Monday, March 10, 2014


News Clips For The Day


Will the GOP champion missile defense to deter Russia? – CBS
By Rebecca Kaplan CBS News March 10, 2014

In a rare moment of bipartisan agreement, the U.S. response to Russia's invasion of the Crimean Peninsula has largely coalesced around non-military options like aid packages for Ukraine and the threat of sanctions for Russia. But on Sunday, former Vice President Dick Cheney lambasted the administration for taking military options off the table

"There are military options that don't involve putting troops on the ground in Crimea. We could go back and reinstate the ballistic missile defense program that was taken out. It was originally going to go in Poland, Czech Republic, Obama took it out to appease Putin. We could do training exercises in Poland, joint exercises. We can offer military assistance in terms of equipment, training, and so forth to the Ukrainians themselves," Cheney said Sunday on CBS News' "Face the Nation."

It's long been a Republican mantra that President Obama caved to the Russians when he decided in 2009 to scrap a Bush-era missile defense program and replace it with a more flexible system he said would better address the threat of potential short- and medium-range missiles the administration believed Iran had made more progress developing. Defense hawk Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., called the decision "seriously misguided" at the time.

In fact, experts say, the new program was no less of a threat to Russia, which has always viewed U.S. missile defense as an affront to its own security. The president called it more comprehensive than the previous program - as well as cost-effective - and said it would provide "stronger, smarter and swifter defenses of American forces and America's allies." And in an op-ed about the program, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that critics who were accusing the administration of scrapping missile defense in Europe entirely "are either misinformed or misrepresenting what we are doing."

One former U.S. official who worked on national security issues called the Obama administration's new program "a double whammy" to Russia. "It's not only the missile defense capability but also the geopolitical affront that the Russians are really sensitive to," the official said. The sites for the interceptors, in Poland and on ships in Europe, "used to be the outer ring of their empire and now Americans are putting pieces of their strategic infrastructure there."

But the perception that the move was tantamount to appeasement persisted and now Cheney has suggested a return to the Bush-era system as a sign to U.S. allies that they take mutual defense obligations seriously and intend to punish Russia for violating international agreements. Cheney isn't alone. Former Secretary of State James Baker, who was also a chief of staff to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, suggested on "Face the Nation" the move deserved consideration given Russian behavior, and Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said that the president should "definitely" revisit the missile defense system because it "would be a very strong signal" to Russia.

National security experts say that's not going to happen.
"This is part of [the Republican] way - missile defense is the solution to every problem so you should be a little careful not to read too much into this because there's a bigger debate that's going to unfold abut what the most cost efficient way is to reassure allies right now," said one former Clinton White House official. "The fact that this is the first one out the gate may be more representative of how important missile defense is to Republican Party ideology than it is to U.S. defense planning and needs."

The U.S. official who worked on national security issues said, "If the argument is the Obama administration is somehow soft on the Russians, in this instance, they're not. If anything they're creating more of a strategic challenge to the Russians than the Bush program was." The official noted that going back to the old program would be "considerably more expensive" and "a waste of resources."

Still, Russia is very sensitive to U.S. missile defense in its neighborhood, which could get President Vladimir Putin's attention in a way that few other things could.
"Our missile defense posture and the significance that Russia places on it should certainly be put into the mix of responses to Russian actions in Ukraine. But that alone won't compel the Russians to abandon the annexation of Crimea and promote their interests along their borders," said Juan Zarate, CBS News' senior national security analyst.

The question in the coming days is whether Cheney's idea will gain traction with a wider swath of Republicans. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, was a vocal critic of the decision to move away from the Bush missile defense program, saying at the time that it would do "little more than empower Russia and Iran at the expense of our allies in Europe."

Boehner has largely been in agreement with Mr. Obama's actions so far while also calling on the president to expedite the approval of natural gas exports to reduce Russia's influence in the region. That Ryan, one of Boehner's allies in Congress, suggested revisiting the missile defense program could indicate an openness to the idea among House leadership.

Though it is highly unlikely the Obama administration would reverse course on their decision to retool missile defense in Eastern Europe, pressure from the Republicans to use military options could put pressure on the administration to articulate whether it wants to drive Russian troops out of the Crimean Peninsula or merely prevent further Russian expansion in the area.

