Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Rider Reports Truly Bizarre Incident at Rockville


From Michael:
While walking up to the Rockville station, there was a girl in a skirt simply lying on the sidewalk outside the steps to the Metro—right near where the buses pull up.

It was confusing to see this person just on the ground, limbs akimbo. I actually wondered if she needed help or was OK, since she was kind of squirming about flashing everyone.

My wondering stopped once she leaned up onto her hands and knees and did some sort of weird rhythmic bouncing.

I have never been more enthused that I could absorb myself into playing Words With Friends and try to ignore what was going on in front of me.

Unfortunately, to get into the station one had to pass by whatever the hell was going on before me. While I walked by, the girl stood up and then used one of the Metro sign poles as a makeshift … well, pole.

It was then that you could actually make out the attire of the girl: somewhat short plaid skirt, black top with crests and seals and the like. Clearly, she was wearing the outfit of some sort of Catholic/private school. Oh, and she looked very young. Awesome. There was an underage girl doing some sort of bizarre striptease outside the Metro.

Once in the station, waiting for the Glenmont train, one can see down to where the buses pull up. The girl was still out there doing some weird booty dancing, her skirt around her waist, twirling about like this was some 2 Live Crew video gone wrong. Again, just gazing at this was such so bizarre and awkward, I again glued myself to Words With Friends and hoped the five minutes until the next train would come quickly.

Minutes passed, still no train. I looked up to see the time for the train to arrive and take me away from whatever the hell was going on below. Of course, the girl was still out there “dancing.” Only now she had her shirt lifted up and tied around her neck. She also was pounding on buses, flipping them off, and running about. So clearly, what originally possibly could’ve been done as some dare or bet now has turned into “this girl probably has something mentally wrong at the moment and needs help.”

To make matters worse, there were Metro employees outside of the station. None of them did anything to stop the surreal scene. By any means, I’m not some moral guardian who thinks any indecent act leads us on a slippery slope to anarchy, but is a Metro stop really the place for this? Really, considering this girl looked 16 and was dressed in the garb of a high school student, is there any place for this?

Finally, what looked like a Metro employee from my vantage point (blue outfit, patches, etc.) approached the girl. In a rational world where the Metro works like it should work, you would expect him to get her to stop. Nope. Instead the man walked about ten feet behind the girl, took out his camera phone and started recording/taking photos of what was unfolding before him. Obviously, filming a half naked teenager took precedence over doing his job.

The Red Line train arrived, and he was still just recording, the girl still bouncing all over in a state of undress. I expect some issues on the DC Metro, but seriously, this is the first time I’ve rode the Metro where I had to go home and make some herbal tea, listen to Tori Amos, and cry about the state of the world.

Thanks Metro!
Other items:
Study says Silver Line with $386 million in taxes (Examiner)
A story about a bus driver driving with one hand (Examiner)

Comments (41)

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DId the OP call the police and so that they could have sorted it out? If the OP felt the girl was in fact having mental or drug issues and was concernnd for her well being, this seems like the only responsible thing to do here instead of wlaking away and morveling at it all.

The metro employees filming it should have reinforced that fear for her well being as there are those out there who would do much worse to vulnerable women than simply film them
1 reply · active 662 weeks ago
I'm not excusing the Metro employee's behavior at all, but I agree that if the OP thought really thought that this was a serious issue, he should have called the police or at least said something to the station manager.
hrh king friday 13's avatar

hrh king friday 13 · 662 weeks ago

Her parent(s) must be so proud.
Dear Penthouse Forum, I was on my way to via the METRO when...
I think he liked it just as much as the metro filming guy
That guy's avatar

That guy · 662 weeks ago

Was this girl really just Dan Stessel dancing to raise money to fix the escalators? Or is this the new definition of MetroSexual?
I'm surprised the metro employee didn't use his company issued Ipad HD to record the incident.
This situation isn't covered in the Metro Employee Handbook, and employees are (apparently) not empowered to use common sense. Clearly banging on buses and flipping fingers is not usual behavior, unless you drive a Metro Bus.
1 reply · active 662 weeks ago
You must believe in slavery!
Wearing a school girl costume doesn't automatically mean she was underage..but I agree that someone probably should have called the police.
Meth is a hell of a drug.
1 reply · active 662 weeks ago
Sounds more like E to me.
Dear Michael:

