Another defenseless employee for ''Sour Grapes'' newspaper carjacked

Man carjacks carrier for (Middletown News) Journal

March 8. 2004
Middletown News Journal

A Middletown man was shoved to the ground and his vehicle carjacked early Friday morning while he was delivering The Journal.

Ethan Long, 23, was beginning his route at about 5:45 a.m. in Midtonia Village on South Sutphin Street when a man shoved him against an open vehicle door. Long banged his head, then fell to the ground.

“It knocked him silly for a while. The next thing he knew, the guy was driving away in his car,” Middletown Detective David Swartzel said, adding that Long tried to get off the ground, but the carjacker drew back his fist in an act of aggression. “And he just let him have the car, which is what he should have done,” Swartzel said.

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Long said he had placed a newspaper between the door and storm door of a residence and was about to get back into his vehicle when the attack occurred.

“I saw him when I was walking back to the car and we even acknowledged each other,” Long said Friday afternoon. “I turned my back to him and was getting in when he shoved me from behind and my head hit the door.”

Long said he couldn’t believe what had taken place.

“When I got up, I said, ‘What are you doing?’ I couldn’t believe it,” Long said. “I started to walk toward the car, but he threw up his hand like he was going to punch me. So I just let him go.”

Dazed and bleeding from a gash on his head, Long was able to catch the attention of a passing motorist, who called 911 from a cellular phone.

“The first car didn’t stop,” Long said. “I am thankful the second one did.”

Patrick Hathaway was on his way to a morning youth gathering at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with his 15-year-old daughter when he saw Long standing in the road.

“He was pleading for help,” the former state trooper said. “And he didn’t look real well.”

Hathaway said he could understand why some people wouldn’t stop and, in fact, used the incident as a lesson for his daughter. He instructed her that if she had been alone, she should let the person know she was calling 911 and “proceed on.”

“I guess I am one of the few people in this day and age who will stop. I am glad I was able to help. He seemed like a good guy,” said Hathaway, a resident of the Somerville area.

Long was transported by paramedics to Middletown Regional Hospital, where his forehead wound was closed with 15 stitches.

The 1998 Isuzu Rodeo, which the attacker drove west onto Central Avenue, was found a short time later along the 1200 block of Curtis Street, Swartzel said. A cell phone, wallet, keys and a compact disc player were missing, but the vehicle was not damaged.

Swartzel said it appears the culprit needed a ride and drove directly to where the car was found.

“He (Long) was able to give us a pretty good description,” Swartzel said. “We’re following up on a few (leads).” The carjacker is described as a black male, about 6 feet, weighing 200 pounds, with short hair, and wearing a dark sweatshirt-type shirt with a logo.

Mike Mullinger, Journal home delivery manager, said Long called from the hospital and other carriers combined efforts to complete his route of about 300 papers.

Long said Friday afternoon that he would be back delivering papers today.

“I am sure I will be looking over my shoulder more, too,” he said.

Commentary:
Editors at the Middletown News Journal have been consistent opponents of concealed carry reform. Their rhetoric suggests that it is the victims of crimes like these who are actually more of a danger to society, should they choose to exercise their right to bear arms for self-defense.

If their employee chooses to obtain a CHL, will the Journal publish his name? Should they be held responsible for lobbying against his right of self-defense? For requiring him to do his dangerous job while defenseless?

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