"At a certain point there's a conflict between the goal of de-escalation and deterrence especially if the Russians continue to move forward with their provocations," Zarate said.

Secretary of State John Kerry urged Russia last week to "de-escalate" by withdrawing troops and resolving problems through diplomacy. But former Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on "Fox News Sunday" that he thought the crisis would end with the Crimean Peninsula back in Russia's orbit.




According to this article there are actually a number of Republicans who agree with Obama's plan to use non-military options in the Ukrainian crisis. He has, after all, instituted a substitute defense program, which is to “replace it with a more flexible system he said would better address the threat of potential short- and medium-range missiles....It's not only the missile defense capability but also the geopolitical affront that the Russians are really sensitive to," the official said. The sites for the interceptors, in Poland and on ships in Europe, "used to be the outer ring of their empire and now Americans are putting pieces of their strategic infrastructure there."

“Pressure from the Republicans to use military options could put pressure on the administration to articulate whether it wants to drive Russian troops out of the Crimean Peninsula or merely prevent further Russian expansion in the area.” It is simply not the case the Obama “took the military option off the table,” however, asserts former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, accusing Republian voices who say that of either “misinformed or misrepresenting” our stance.

This article makes me feel more secure in Obama's plan to deter further Russian aggression. If the populace of Crimea votes to move back to Russia I think we are not really in a position to try to force them to move back from that. That would put us in the position of an aggressor rather than a friend in court. If the UN were to step in and send forces to Crimea that would be a different matter. I doubt that they will, though, as Russia has a veto in the UN security council.




Sandy Hook shooter's father: I wish my son had never been born – CBS
CBS News March 10, 2014

Adam Lanza's father, Peter Lanza, is speaking at length for the first time since his son shot and killed 26 people more than a year ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Adam Lanza also killed his own mother and himself that December day in Newtown, Conn. His father, Peter, gave an extensive interview with The New Yorker magazine. He says the only reason he is alive is that he was not in Newtown that day.

When Adam Lanza took a rifle to Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012, his father Peter hadn't seen him for more than two years -- only getting periodic updates from his ex-wife Nancy about their troubled son.

Adam had been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, and had been growing increasingly hostile toward his mother.

As Peter Lanza told the New Yorker, "With hindsight, I know Adam would have killed me in a heartbeat, if he'd had the chance. I don't question that for a minute. The reason he shot Nancy four times was one for each of us: one for Nancy; one for him; one for (his brother) Ryan; one for me."

Peter Lanza insisted his son gave no warning signs -- that he had no idea Adam Lanza was capable of such unspeakable violence. He told the magazine, "(Nancy) never confided to her sister or best friend about being afraid of (Adam). She slept with her bedroom door unlocked, and she kept guns in the house, which she would not have done if she were frightened."

He said only two victims' families have accepted his offer to meet with him. "I need to get some good from this. And there's no place else to find any good. If I could generate something to help them, it doesn't replace, it doesn't. ... But I would trade places with them in a heartbeat if that could help," he said.

CBS News spoke with one couple who reached out to Lanza -- Alissa and Robbie Parker. The couple's 6-year-old daughter, Emilie, was killed at Sandy Hook.
Robbie Parker said, "I got the impression from him that he was grateful for the opportunity to offer his condolences and his apologies."

As much as Lanza revealed, there is one matter he wants to keep private -- what he did for Adam's funeral. "No one knows that," he says, "and no one ever will."
Peter Lanza made one more startling admission, CBS News' Don Dahler reported. He recently started wishing that his son had never been born. He said, "That's not a natural thing, when you're thinking about your kid. You can't mourn for the little boy he once was. You can't fool yourself."




I don't know very much about Asperger's syndrome except the patients are sometimes savants, with great brilliance in some way. This is the first time I have heard of violence being one of their symptoms, though I did know that they often don't have the capability to relate to and identify the emotional states of other people, so they lack empathy. That is one of the signs of a sociopath. They have a blind spot in a very important area for anyone who lives in human society.

Parents who rear Asperger's children should try to ameliorate the symptoms with a psychological or psychiatric professional, and are not likely to be unaware that the child is disabled as the symptoms show up early and are noticeable. I fault the parents – or perhaps only the mother as the father was not in the home – for having allowed easy access to a large gun collection. The mother was a firearms enthusiast. The following is from Wikipedia about Asperger's.