202-962-2121. Metro Transit Police. Try dialing that instead of playing Words with Friends if you are truly concerned.
2 replies · active 662 weeks ago
Thank you, finally someone with common sense
michael,
what color was her panties?
What is most disturbing (but alas, pretty much expected) is the metro employee who began filming this girl’s actions instead of doing his job in whatever capacity while wearing the uniform of his employer.
Chances are he was too engrossed in the strip show to realize that the security camera of his own station actually filmed his actions as well. Maybe he’s just stupid and horny – that is in the presence of a half naked female most likely under the influence of some sort of drug.
However, I am very surprised that he didn’t even try hit on or make any sexual advances towards the girl though. Or did he at a later point?
Dan Stessel just issued a statement saying the young lady was merely flirting.
One take wrote, "Maybe he’s just stupid and horny....."

One man's stupid is another man's horny...........
Stan Dessel #2's avatar

Stan Dessel #2 · 662 weeks ago

One person's striptease is another person's aerobic exercise routine.
Dear OP, you're an idiot. If her actions were as bizarre as you say, and if the station personnel filmed her actions, then why didn't you get off the train and call 911 immediately. You're as sick the Metro employee. Shame on you!!!
2 replies · active 662 weeks ago
See my reply to elizabeth below. There were multiple Metro employees and buses around. I thought one of them would do something. If she had ever been touched or harassed physically, I definitely would've stepped in.
What has MetroPD done to encourage OP that calling them would be the right move in this situation? He could end up waiting there for an hour for a "police officer" to come from Alexandria.
So, why didn't you call the authorities again?
elizabeth's avatar

elizabeth · 662 weeks ago

OP, I am sorry to say YOU are one of those people that make Metro Suck...instead of being proactive (or active at ALL), you purposely buried yourself in Words with Friends, leaving a young woman in a potentially dangerous situation (granted that SHE put herself in)... would you have stood by if someone attacked her? You could have at least mentioned something to the station manager, if you were unwilling to do anything else. Instead you periodically watched someone in an altered state debase themselves and decided HERE would be the best place to report it. We are trying to UNSUCK the Metro, not add more to it by being complacent members of society- and BTW, the Bystander Effect is NOT and excuse...
8 replies · active 661 weeks ago
OP here... when there are 5 Metro employees around. I think one of THEM is going to do something. Please don't claim I suck or are an idiot when there were multiple Metro people around who did nothing. That is their job. If she was in trouble or being physically harassed I would've done something.

I assumed one of the again, 5 Metro people around, or 7 buses would've done something.
The fact that "there were multiple metro people around who did nothing" has no impact on whether you suck or are an idiot. You didn't have any obligation to call the police, and they arguably did since they work for metro, but you should have done it anyway. Instead, you played a game on your phone and whined about it on a blog. Those things did nothing to help the situation.
DC Denizen's avatar

DC Denizen · 662 weeks ago

Hi Mike,

I appreciate the fact that you were clearly concerned by what you saw, and that you knew that this situation was wrong. I also understand seeing many Metro employees might give you reason to think that you were the last person there who'd should take action. It sounds like you expected someone else to deal with it.

But I also think that as a citizen, when you see something like that, and especially when you realized that Metro employees weren't doing anything and were even filming the girl... well... I don't get why you didn't call the Transit Police. Hopefully it's just because you were so taken aback by the weirdness of the situation that it didn't occur to you. But hopefully, the next time you'll be better prepared to pick up the phone and make the call.

