D.C. Mugger Turns Out to Be a Hugger - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 07-13-2007, 06:17 PM

Link

WASHINGTON — A grand feast of marinated steaks and jumbo shrimp was winding down, and a group of friends was sitting on the back patio of a Capitol Hill home, sipping red wine. Suddenly, a hooded man slid in through an open gate and put the barrel of a handgun to the head of a 14-year-old girl.

"Give me your money, or I'll start shooting," he demanded, according to Washington, D.C., police and witness accounts.

The five other guests, including the girl's parents, froze — and then one spoke.

"We were just finishing dinner," Cristina "Cha Cha" Rowan, 43, blurted out. "Why don't you have a glass of wine with us?"

The intruder took a sip of their Château Malescot St.-Exupéry and said, "Damn, that's good wine."

The girl's father, Michael Rabdau, 51, who described the harrowing evening in an interview, told the intruder to take the whole glass. Rowan offered him the bottle. The would-be robber, his hood now down, took another sip and had a bite of Camembert cheese that was on the table.

Then he tucked the gun into the pocket of his nylon sweatpants.

"I think I may have come to the wrong house," he said, looking around the patio.

"I'm sorry," he told the group. "Can I get a hug?"

Rowan, who lives in Falls Church, Va., and works part time at her children's school, stood up and wrapped her arms around him. Then it was Rabdau's turn. Then his wife's. The other two guests complied.

"That's really good wine," the man said, taking another sip.

He had a final request: "Can we have a group hug?"

The five adults surrounded him, arms out.

With that, the man walked out with a crystal wine glass in hand, filled with Château Malescot. No one was hurt, and nothing was stolen.

The homeowner, Xavier Cervera, 45, had gone out to walk his dog at the end of the party and missed the incident, which happened about midnight June 16. Police classified the case as strange but true and said they had not located a suspect.

"We believe it is a true robbery," said Cmdr. Diane Groomes, who is in charge of patrols in the Capitol Hill area. But it's one of a kind, she said, adding, "I've never heard of a robber joining a party and then walking out to the sunset."

The hug, she said, was especially unusual. "They should have squeezed him and held onto him for us," she said.

Rabdau said he hasn't been able to figure out what happened.

"I was definitely expecting there would be some kind of casualty," Rabdau said this week. "He was very aggressive at first; then it turned into a love fest. I don't know what it was."

Rabdau, a federal government worker who lives in Anne Arundel County, Md., with his family, said that the episode lasted about 10 minutes but seemed like an hour. Rabdau, who lived on Capitol Hill with his wife in the 1980s, said he thinks the guests were spared because they kept a positive attitude during the exchange.

"There was this degree of disbelief and terror at the same time," Rabdau said. "Then it miraculously just changed. His whole emotional tone turned — like, we're one big happy family now. I thought: Was it the wine? Was it the cheese?"

After the intruder left, the guests walked inside the house, locked the door and stared at one another. They didn't say a word. Rabdau dialed 911.

In the alley behind the home, investigators found the intruder's empty crystal wine glass on the ground, unbroken.

Mikado · 07-13-2007, 06:36 PM

@_@ ------!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AB · 07-13-2007, 08:40 PM

Strange but at least this had a good outcome.

Lee · 07-13-2007, 09:19 PM

I actually love the guy.

Mikado · 07-13-2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

I actually love the guy.

ummmmmm...let's not forget, he DID point a (probably) loaded gun at a 14 yr old girl's head, with vicious intent...he's not exactly innocent here!!

Lee · 07-13-2007, 09:34 PM

Originally posted by Mikado:
ummmmmm...let's not forget, he DID point a (probably) loaded gun at a 14 yr old girl's head, with vicious intent...he's not exactly innocent here!!

Yes, but the guy's attitude changed after he had some wine and cheese.

Janice · 07-13-2007, 09:38 PM

It's creepy that this thug is walking the streets. His next intended victims may not be as lucky.

Lee · 07-13-2007, 09:48 PM

Originally posted by Janice:
It's creepy that this thug is walking the streets. His next intended victims may not be as lucky.

Or he may not rob people anymore. It is possible this incident changed him.

Mikado · 07-13-2007, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

Originally posted by Janice:
It's creepy that this thug is walking the streets. His next intended victims may not be as lucky.

Or he may not rob people anymore. It is possible this incident changed him.

UNlikely...I'm with Janice on this one

Janice · 07-13-2007, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

Or he may not rob people anymore. It is possible this incident changed him.

I tend to think not. In any case, he still has to face charges for attempted robbery and whatever they call putting a gun to a person's head.

EmoJoe · 07-13-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

I actually love the guy.

i don't know what's funnier, the article or this post.

catlover79 · 07-13-2007, 10:40 PM

I don't know which story is more bizarre - this or the baby getting kicked off the plane.