Asperger syndrome
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger disorder (AD) or simply Asperger's, is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and atypical (peculiar, odd) use of language are frequently reported.[1

Many questions remain about aspects of the disorder.[7] There is doubt about whether it is distinct from high-functioning autism (HFA);[8] partly because of this, its prevalence is not firmly established.[1] The diagnosis of Asperger's was eliminated in the 2013 fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and replaced by a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder on a severity scale.[9]

The exact cause is unknown. Although research suggests the likelihood of a genetic basis,[1] there is no known genetic cause[10][11] and brain imaging techniques have not identified a clear common pathology.[1] There is no single treatment, and the effectiveness of particular interventions is supported by only limited data.[1] Intervention is aimed at improving symptoms and function. The mainstay of management is behavioral therapy, focusing on specific deficits to address poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness.[12] Most children improve as they mature to adulthood, but social and communication difficulties may persist.[7] Some researchers and people with Asperger's have advocated a shift in attitudes toward the view that it is a difference, rather than a disability that must be treated or cured.[13][14]

ASD begins in infancy or childhood, has a steady course without remission or relapse, and has impairments that result from maturation-related changes in various systems of the brain.[15] ASD, in turn, is a subset of the broader autism phenotype, which describes individuals who may not have ASD but do have autistic-like traits, such as social deficits.[

A lack of demonstrated empathy has a significant impact on aspects of communal living for persons with Asperger syndrome.[2] Individuals with AS experience difficulties in basic elements of social interaction, which may include a failure to develop friendships or to seek shared enjoyments or achievements with others (for example, showing others objects of interest), a lack of social or emotional reciprocity (social "games" give-and-take mechanic), and impaired nonverbal behaviors in areas such as eye contact, facial expression, posture, and gesture.[1]

People with AS may not be as withdrawn around others compared to those with other, more debilitating, forms of autism; they approach others, even if awkwardly. For example, a person with AS may engage in a one-sided, long-winded speech about a favorite topic, while misunderstanding or not recognizing the listener's feelings or reactions, such as a wish to change the topic of talk or end the interaction.[8] This social awkwardness has been called "active but odd".[1] This failure to react appropriately to social interaction may appear as disregard for other people's feelings, and may come across as insensitive.[8] However, not all individuals with AS will approach others. Some of them may even display selective mutism, speaking not at all to most people and excessively to specific people. Some may choose only to talk to people they like.[28]

The hypothesis that individuals with AS are predisposed to violent or criminal behavior has been investigated, but is not supported by data.[1][29] More evidence suggests children with AS are victims rather than victimizers.[30] A 2008 review found that an overwhelming number of reported violent criminals with AS had coexisting psychiatric disorders such as schizoaffective disorder.[31]

Hans Asperger described common symptoms among his patients' family members, especially fathers, and research supports this observation and suggests a genetic contribution to Asperger syndrome. Although no specific gene has yet been identified, multiple factors are believed to play a role in the expression of autism, given the phenotypic variability seen in children with AS.[1][46] Evidence for a genetic link is the tendency for AS to run in families and an observed higher incidence of family members who have behavioral symptoms similar to AS but in a more limited form (for example, slight difficulties with social interaction, language, or reading).[12] Most research suggests that all autism spectrum disorders have shared genetic mechanisms, but AS may have a stronger genetic component than autism.[1] There is probably a common group of genes where particular alleles render an individual vulnerable to developing AS; if this is the case, the particular combination of alleles would determine the severity and symptoms for each individual with AS.[12]

A few ASD cases have been linked to exposure to teratogens (agents that cause birth defects) during the first eight weeks from conception. Although this does not exclude the possibility that ASD can be initiated or affected later, it is strong evidence that it arises very early in development.[47] Many environmental factors have been hypothesized to act after birth, but none has been confirmed by scientific investigation.[48]





Mothers of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis team up to stand up to "Stand Your Ground" law – CBS
CBS News March 10, 2014

Protesters are getting ready march on Florida's State Capitol in Tallahassee to demand the repeal of "stand your ground," a controversial law that was cited in the shooting deaths of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis.

Recently, CBS News' Mark Strassmann sat down with the mothers of those teenagers for their first TV interview together.

