2 men assaulted outside Planned Parenthood in Baltimore
73-year-old man suffered serious injury to his eye, face, taken to Shock Trauma
73-year-old man suffered serious injury to his eye, face, taken to Shock Trauma
73-year-old man suffered serious injury to his eye, face, taken to Shock Trauma
Baltimore City police are searching for a man who assaulted two people, sending one of them to a hospital, during an anti-abortion demonstration.
City police said officers were called around 10:30 a.m. on Friday to 330 N. Howard St. for a reported assault. Police said witnesses pointed the officers to two victims, an 80-year-old and a 73-year-old. Police said the 73-year-old suffered a serious injury to his eye and face and was taken to Shock Trauma.
According to one of the victims and a witness, the protesters were praying outside the Planned Parenthood building on Howard Street when a man believed to be in his late 20s, in their words, "went on a rampage" following an argument over abortion rights.
"He didn't like their opinion or what was being said. The gentleman just took it into his own hands," said a witness who asked to remain anonymous.
According to the witness, the assailant knocked Dick Schaefer out cold. It's believed the assailant didn't like Schaefer's anti-abortion message.
"He speared the one gentleman over that flowerpot into the window and knocked him out. He was out cold for several minutes," the witness said.
Schaefer told the 11 News I-Team that he has hand, shoulder, head and back injuries.
"I leaned down. I was hit by a truck. I don't know what happened, but instantly, I was looking up to the sky," Schaefer told the I-Team.
Schaefer said he credits fellow protester Crosby with saving his life. Both Schaefer and the witness said the assailant repeatedly punched Crosby in the face and stomped on him before leaving the scene. Medical staff at a nearby business treated Crosby until paramedics arrived.
"I went in there and he was on a gurney. His face was all swollen and bloody, blood all over his clothes," Schaefer said of Crosby.
Police said a security officer told officers that the incident was captured on video, which police said shows the alleged assault.
The suspect was last seen walking westbound on Mulberry Street. Anyone with information is asked to call police.
Schaefer, Crosby and John Roswell have been demonstrating in shifts outside Planned Parenthood for years. They claim they are often threatened, but this is the first time they were physically assaulted.
"I've been spat on by people going by," Roswell told the I-Team. "Then, on another occasion, he put a satanic curse on me. This is the kind of atmosphere we are dealing with."
Planned Parenthood has no control over what happens on the public sidewalk.
"Planned Parenthood does not condone any violence, and I think it is unfortunate that there was an incident that occurred outside our health center," said Karen Nelson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood. "It's a darn shame that folks who are trying to receive health care have to put up with remarks and comments when they are just trying to go into a facility and receive health care."
The protesters said they are not deterred.
"All we are trying to do is approach the women in a loving way and tell them there is help next door and offer them a little gift," Roswell said.
According to a witness and police, the assailant is described as a 20-something white man who was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt, blue jeans and brown shoes. He has brown hair and a full beard. The witness believes the man is about 6 feet tall.
Police have surveillance and crime camera video in addition to witnesses.