New wave of assaults hits Hill

by MICHAEL J. MISHAK

Four men fell victim to brutal assaults in separate incidents last week as they walked the streets of Chestnut Hill. The attacks, perpetrated by a roving group of teenagers, bear similarities to a recent spate of muggings reported on by the Local last month.

And while police insist they have taken actions to address the situation, authorities are holding their cards close to their chest, disclosing few details.

“We’re aware of a group of juveniles up there causing problems,” said Lt. Flannigan, of the 14th District, in a brief interview last week. “We’ve increased our manpower and we’re addressing the problem.”

Reached by phone on Monday, Flannigan said police had no new information to add. Asked if detectives had any suspects, he said, “Nothing we can disclose.” Pressed on the similarities of the attacks, Flannigan declined comment for fear of tipping off the assailants. “Hopefully we’ll be able to bring this to a conclusion as quickly as we can,” he said.

The Local made attempts to reach Inspector Sullivan, commanding officer of the Northwest Division, and Capt. Everett, of Northwest Detectives, but both were unavailable for comment.

The most recent series of assaults began on July 31 when a man in his early 40s was beaten by a group of three to four black males near the intersection of Winston Road and Mermaid Lane around 5 p.m., according to a police report. The attackers fled when a motorist intervened. Bloodied, the victim left the scene and reported the incident from home.

Two days later, another man was attacked by a group of seven black males while walking in the 8200 block of Ardleigh Street around 11 p.m., a police report said. The perpetrators, described as 16 to 20 years old, encircled the victim and began to punch him in the face and body. They stole the man’s cell phone.

On Aug. 5 a group fitting a similar description jumped a man in the unit block of E. Mermaid Lane while he was walking to a video store, a police report said. The attackers punched and kicked the man before stealing his wallet.

Later that night, a man sustained bruises to his face and body during an assault in the 7700 block of Stenton Avenue at 11 p.m. Again, the assailants fit the description of the group involved in the two previous attacks. They stole the man’s wallet and cell phone.

Last month, on July 7, two Osaka restaurant employees were mugged by a group of teens on E. Evergreen Avenue as they got off work. A day earlier, a man was attacked by two teens in the 8300 block of Germantown Avenue.

Capt. Costello, of Northwest Detectives, told the Local at the time that police were eyeing six incidents within the last month that bore similarities. Still, he said investigators did not have enough information to establish a definite pattern.

In a neighborhood that police officials routinely refer to as the safest in the city, the rash of attacks has disrupted for many residents the sense of civility that attracted them here in the first place.

“We definitely have a serious problem,” said Dick Martin, who heads Town Watch in Chestnut Hill. “This is getting out of hand.”