Nine years ago, Florida was the first of 26 states to pass a "stand your ground" law. It allows someone in fear of his life to use deadly force to stop an attacker. But opponents say it's a license to kill.

Sybrina Fulton and Lucia McBath both lost 17-year-old sons to Florida gunmen who claimed self-defense.

Fulton said, "We don't have to have a law in place that says, 'I need to shoot and kill someone and then ask questions later'. ... These two moms are going to make positive change to make sure that 'stand your ground' doesn't continue to happen."
Fulton's son Trayvon Martin was unarmed when George Zimmerman shot and killed him in 2012. The crime watch volunteer claimed self-defense. A jury acquitted him.

Just last month, McBath watched a jury deadlock in Michael Dunn's murder trial. He claimed self-defense when he shot her unarmed son Jordan Davis during an argument over loud music.

McBath said, "I thought, oh my gosh, Jordan is Trayvon. People who use the 'stand your ground' statutes are able to use it with no accountability. It gives them immunity for their criminal behavior."

But Florida appears ready to expand its "stand your ground" law, not repeal it. Lawmakers are considering two bills that would let anyone in fear of his life to fire a warning shot.

Florida State Republican Rep. Neil Combee, one of the bill's sponsors, said of the warning shot, "I think it's a clarification."

Combee wants reform for people like Marissa Alexander. In 2012, she fired a warning shot during a domestic dispute. A court rejected her "stand your ground" claim, and sentenced her to 20 years under Florida's gun laws.

Combee said, "It was never the intent to prosecute folks who fired a warning shot or displayed a weapon in a defensive manner to either 10 years or 20 years in a state prison."

CBS News' Strassmann asked, "If you can fire the warning shot, then how is your life in imminent danger?"

Combee said, "I guess it's all about placement, whether you place it in the ground or in the air or in between somebody's eyes."

McBath called the potential expansion of the law to include warning shots "heinous."
"More lives are at risk," she said. "More people will shoot their guns and claim, 'Well, I was just -- you know, It was just a warning shot'."
Someone who fires a warning shot would have to justify why in court. Combe said he expects lawmakers to pass his bill, and he expects Florida's governor, Rick Scott, to sign it into law.


http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-law-basics/states-that-have-stand-your-ground-laws.html

Many states have enacted so-called stand your ground laws that remove the duty to retreat before using force in self-defense. Florida passed the first such law in 2005, generally allowing people to stand their ground instead of retreating if they reasonably believe doing so will "prevent death or great bodily harm."

Other states followed with laws specifically affirming one's right to defend themselves, even outside of their homes and with deadly force if necessary. The wording of each state's laws will vary, but typically require you to have the right to be at a location. State self-defense laws may also overlap, but generally fall into three general categories:

1. Stand Your Ground: No duty to retreat from the situation before resorting to deadly force; not limited to your property (home, office, etc.).

2. Castle Doctrine: Limited to real property, such as your home, yard, or private office; no duty to retreat (use of deadly force against intruders is legal in most situations); some states, like Missouri and Ohio, even include personal vehicles.

3. Duty to Retreat: Must retreat from the situation if you feel threatened (use of deadly force is considered a last resort); may not use deadly force if you are safely inside your home. 

Here are the states that have passed stand your ground laws:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Florida
Georgia
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Michigan
Mississippi
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
West Virginia

Note: Some states have adopted stand your ground-like doctrines through judicial interpretation of their self-defense laws -- but they are not included on this list.
Some states have self-defense laws on the books that are similar to stand your ground laws, often with at least one key difference. These laws generally apply only to the home or other real property (such as an office) and are often referred to as "castle doctrine" or "defense of habitation" laws. Most U.S. states have castle doctrine laws, including California, Illinois, Iowa, Oregon, and Washington. 




I am not proud to see that Florida was the first state to pass one of these laws. With so many residents who originated in the supposedly more enlightened North, I wouldn't expect this sort of dangerous law to spring from here, though of course Florida has the shared racist and gun worshiping philosophy of the rest of the South. The NRA is big here. It is no accident that all except two of these states are either in the South or the West.

From the way these laws read there is nothing in them that implies that the victims of shootings would necessarily be black. I think it has happened that way in these two shootings, though probably a black person is more likely to make this theoretical citizen to feel afraid. Blacks have a reputation, whether or not it is deserved, for being more violent and dangerous, especially when they are going around in groups of three or more and acting abrasive. What I see in it is that if a citizen is carrying a gun and someone frightens him – or so they must claim – there is a 100% greater chance that someone will be shot. Of course some people carry knives on their person which are equally deadly.

