NBC News: Family Wants Answers After Angry Mob Puts Dad in Coma

[OmahaBlueDog]

Complete article at: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/family-wants-answers-after-angry-mob-puts-dad-coma-n73221

The family of a 54-year-old man who was beaten into a coma by a mob — after accidentally hitting a boy with his pickup truck — said that they don’t understand the attackers’ aggression.

"You're that concerned about the kid, why are you jumping all over my dad and jumping in his truck and stealing his belongings," Steve Utash’s son, Joe Utash, told the Detroit Free Press.

Steve Utash accidentally struck a 10-year-old boy who stepped off the curb and into the path of his pickup on Wednesday, Detroit Police Officer Jennifer Moreno told NBC News. The boy suffered a broken leg and has since been released from the hospital.

But, when Utash stopped his vehicle to check on the boy, at least ten "juveniles" rushed to the pickup and brutally beat him — leaving the man so critical that doctors induced a coma, Moreno said.

[Jenoch]

1. I certainly hope the teens responsible

are arrested and punished to the fullest extent of the law.

[FrodosPet]

3. Two Arrests that I am aware of

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/05/2-teens-arrested-in-beating-of-pickup-driver/7355757/

Yes, they should be punished for Assault With Intent to Commit Bodily Harm and robbery, but NOT hate crimes.

[Jenoch]

4. If there is evidence that race was an issue

as part of this assault, why should it not be prosecuted as a hate crime?

[Hip_Flask]

6. Why?

[FrodosPet]

15. People in Detroit don't care about skin color

They will beat a black man to death as quick as a white one.

It is not about race, it is about a violent, frustrated, macho culture lacking in positive activities to channel that energy.

[AverageJoe90]

20. Seems about right to me, TBH.

Still, though, I wouldn't discount the possibility entirely.....just sayin'.

[philosslayer]

7. I agree

There's zero evidence this was a hate crime.

[pnwmom]

11. Aren't they still collecting evidence? Have they made public all the evidence they do have?

[Nye Bevan]

9. Sounds like attempted murder to me.

Disgusting animals.

[alp227]

19. Given the perps are black

Choose your words carefully, can't be calling blacks "animals" on a progressive message board because it's the same language used by the KKK.

[pnwmom]

10. How can you know before any trial whether it was a hate crime or not?

Isn't it a little early to draw any conclusion one way or another?

According to Michigan government statistics, in 2007 there were 324 hate crimes against black people and 223 against white people (and more against many other groups).

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/msp/Bd-HateCrime07_263709_7.pdf

[FrodosPet]

2. This is a sad story made even uglier by some people's attitudes

The racists are more than happy to use this story to propagate their agenda.

Warning: Do NOT read the comment section of Detroit media. It is really depressing seeing the KKK auxiliary jumping all over the story.

[alp227]

5. Sadly, that auxiliary even made it to DU.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014773279

Notice you can't tell the difference in tone between comments by the users with low post counts and high post counts since both types are asserting "black on white crime=hate crime".

[pnwmom]

12. Do you think that this particular case isn't a hate crime

or that it is impossible for a hate crime to be committed against a white victim?

[FrodosPet]

13. All violence is hate

Having lived near and worked in Detroit, I have no doubt that they would have done the same to an African American in the same situation.

Evidence:

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/25177111/man-beaten-to-death-outside-detroit-gas-station

DETROIT, Mich. (WJBK) - It's a story that's becoming too common in Detroit, a mob attacks a man at a west side gas station. This time, the victim, Eric Miles, 38, did not survive.

Family members tell us Miles was beaten up and crushed from the waist down after he was attacked and run over by a car outside a Valero gas station. His loved ones are looking for answers. Miles leaves behind two children and a number of heartbroken relatives. Police have spent hours going through surveillance video. So far, no arrests. Anyone with information on this deadly beating should call Detroit Police or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-SPEAKUP.

Detroit is a very frustrated, violent city.

[LuvLoogie]

8. I don't fucking care if it was a hate crime or not.

Gangbangers get what they get. Fuck 'em,

[ripcord]

14. People are just scarey in mobs

[Skip Intro]

16. He got attacked by a group of thugs. Those found guilty should see many years in jail.

This can never be ok.

hate crime? hard to see how it isn't...

[FrodosPet]

17. He wasn't attacked for being white

He was attacked for being there.

Yes, violence is hate, but I don't think his race was the cause in this case.

[Skip Intro]

18. Really? Link? Let me ask you a question -

If the races were reversed, calling "hate crime" would be all the rage. Why is that?

The victim's family seems to think it was racial. Unless mob attacks on motorists are an everyday occurrence there, or a common occurrence, then this was different - something else, rather than some random attack.

[Hip_Flask]

21. That hits the nail on the head...

If the races were reversed, calling "hate crime" would be all the rage