[nagdu] Blind Man Says Shop Owner Assaulted Him

Thu Sep 9 15:24:35 UTC 2010

Jewel,

We haven't heard anything more here, and we didn't hear anything about the
case when it happened.  I don't know the guy, so I can't verify the breed of
dog.

So we were up that way a couple of days ago, along with the new roommate who
is also a big fella, and we actually passed that shop.  We actively
discussed stopping by for a visit to discuss our position on the shop
owner's behavior.  /evil grin/  I could go in with Mitzi, you know, and they
could wander in behind me like they didn't know me, so then when the guy
started to pick on me, they could explain to him the error of his ways...
We weren't entirely serious, but we weren't really joking, either.

If I learn more, I'll be sure to pass it on.

For the record, this is not the first physical attack on a blind person that
I have learned of through non-local news sources here in the Pacific
Northwest.  I think the first was in Seattle, where a man got on the bus and
kicked a blind woman in the head as he passed her seat.  So we watched the
Northwest News Channel for more, but...  Nada.

May I just say that I do not feel comfortable living in an area where
unprovoked physical attacks on blind people are not considered newsworthy?
/shudder/ 

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Jewel S.
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 3:28 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind Man Says Shop Owner Assaulted Him

Finally getting to reading this article...sorry guys!

I noticed that at one point, it referred to the dog as a "guard dog."
Is this a typo? I agree with whoever said the reporter likely got the
breed wrong. It may be a greyhound, but I doubt it's an IG, especially
in a cold-weather area. A greyhound, I could see as a guide dog, so
longa s it gets lots of exercise and has a special harness (which,
being blue, this harness is probably a padded canvas harness, which
would be appropriate for a greyhound).

I wasn't trynig to attack this man in earlier messages. I had not yet
read the article, and didn't know the article and posts about IGs were
connected, so now with the full story, I agree with womever said the
dog's breed was probably misrepresented.

Sounds like the reporter made several boo-boo's...Where did this
article come from? Tomi, is there any more news locally on this
situation??

On 9/7/10, Tamara Smith-Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net> wrote:
> Yikes!  That is totally our neck of the woods.  Just up the street, in
fact.
> Wonder if it was one we went into (and right back out of) when we went
pawn
> shopping last year?  Of course, I was with a big sighted guy, so the sort
of
> peole who would beat up a blind person over her guide dog wouldn't want to
> take him on...  Sad, but true.  I found a number of things about the way
the
> article was worded that were interesting, then I realized it's kinda the
> same old stuff...  I will be interested to see what happens.  I did notice
> they've filed a federal case, taking it out of the Oregon legal system...
> So perhaps there will be real penalties and stuff.  Wno't that be
> refreshing.
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Ginger Kutsch
> Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 6:07 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: [nagdu] Blind Man Says Shop Owner Assaulted Him
>
> Tuesday, September 07, 2010Last
> Blind Man Says Shop Owner Assaulted Him
> By KARINA BROWN
> Courthouse News Service
> http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/09/07/30131.htm
>
>
>      PORTLAND, Ore. (CN) - A diabetic blind man says a pawnshop
> owner beat him up because he refused to leave his guide dog
> outside. The blind man, who was wearing dark glasses, claims the
> pawnshop owner head-butted him in the face and then "shoved him
> across the room into a display counter."
>      In his federal complaint, Matthew Compton says he walked
> into Canyon Exchange in Beaverton in May, wearing dark glasses
> and being led by Enzo, his 6-year-old Italian Greyhound guide
> dog. Enzo wore a bright blue harness that clearly identified him
> as a guard dog. Enzo also can sense when Compton is about to have
> a diabetic seizure, and will seek help if Compton becomes
> unresponsive.
>      Compton says Michael Vaden, who owns and operates the
> pawnshop with Jane Vaden, stopped him from entering. Vaden
> demanded that Compton and his girlfriend "get rid of the dog"
> because Vaden "did not allow dogs" in his store, according to the
> complaint.
>      Compton says he and his girlfriend told Vaden that Enzo is a
> service animal, but "Mr. Vaden demanded that they leave the store
> and forcibly grabbed Mr. Compton's arm and pulled him toward the
> door."
>      The complaint continues: "When Mr. Compton resisted, Mr.
> Vaden slammed his forehead into Mr. Compton's face and violently
> shoved him across the room into a display counter.
>      "Mr. Compton and Ms. DeMartelaere were then forced to leave
> Canyon Exchange without having completed their business there."
>      They were looking for a steam cleaner.
>      Compton has been legally blind since both his retinas
> detached during a 2004 accident. He has had more than 15
> operations, but still is legally blind. He and Enzo went through
> 2 years of training at the All is Pawsible Service Dog School.
>      Compton demands punitive damages for assault and battery and
> wants the Vadens and their business enjoined to accommodate
> disabled people and their service animals.
>      Compton and his girlfriend are represented by Jon Egan of
> Lake Oswego.
>
>
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-- 
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com

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