Whatever the weapon there is a clear indication that the person went out on the street planning on having a fight that could be deadly rather than trying to escape. It's all about macho thinking. I would like to see all of these laws repealed. I'm glad these two women are starting on this one, but hopefully there will be movements in the other states as well to get rid of them. I want a peaceful society, and being a vigilante is not peaceful.





Police arrest 73 at UMass "Blarney Blowout" party – CBS
By Crimesider Staff AP March 10, 2014

AMHERST, Mass. - A pre-St. Patrick's Day celebration near the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts on Saturday spiraled out of control, pitting police in riot gear against thousands of drunken and unruly revelers at the annual "Blarney Blowout." There were more than 70 arrests and four officers were injured in the clashes that included some students throwing beer bottles, cans and snowballs, officials said.

Amherst police said early Sunday that a total of 73 people had been arrested after authorities spent most of the day Saturday attempting to disperse several large gatherings around the UMass campus for the party traditionally held the Saturday before spring break. The partying carried on through Saturday evening into early Sunday, and Amherst Police Capt. Jennifer Gundersen said in a statement that police were busy with numerous reports of fights, noise and highly-intoxicated individuals.
Gundersen called the daylong partying "extremely disturbing and unsafe."

"Perhaps one of the worst scenes we have ever had with drunkenness and unruliness," Gundersen told The Republican in Springfield. "It is extremely upsetting. It is very dangerous."

UMass denounced the "unruly behavior" Saturday and spokesman Ed Blaguszewski said students who were arrested will be reviewed under the school's code of conduct and that sanctions could include suspension or expulsion.

UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy said in a statement Sunday it is "unequivocally clear that the University of Massachusetts Amherst condemns the outrageous behavior of those students who acted out without any regard for public safety and the community in which they live."

The size and scope of the gatherings have led to violence and fights, injuries, severe alcohol intoxication, sexual assaults, excessive noise, property damage, and violence toward the police and community members, police said.

Most of the arrests came at an off-campus apartment complex, where large crowds began gathering Saturday morning for the annual event, which was started by bars to allow the students to celebrate the holiday before their spring break begins this week.
Police from the city, university and state troopers in riot gear converged on a crowd of about 4,000 people at an apartment complex shortly after noon, police said.

Authorities said there were acts of destruction of property and, as officers began to disperse the crowd, they were pelted with glass bottles, beer cans and snowballs.
After quieting the disturbance at the apartment complex, several thousand people assembled near a frat house. That gathering became dangerous and out of control, officials said, and when officers tried to clear the crowd they again faced people throwing bottles, rocks, cans and snowballs.

Police say pepper spray was used to disperse the crowd because of the size and "assaultive behavior."

Three officers were hurt when they were hit by bottles and one was injured while attempting to make an arrest, Gundersen said. None of the injuries required serious treatment.

Police say charges ranged from inciting to riot and failing to disperse to disorderly conduct, liquor law violations and assault and battery on officers. They said early Sunday some of those arrested had been released on bail, while others were held, depending on charges.

The university had warned students earlier this week that police would have an increased presence around town Saturday, especially after several people were arrested at last year's "Blarney Blowout." Letters were also sent directly to students disciplined in the last year for alcohol-related misconduct.

Amherst Capt. Christopher Pronovost described the day as "mayhem" to the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

"This can't be in any way, shape or form be characterized as a party," he said. "This is destruction of property (and) assaultive behavior."

Collecting bottles and cans around the scene of the mayhem Saturday night, Amherst resident Raul Colon told the Gazette that the day's events looked like "a revolution, like in the countries that have revolutions between the students and the government."
Gundersen said that numerous participants in the revelry were also injured.

Other colleges across the country have gone on high alert around St. Patrick's Day to deal with alcohol-fueled students. At Penn State, the school paid licensed liquor establishments to stay closed this month during the unofficial drinking holiday known as State Patty's Day for the second year in a row.

State College, Pa., police Chief Tom King said that the strategy, along with a fraternity ban on parties, helped lead to a 75 percent decrease in arrests and citations this year compared to 2011 - the fake holiday's heyday.