Mikado · 07-13-2007, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I don't know which story is more bizarre - this or the baby getting kicked off the plane.

Id say THIS one......baby terrorists are being kicked off planes ALL the time!

Mr. Television · 07-13-2007, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I don't know which story is more bizarre - this or the baby getting kicked off the plane.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 07-13-2007, 11:03 PM

"I've never heard of a robber joining a party and then walking out to the sunset."

07-13-2007, 06:17 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,460	D.C. Mugger Turns Out to Be a Hugger Link WASHINGTON — A grand feast of marinated steaks and jumbo shrimp was winding down, and a group of friends was sitting on the back patio of a Capitol Hill home, sipping red wine. Suddenly, a hooded man slid in through an open gate and put the barrel of a handgun to the head of a 14-year-old girl. "Give me your money, or I'll start shooting," he demanded, according to Washington, D.C., police and witness accounts. The five other guests, including the girl's parents, froze — and then one spoke. "We were just finishing dinner," Cristina "Cha Cha" Rowan, 43, blurted out. "Why don't you have a glass of wine with us?" The intruder took a sip of their Château Malescot St.-Exupéry and said, "Damn, that's good wine." The girl's father, Michael Rabdau, 51, who described the harrowing evening in an interview, told the intruder to take the whole glass. Rowan offered him the bottle. The would-be robber, his hood now down, took another sip and had a bite of Camembert cheese that was on the table. Then he tucked the gun into the pocket of his nylon sweatpants. "I think I may have come to the wrong house," he said, looking around the patio. "I'm sorry," he told the group. "Can I get a hug?" Rowan, who lives in Falls Church, Va., and works part time at her children's school, stood up and wrapped her arms around him. Then it was Rabdau's turn. Then his wife's. The other two guests complied. "That's really good wine," the man said, taking another sip. He had a final request: "Can we have a group hug?" The five adults surrounded him, arms out. With that, the man walked out with a crystal wine glass in hand, filled with Château Malescot. No one was hurt, and nothing was stolen. The homeowner, Xavier Cervera, 45, had gone out to walk his dog at the end of the party and missed the incident, which happened about midnight June 16. Police classified the case as strange but true and said they had not located a suspect. "We believe it is a true robbery," said Cmdr. Diane Groomes, who is in charge of patrols in the Capitol Hill area. But it's one of a kind, she said, adding, "I've never heard of a robber joining a party and then walking out to the sunset." The hug, she said, was especially unusual. "They should have squeezed him and held onto him for us," she said. Rabdau said he hasn't been able to figure out what happened. "I was definitely expecting there would be some kind of casualty," Rabdau said this week. "He was very aggressive at first; then it turned into a love fest. I don't know what it was." Rabdau, a federal government worker who lives in Anne Arundel County, Md., with his family, said that the episode lasted about 10 minutes but seemed like an hour. Rabdau, who lived on Capitol Hill with his wife in the 1980s, said he thinks the guests were spared because they kept a positive attitude during the exchange. "There was this degree of disbelief and terror at the same time," Rabdau said. "Then it miraculously just changed. His whole emotional tone turned — like, we're one big happy family now. I thought: Was it the wine? Was it the cheese?" After the intruder left, the guests walked inside the house, locked the door and stared at one another. They didn't say a word. Rabdau dialed 911. In the alley behind the home, investigators found the intruder's empty crystal wine glass on the ground, unbroken.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

07-13-2007, 10:40 PM	#12
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I don't know which story is more bizarre - this or the baby getting kicked off the plane.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

07-13-2007, 11:03 PM	#15
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	"I've never heard of a robber joining a party and then walking out to the sunset."
	__________________ my name is ashlee Welcome! Everything is fine.

07-13-2007, 06:36 PM	#2
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	@_@ ------!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

07-13-2007, 08:40 PM	#3
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	Strange but at least this had a good outcome.

07-13-2007, 09:19 PM	#4
Lee veteran member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 23, 2001 Location: Pulaski, Tennessee Posts: 4,768	I actually love the guy.

07-13-2007, 09:34 PM	#6
Lee veteran member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 23, 2001 Location: Pulaski, Tennessee Posts: 4,768	Originally posted by Mikado: ummmmmm...let's not forget, he DID point a (probably) loaded gun at a 14 yr old girl's head, with vicious intent...he's not exactly innocent here!! Yes, but the guy's attitude changed after he had some wine and cheese.

07-13-2007, 09:38 PM	#7
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	It's creepy that this thug is walking the streets. His next intended victims may not be as lucky.

07-13-2007, 09:48 PM	#8
Lee veteran member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 23, 2001 Location: Pulaski, Tennessee Posts: 4,768	Originally posted by Janice: It's creepy that this thug is walking the streets. His next intended victims may not be as lucky. Or he may not rob people anymore. It is possible this incident changed him.