via CBS St Louis.US
ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – In the midst of Marine Week with tanks, guns, and heavy weapons parked on lawns all over downtown, the Mayor is wondering how two unarmed prowlers out-fought and robbed three Marines on the street.
Police report that two Marines in their early 20s were walking near the Soldier’s Memorial downtown around 2:30 Monday morning, when two suspects in their 20s approached. According to the police report, the suspects tried to sell the Marines jewelry and then an argument led to a fight.
Police say one of the suspects punched a Marine. Another suspect reportedly took a pocket knife from the other Marine and poked him with it, causing a minor cut. The Marines told police the suspects took one of their wallets and ran away.
Police say a third Marine was also present, but was not fully involved in the fight.
“We take this story at face value and we’re going to investigate it,” said Police Chief Dan Isom.
In the hallways of police headquarters, some police officials were struggling to understand the incident, saying it didn’t sound right.
Even Mayor Francis Slay reacted to the news with skepticism, wondering how three Marines, one of whom was carrying a knife, would lose their knife and a wallet to two un-armed men.
“They were in an altered state because they had a fair amount to drink and it was 2:30 in the morning,” Slay said. ”The Marines are great to St. Louis and certainly this is not indicative of Marine Week.”
But a Marine spokesman shed more light on the mugging, suggesting that the Marines turned the other cheek to avoid violence.
“Marines have been given rules of engagement not to engage in any violence except to protect their lives,” said Marine Spokeswoman Capt Kate Vanden Bossche.
When asked if the Marines have essentially been told to hand over their wallets in St. Louis, rather than fight to protect their property, Vanden Bossche said: “If someone is in such dire need that they need to rob someone, I don’t think that’s a fight Marines need to get into.”
A Marine press release on the attack indicates how the fight ended: ”After a brief altercation, the parties were separated with the help of the third Marine and police were contacted. The Marines relinquished their wallets and both assailants fled the scene.”
Just fucking wow.
What unit is doing this "Marine Week" and did they do any Marine Corps Martial Arts Training? This should have been ultimate open a can of whoop ass, be declared city heroes and drinks are on the house from every cop in the city.
Instead, everyone, everywhere is just saying...WHAT THE FUCK!
Sidenote.
seems to me St. Louis would be a safer place the few weeks those crooks would have been in traction at teh hospital after the marines got done with them. the mairnes even drunk could have outfought those guys.
ReplyDeleteultimate bullshit.
ReplyDeletethese guys ought to turn in their eagle, globe and anchors and go home....or at the very least get busted in rank and forfeit a couple of months pay for conduct unbecoming.
Sol these guys are probably POG PFC's that had some POG assed Master Sargent tell them they would get NJP'ed if they fought civilians. I know guys who got into fights with civilians during a med float and got 90 days restrictions, 90 extra duties and 30 days half pay.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how long you been out Sol, but I bet these guys would rather loose their wallet than play "games" for the rest of fleet week.
what you're saying crossed my mind and i could agree with you 100 percent except for the shit talking SPMAGTF CO.
ReplyDeletethe bastard was at a ball game and was joking about using a M1 Tank. the announcer tried to walk him back and he spouted off about being a warfighter.
then we have these guys do their thing (and it can be understood from their perspective) but then you have the SPMAGTF spokesman talking about rules of engagement????
from the sounds of all these people it should have been open season on any Marine that got crossed....
like i said, i get what you're saying but you have to understand me too right???