Assault at Rick's American Cafe sends Ann Arbor man to hospital
A man was sent to the hospital after being struck in the back of the head at Rick’s American Cafe in Ann Arbor early Saturday morning, police said.
The 42-year-old Ann Arbor man, who is new to the area, had gone to the bar, 611 Church St., alone and was talking with two women and a man in the bar, said Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush. Two men approached the 42-year-old man several times, attempting to provoke him into a fight, Bush said.
The man believed the two instigators were friends of one of the women’s boyfriend or were interested in the two women, Bush said. After the two men repeatedly asked him to go outside and fight, the man approached security at the bar and told them about his concerns that the two men would assault or rob him when he left the bar, Bush said.
The man then went back to the table and picked up his keys and cellphone as he prepared to leave the bar and was struck in the back of the head, Bush said. The next thing he remembered was waking up in the hospital, she said. The man was not sure who struck him, but believed it was one of the men who had been attempting to provoke him earlier, Bush said. It’s unknown if he was hit with a fist or some sort of object, such as a bottle.
The man had several facial fractures and a large laceration on the back of his head, Bush said. While at the hospital, he also realized $300 in cash was missing from his wallet, Bush said.
The suspects are described as Hispanic men. One was 5 feet 7 inches tall and between 25 and 30 years old with an athletic build, Bush said. The other was about 5 feet 5 inches tall, but no other descriptive information was available.
Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call the Ann Arbor police anonymous tip line at 734-794-6939.
Comments
jim
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 8:39 p.m.
These things happen when you go to the hood alone. Next time, maybe he'll go to Ypsilanti where it's safe to have a beer in public.
nickcarraweigh
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 2:30 p.m.
A bar fight late on a Friday night. Somebody hit somebody else with something from behind. It is, good people, the end of civilization as we have known it. Says so in the Scriptures.
Cory
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
Hmm... Cut the police budget, cut down on cops, and crime goes up??!! Who would've guessed it! And can anyone explain to me why a bunch of suits and higher-ups need $100,000+/yr? They could make $40k, do the same job, and still hire on 2 extra police officers. I understand paying for talent and all of that, but at what point does the talent trade off with boots on the ground?
Madeleine Borthwick
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 7:48 p.m.
Cory, THANK YOU!
eyesofjustice
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 5:48 p.m.
Ann Arbor employ's the highest paid City Attorney in the State of Michigan, Stephen Postema. Take a look @ his employment contract it is ridiculous........ http://annarborchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/postemacontractOCR.pdf
harry
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 4:43 p.m.
I agree
Mike
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 12:10 p.m.
There have been a number of fights and assaults in that area this summer. But because we don't want to publicize that kind of bad news and scare people away from town this kind of stuff will continue until something really bad happens.
Madeleine Borthwick
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 7:47 p.m.
Yep. God forbid that anybody should think of A2 as anything less than perfect.....
FormerMichRes
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 11:59 a.m.
I plan to be in town next week. I guess I'll avoid Rick's. Luckily I won't be new in town. Geesh, what a welcome!
whatsupwithMI
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 11:34 a.m.
Just a typical night in AA.
RJA
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 2:53 a.m.
Keys and cell left at a table, wonder how and when they got the $300.00 out of his wallet? I wonder if the 611 Church St. made the 42 yr.old think it was a great place to go. All these crudy bars need to be closed.
amlive
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 12:29 a.m.
"The man then went back to the table and picked up his keys and cellphone as he prepared to leave the bar" He left his keys and cellphone unattended at a table at Rick's?
Madeleine Borthwick
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 7:45 p.m.
yeah amlive, it boggles the mind....
Bryan Ellinger
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 11:49 p.m.
Here (http://goo.gl/08N7n) is a link to the observer article that @eyes has been attempting to share.
eyesofjustice
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 11:55 p.m.
Thank you sir......
eyesofjustice
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 11:05 p.m.
http://www.a2gov.org/SERVICES/OTHERSERVICES/CITYATTORNEYSOFFICE/Pages/RelevantNewsItems.aspx
eyesofjustice
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 11:04 p.m.
For some odd reason I cant copy and paste the link look under the Criminal Geography Report http://www.a2gov.org/SERVICES/OTHERSERVICES/CITYATTORNEYSOFFICE/Pages/RelevantNewsItems.aspx
eyesofjustice
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 11 p.m.
http://www.a2gov.org/services/OtherServices/cityattorneysoffice/Documents/Criminal%20Geography.pdf
eyesofjustice
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 10:58 p.m.
http://www.a2gov.org/services/OtherServices/cityattorneysoffice/Documents/Criminal%20Geography.pdf here is the link posted on the City of Ann Arbor Web Site
eyesofjustice
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 10:56 p.m.
