was savagely attacked by the gangsters. Like the police said, they deserve all the praise in the world for their actions, as such bravery under difficult circumstances is something a lot of people would not be able to match.
Who The Boys Are
The Gala
The boys were rewarded with a great honor. The Calgary Police Chief’s Awards Gala is held in order to recognize brave individuals that step up and help out the community. These people exemplify exceptional behavior, often without any personal gain but in order to be good citizens.
The Gala
Calgary Police Chief
Roger Chaffin, Calgary Police Chief, gave a speech at the Gala. He thanks the citizens of Calgary for being so helpful, and thanked the boys for their bravery. He said, “Nobody gets their day started thinking this is going to happen to them, that they’re going to be involved in one of these things.”
Calgary Police Chief
A Similar Story
It was a regular morning for New Jersey teenager, Kayla Rose, who lived in the New Jersey suburb of Irvington. She was going to take her dog, Milkshake, for a walk. Milkshake is a friendly dog, a mix of a bichon-frise and poodle, and Kayla often walked Milkshake before she went to school at Irvington High. Irvington is a pleasant city on the smaller side, with a population of 54,865.
A Similar Story
Kayla Was Shocked
Walking your dog can be a really helpful way to relieve stress and is a fun way to exercise. Pet ownership is meant to be one of the best ways to manage and relieve stress in people. However, this day was not at all relaxing for Kayla. As Kayla was walking her dog around their neighborhood, she heard a scratching sound coming from a car that she walked past. She was startled by this, and asked nervously ‘hello?’ She was totally shocked by what would happen next.
Kayla Was Shocked
She Heard A Voice
Kayla was floored when she heard a voice replying to her from inside the car. The man yelled to her ‘is there anybody that can help me?’ Kayla was really afraid, but knew she had to do something to help the man inside the car. She decided to get her mom to call the emergency services, who would be able to help the man better than she could. She stayed there to wait for them, and make sure they came and would help the man inside the car to get out.
She Heard A Voice
Helping Him Out
The emergency services arrived, and some firefighters were there to help the man escape from the car. The firefighters forced open the trunk of the car, using a jimmy. Finally, they were able to get the trunk open, and the man was helped out of the car. His wrists were actually bound together with duct tape, and he was wearing a hoodie and sweatpants. He was really shaken up, but grateful for the men for helping him out.
Helping Him Out
His Crazy Story
Though the man was shaken, he was able to talk to police once they also arrived at the scene. He said that he carjacked some 12 hours earlier the previous day, and had had to stay in the car overnight in freezing conditions- it got down to 10 degrees or so, and freezing wind would have made it feel even colder for him. This would have been a terrible ordeal, and the man was really grateful that Kayla helped him to escape.
His Crazy Story
Medical Attention Was Necessary
Because of his time spent inside the car, it was necessary that the man was taken to the hospital straight away, especially because of the cold conditions that he had experienced while he was tied up inside the trunk of the car. He was quickly taken to the hospital in an ambulance after being let out of his car. Kayla’s mother told her daughter that she is a hero, and probably saved his life.
Medical Attention Was Necessary
High Crime Nation
There is, unfortunately, a good deal of violent crime that happens in the USA. While it is certainly not the most dangerous country in the world, violent crime happens at a considerably higher rate than some other western countries, like Australia, Germany, and the UK. This is due to a diverse range of factors, like perhaps a higher rate of poverty in the USA than in other Western countries, and different laws and punishments surrounding violent crime.
High Crime Nation
Beautiful City, Harsh Facts
Despite being situated in perhaps one of the most beautiful parts of the USA, Washington, Seattle is a city with a history of some seriously disturbing acts of violence. Though it has only a population of 700,000, it is the biggest city both in the Pacific Northwest and in Washington. Here are some of the most fascinating and shocking crimes that have happened in the little city on America’s West Coast.
Beautiful City, Harsh Facts
George Weyerhaeuser’s Story
The Weyerhaeusers were a family who had been very successful in the lumber industry. Their son, George, went to school in Tacoma, but one day, when he was on the way home from school, he vanished. The family were worried- especially when they received a letter later that day, demanding $200,000 in ransom from them. The money had to be in unmarked bills, and had to arrive within five days- otherwise, George’s parents could expect the worst.
George Weyerhaeuser’s Story
The Kidnapper’s Demands
In the ransom note, it was written that the parents had to communicate with the kidnappers by posting ads in the personals section of one of the local newspapers, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The parents were also told that the father had to check in at a hotel in Seattle, the Ambassador Hotel, under a false name, and to wait for further instructions or communications from the kidnappers. They had no choice if they wanted their son to survive.
The Kidnapper’s Demands
Finally Getting Him Back
Some days later, George’s father was in touch with the kidnappers, and he was told that he had to drive along Highway 99, then pull over and walk out of his car backwards, with the ransom money left inside the car. He did this, and his son George was soon after released by the kidnappers. While he was overwhelmingly glad to have his son back, it was obviously not acceptable for the family to have experienced such trauma, and so they went to the authorities to help them to catch the criminals.
Finally Getting Him Back
Finding Them
The local authorities and the FBI got involved with the case. They decided to try to track down the criminals however possible, and one of the ways they tried to go about doing this was by using the serial numbers on the ransom money that George’s father paid them. This worked, and they were able to hunt down the men who had kidnapped George and held him to ransom.
Finding Them
Who Were These Guys?
As it turns out, the kidnappers were actually just two young men; William Dainard and Harmon Waley, as well as one of their wives. They had actually met originally in prison at the Idaho State Penitentiary. They were ultimately sentenced to 135 years in prison collectively, and George managed to overcome the trauma of this terrible experience to eventually become the chairman of the board at his family’s lumber company.
Who Were These Guys?
A Harsh Reality
The unfortunate and brutal reality is that these types of situations are all too common in the United States. Sadly, the data just from 2018 indicates that 734,630 people have reported attempted, threats, or completed acts of sexual assault against them in the United States. On average, every 73 seconds, someone in the U.S. is a victim of this type of assault.
A Harsh Reality
Young People Are At A Higher Risk
The truth is that many of these assaults happen to younger people. In fact, children and young adults between the ages of 12 to 34 are in the highest risk category, with over 60% of cases happening to victims belonging to that age group.
Young People Are At A Higher Risk
Women Are Targeted
Women are at a higher risk of being assaulted, as the numbers indicate. 1 in 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed assaults of this nature. Since 1998, 17.7 million women have been victims of sexual assault. However, that does not mean that men and boys are not victims as well.
Young Woman Walking Alone On The Streets At Night
Men And Boys
Just because women are more likely to be the target of these types of assaults, that does not mean that men do not experience this as well. Of the entire population, 3%, which comes out to 1 out of 33, of American males have been the victims of sexual assault.
Men And Boys
Long Term Effects
The fact of the matter is, victims of these kind of attacks often experience long term effects from their experiences. These include PTSD, high rates of contemplated and/or attempted suicide, severe distress, and an increased chance of partaking in illicit substances as a means of coping.
Long Term Effects