The excuse that no one else was doing anything either doesn't fly. This is a case where you could have chosen to be part of the solution, but you chose instead to play Words With Friends like your life depended on it. Maybe in the future, you'll take a different course of action that you can be more proud of.
Vienna Bound's avatar

Vienna Bound · 662 weeks ago

If you have been a long time reader of this blog, it should be pretty obvious based on first hand testimonials of readers that in general, Metro employees fail to take action where the majority of society would. One thing I've learned from reading this column is to never assume Metro employees will step up, nor should it be assumed that they will. Riders and passersby need to act. Too often the public thinks that someone else will make the call, when in fact no one does. Metro Police and other local agencies will respond to multiple emergency calls than none.
it is not their job. it probably isn't metro property.
The bystander effect refers to victims of a crime. I fail to see what crime you're referring to.
elizabeth's avatar

elizabeth · 662 weeks ago

The Bystander Effect is a psychological term to describe that phenomenon that the more people present in a situation, the more "responsibility" is diffused throughout the group and less likely people are to take action (expecting others to do it for them, so they don't have to) and the less people around, the more likely they are to act. It may have legal definitions as well, however I was referring to the psychological meaning- which can be found in any social psychology text or on google. The studies on this are fascinating and, being aware of them and knowing the consequences of some of them, can make individuals more aware and perhaps a bit less likely to fall victim to the effect.
Dear Penthouse Forum,
...having read about this type of thing in the past, I always assumed people were making stuff up...
You can also call the Dept of Mental Health mobile crisis office if you think someone is having a mental health emergency and don't want to involve police- (202) 673-9319

Or 311 if 911 isn't helpful
Just for a moment's avatar

Just for a moment · 662 weeks ago

In stead of berating the poster about how he did not act correctly, lets start to think about the factors that make such inaction happen- even though he felt very uncomfortable and concerned for this person's physical and emotional welfare. What societal etc factors exist that make it so easy for a young, if not underage (although at any age its a shame) woman/girl to be in such an apparent vulnerable state and just have so many people gawk?
Yes, the OP probably should have called for help himself, but he does seem to acknowledge that fact even if he did not act on it. How many of you think you really would have acted differently- than the OP, than the people leering and filing? Honestly, just think about it. I'm sure some of you would have gotten help, a few might have even engaged with the female to see if she was okay, assess her mental status, but I'm sure a lot of you would have felt uncomfortable but done nothing and some of you might even have taken out your camera phones to capture the moment.

Check out- http://www.collectiveactiondc.org/
[For the record I am not affiliated with them, just an admirer]
1 reply · active 662 weeks ago
DC Denizen's avatar

DC Denizen · 662 weeks ago

I'm pretty sure CASS (Collective Action) would advocate strongly for bystanders calling the police, as long as it was safe to do so.
I love all of these posters attacking the OP for "not doing anything" it is not his job to keep Metro safe. It is the employees, station managers and Metro PD to keep people safe. I bet most of you wouldn't have done anything but sit here on your computer at work (yeah stop slacking) and attack other people via the Internet. Nice try.
2 replies · active 662 weeks ago
me thinks the lady doth protest too much - you're probably OP
Nice detection skills there Batman err Catwoman but no I am no the OP. Just someone who does not gang up and attack bloggers while hiding behind a keyboard.
Judge, the fact that a lot of people on this blog voiced such disapproval shows that they would have done something. I know I would have. In this case, OP didn't know the details ( WAS she drugged? mental disorder?), but he could have changed the outcome. Yes you're not doing anything illegal by NOT reporting it, but by not doing anything you're just a dick.

I've been through awkward situations like this too. Not too long ago I was coming home late from work, and in my car was a guy having some kind of mental attack (He was screaming and hitting his seat). As the only other person in the car, I was greatly intimidated - especially since I'm only a 120 pound girl. I've seen people having these types of attacks lash out at people that try to help. I called 911, told the train driver, and maintained a watchful distance. Thankfully at the next station, MP were there and after letting them know the situation and submitting my statement I could go home. Did I get home later than I wanted? Yes. Was it awkward? Yes. Was I afraid? Yes. But really, you can't take two seconds out of your "busy" life to make sure that another person is ok?
And why didn't YOU do anything about this Mr. Concerned Citizen? Instead of doing something about it, you thought of how eloquently you can re-tell this tale on unsuck. You should be ashamed of yourself. A fellow citizen was obviously in need, and you are more concerned with "Words with friends". Sickening.

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