From my understanding, the man assaulted was hit in the back of the head with a beer bottle or glass, Ricks Liquor License has far more Michigan Liquor Control Violations than any other bar in town. Yet, the City Attorneys Office does not do anything? I am very interested to see what sanctions are given to this establishment. Anyone that frequent Ricks can tell you there are fights and assaults on a monthly basis, nothing is ever done to punish these owner? In reality the demographic of the crowd is not the same as Cafe Oz, Fifth Quarter, Studio 4, and Dream..........Stephen Postema the City Attorney for Ann Arbor, has a link on the City's web-site where he makes a quote about Cafe OZ and his feelings towards Hip Hop music and the residents of Detroit.......http://www.a2gov.org/services/OtherServices/cityattorneysoffice/Documents/Criminal%20Geography.pdf
Jack
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 4:07 p.m.
Are you per chance connected with Dream nightclub?
Bcar
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 11:46 a.m.
Mayor's brother-in-law own it?? ;)
Ron Granger
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 10:15 p.m.
I'm surprised we don't read about more people going to hospital from the urinal and bleach smell emanating from Rick's.
justcurious
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 10 p.m.
So, no witnesses to this? He was inside the bar when he was beaten, right? When this stuff happens, does everyone run out the front door? The Ann Arbor bar scene in the 60's and 70's was never like this. This town has totally lost control.
actionjackson
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.
Have you forgotten the Tuesday nights at Schwaben Inn?
Atticus F.
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 9:20 p.m.
Why is it that this sort of thing happens at Ricks, and it's no big deal, but when it happens at Studio 4, they have to shut the place down?. Nevermind, I think I know why...
martini man
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 8:46 p.m.
Soon the population of Ypsilanti will go up because people will want to move where it is safer. Time to get away from Ann Arbor and all it's beatings , sexual assaults , and robberies. Wait ..didn't the some power that be , just declare Ann Arbor as "SAFE " ????
amlive
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 12:26 a.m.
@ Jack - Except for the fact that if you were carrying while drinking at the bar, you would no longer be a law abiding citizen. Plus, if he never saw anything coming, got whacked from behind then woke up in the hospital, chances are good that whoever walked away with his $300 would also have a new gun.
Jack Campbell
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 9:20 p.m.
More law abiding citizens need to carry in A2. Make the punks think twice before harassing anyone.
newsboy
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 8:22 p.m.
I don't understand why the city hasn't started the process of revoking the liquor license of this establishment. All you need to do is quick Google search and you will find it's much worse than Studio 4. It's time to shut this underage drug den down, or is there something we don't know keeping it open?
eyesofjustice
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 11:18 p.m.
@ Newsboy my thoughts exactly, someone must have some great connections with someone in the City........too bad Studio 4 never made the same connection or padded the right pockets
Dennis
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 9:42 p.m.
Underage drug den? People who are underage get their drugs from High School kids, where have you been?
Jack Campbell
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 8:29 p.m.
I agree newsboy, time to shut the dump down.
Billy
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 7:41 p.m.
So THAT'S where the Studio 4 crowd has gone....
Goober
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 7:41 p.m.
I truly hope this guy is okay. AA is not the 'nice little town' that we seem to be touting. Graffiti all over the place. Pan handlers attacking you for spare change. Gropes, grabs, rapes, robberies continue at a rate that might not be acceptable to AA citizens. On top of this, our unemployment is going up in this county. Even SPARK is trying to keep the 'young talent' while the older, experienced talent is left looking for a job - age discrimination - maybe. All our mayor, most of city council and city leader's care about is 'new high rise' structures and spending 'hard earned tax payer money' on art. The UofM is raising their rates – because they can. Much to think about, but I hope this guy is okay after his attack.
SEC Fan
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
@Jack, I'm guessing this place is pretty quiet :-) https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Malta+City+Clerks+Office,+S+2nd+Street+East,+Malta,+MT&hl=en&ll=48.354994,-107.87055&spn=0.042149,0.077162&sll=48.355964,-107.867374&sspn=0.042149,0.077162&oq=malta+city+clerk&hq=Malta+City+Clerks+Office,&hnear=S+2nd+St+E,+Malta,+Phillips,+Montana+59538&t=m&z=14
Goober
Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : midnight
We are not Detroit. Our citizens brag that we are not like others. Just ask the mayor and any city council member. We are safe, vibrant economically and growing. No one rivals AA. Agree? Oh - maybe agree with part of this? Agree with any of this? You have to agree that we are not Detroit.
Goober
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 11:55 p.m.
Jack, As you said, all of this is not acceptable. My point is, it flies in the face of what AA brags about.
Atticus F.
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 9:18 p.m.
Try taking a walk around Detroit... Then come back and tell me what you think.
Jack Campbell
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 7:57 p.m.
Show me anywhere in the US without these kinds of problems. Not that they are acceptable to me, but its just the way life is.
smokeblwr
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 : 7:37 p.m.
I know he is new in town, but Rick's usually attracts the 21 and under crowd. I imagine the local dominant males didn't want a new guy horning in on their turf. Hope they catch this pair.