“... students who were arrested will be reviewed under the school's code of conduct and that sanctions could include suspension or expulsion.” I think the school needs to follow through on this threat and expel the students. There was clearly no control over the situation in this case. An 18 year old is almost as big and strong as a 21 year old, but without the emotional control. When they are drunk out of their minds it is even worse. This case was more than just “unruly behavior.”

“... the annual event, which was started by bars ….” – this statement makes me ask which bars and why they did it. I think the university should sue the pants off those bars and maybe they won't initiate such behavior next time. The Internet must also have been involved in publicizing the event for “thousands” of these students to know to gather there. It wasn't even on campus. I hate to see this kind of thing on college campuses because so many good honest students go to college each year to try to make good grades and prepare for a career. They pay many thousands of dollars for the privilege. The campus needs to be safe for them.




Minnesota legislator's tweet about NBA criticized as racist – CBS
AP March 10, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS - A Minnesota legislator's tweet about the NBA has prompted hundreds of responses, with many on social media calling it racist. The legislator later apologized after an outcry.

State Rep. Pat Garofalo sent a tweet Sunday that read: "Let's be honest, 70 percent of teams in NBA could fold tomorrow + nobody would notice a difference w/ possible exception of increase in streetcrime."

The Star Tribune reports that when asked about the tweet, the Farmington Republican initially said he was "talking about NBA's high arrest rate and that they are the only major pro league that testing positive for marijuana is not a substance abuse violation."

Garofalo added: "No intent beyond that."

Within two hours of his tweet, more than 600 people retweeted it and hundreds more responded. Many called the comment he made in the tweet racist.

Garofalo initially stuck by his words and said they were misinterpreted as racist. But late Monday morning, he put out a statement of apology. Garofalo says the NBA has many examples of players and owners who are good role models.




Drug abuse and domestic violence turn up in the news on pro football players fairly frequently, unfortunately, and even assaults or muggings. I sympathize with Garofalo in that, though he could have been more careful in the way he phrased his comment, there is too much drug abuse and other criminal activity in the NBA. Most of those sports figures use body building steroids which increase aggression as well as building up the muscles. I'm sure athletes in other fields do, too, of course.

There is a general trend among some sports fans in this country to boost up the love of sports almost to the point of a religion, and they don't want their favorite players to be disciplined, and of course the coaches allow it to continue as long as they can to try to avoid a scandal. That's why Jerry Sandusky got away with his shameful acts as long as he did. Even the President of the university was involved in that cover up. I just don't enjoy sports that much, especially football, so it's all pretty disgusting to me. I think being responsible and mature is the real mark of a man and not the ability to bench press 500 pounds.




Cops: Woman's finger almost bitten off in NJ parking brawl -- CBS
By Crimesider Staff AP March 10, 2014

CHERRY HILL, N.J. - Police say a dispute over a parking spot at a southern New Jersey mall ended when a woman bit and almost severed the finger of another driver.

The fight at the Cherry Hill Mall involved three women and occurred around 4:30 p.m. Saturday outside Nordstrom's.

Police told CBS Philly that two women confronted the 42-year-old victim, and the altercation quickly turned physical.

The Courier-Post reports that the injured woman was a Philadelphia resident. She was in stable condition at a hospital.

Police are searching for the biter and say she could face aggravated assault charges. CBS Philly described the suspect as a black female, mid-thirties, heavy-set build with "bushy" hair. She is thought to have been driving an older model Audi sedan, dark in color.

Anyone who witnessed the dispute or knows the identity of the suspect is asked to call the Cherry Hill Police Department at (856) 488-7828.




The extent that some people will go to in order to get into the shopping mall a little sooner is amazing. Every year on the day before Thanksgiving, which is a special shopping day with deep discounts on the prices, there are dozens of shoppers who want to be the first into the store to see those great prices, and will camp out on the sidewalk in front of the store the night before so that they can get up to stand in line first, even if the temperature is in the 30's. One year recently the front door at a Walmart store was literally mobbed by early shoppers to the point that a woman was trampled to death. I wonder if this is just an American thing or if it occurs in Europe and other places. Why are we so very acquisitive? I would never go to such a mob scene to shop, and have to compete with other shoppers like a gladiator.