Violent confrontation between panhandler and business man caught on video [View all]

[Liberal_in_LA]

OK
DENVER -- It was an ugly scene that played out at one of Denver's busiest places, at one of the busiest times of day. A man leaving work from a downtown office was assaulted by a panhandler who was part of a group of "travelers" who police say regularly congregate on the 16th Street Mall.

&quot The panhandler) was saying something like, 'Internet yuppie scum’ at the office worker,” said Stephen Garcia, who walked up on the assault and soon got involved.

Garcia said he has walked the 16th Street Mall most afternoons since it opened but had never been forced to confront violence until last week.

"This is the first time I'd seen somebody engage with a person just trying to go home," Garcia said.

Video of the incident shows Garcia step in as the businessman was surrounded. As the man who initiated the assault steps toward him again, Garcia gives him a shove telling him to stay back.

That’s when several other travelers get involved, exchanging shoves and punches with Garcia. The video shows a security guard looked on but failed to do much, allowing the incident to continue until a Denver police officer arrived.

"The police seemed to think that we just wanted to walk away and forget about it,” Garcia said.

http://kdvr.com/2016/06/21/violent-confrontation-on-16th-street-mall-caught-on-video/