Teenager Falls From a Bronx Rooftop After Police Are Called About Marijuana

Just a very sad and tragic story. The victim, 17 year old Hakeem Kuta is listed in critical condition after falling several stories to an alleyway below.

On Thursday, at 7:35 p.m., when a man walked from 2685 Valentine Avenue, flagged four probationary police officers who were just starting their shift and told them about “kids in the lobby of the building smoking marijuana,” said Stephen P. Davis, the Police Department’s chief spokesman.

The four officers — Maria Imburgia, Brian McMahon, Edmundo Rivera and Eduard Solano, who all joined the department in July 2013 — approached the lobby. One of the teens impeded the officers by stretching his arms out as they tried to enter the doorway, Mr. Davis said. In that instant, six or seven teenagers ran up a staircase toward the roof.

Officers Solano and Rivera chased them.

We all know that doesn't end well...

Once on the roof, some of the teenagers ran south, hopped a short wall to an adjoining roof and got away. Two others, a 14-year-old and Mr. Kuta, ran north but were penned in by a 10-foot wall on the roof of a neighboring building, 2675 Valentine Avenue.

The officers told the teenagers, “Please don’t move, please don’t move,” Mr. Davis said.

He moved...

But Mr. Kuta, who had no arrest record, began to move back and forth, the 14-year-old later told the police. With the officers about 10 feet away, Mr. Kuta tried to step over another, shorter wall on the edge of the building, but immediately began to fall. He reached to hold onto the wall but could not. The 14-year-old, in a “quick motion,” grabbed the collar of his friend’s vest, Mr. Davis said.

“But he says ‘He was falling down, it was too heavy,’ ” Mr. Davis said, citing the 14-year-old’s account. Mr. Kuta fell. “He was gone. You’re talking seconds.”

So, this kid has a probable traumatic brain injury because a man, across the street, went to police claiming that some kids were smoking marijuana in the "lobby" of a Bronx apartment building? When will this madness stop? If the kids didn't run, they would have been probably sent to juvenile hall for smoking marijuana. They are teenagers, they're going to do these things. Add to that the view many have of LEO's these days and no wonder they ran. Wish he didn't though.

My 17 year old self probably would have too. Just seems so needless and unnecessary. This kid has his entire life ahead of him. Hope he makes a decent recovery but if they were doing CPR at the scene, it doesn't sound good at all.

Source

Here's a bit from the NY Daily News that appears to have been updated. Did I miss this in the NYT article??

But Kuta and the younger boy made a beeline for the edge of the roof. And when the officers saw Kuta stick his cell phone in his pocket, sources said, they drew their guns and yelled, “Don’t move!”

By then Kuta had already clambered over a 2- to 3-foot wall hoping to get to the roof of the next building — not realizing until it was too late that there was a gap between the buildings.

Minutes later, Rivera and Solano — joined by the 14-year-old — bounded back down the stairs and screamed for Officers Maria Imburgia and Brian Mahon to join them “in the alleyway of the building.”

NY Daily News

Another casualty of the war on drugs........very sad....

We're really going to blame the police for a kid running from them and falling off a building?

a reply to: Domo1

Sounds like it

“Please don’t move, please don’t move,”

This raises doubts for me. Cops don't say please.

Jude11

originally posted by: Domo1
We're really going to blame the police for a kid running from them and falling off a building?

That's what I was going to say.

We all know mary J can make you a little paranoid and she doesn't help much with hand-eye coordination.

I feel bad for the police officers. The description of the 2 officers running down the stairs to help the boy who fell, with the boys friend running WITH the police was very heartfelt to me. It is like in that moment the absurdity of the ENTIRE situation lifted and the only thing that mattered to anyone was if that boy was ok.

Sad story.

a reply to: lovebeck

If the kids didn't run, they would have been probably sent to juvenile hall for smoking marijuana

Doubtful.

The 14 year old kid was brought in for questioning and released with no charge.

He was obviously too high.
Sorry, I had to.
Sad case.

Why is the world so upset about plants?

I don't understand, can somebody explain this to me in baby terms?

originally posted by: bullcat
Why is the world so upset about plants?

I don't understand, can somebody explain this to me in baby terms?

This plant knocks a dent in the profit margin of several different industries.
Most simple explanation I have.

originally posted by: skunkape23

originally posted by: bullcat
Why is the world so upset about plants?

I don't understand, can somebody explain this to me in baby terms?

This plant knocks a dent in the profit margin of several different industries.
Most simple explanation I have.

And they cannot profit from it, how?

originally posted by: bullcat
Why is the world so upset about plants?

I don't understand, can somebody explain this to me in baby terms?

The world is not upset...the law makers are and it has everything to do with money.....no other reason just money...the police do not choose which laws to enforce they simply enforce the "rules".....the rules are made by the money spinners...always follow the money....baby enough for ya ?

originally posted by: bullcat

originally posted by: skunkape23

originally posted by: bullcat
Why is the world so upset about plants?

I don't understand, can somebody explain this to me in baby terms?

This plant knocks a dent in the profit margin of several different industries.
Most simple explanation I have.

And they cannot profit from it, how?

Good question. I suppose lack of imagination and just being stuck in the old way.

a reply to: Domo1

Not me. The cops were doing there job. Even if pot is legal somewhere....cops should stop kids from doing it. Just like booze and porn.

Kids do stupid things. Kid die fairly often doing stupid things. Said with the retrospect of a man with a 25 and 17 year old....the reason you parents look tired and ragged when you are in your 20's is because of the stress of the possibility of you doing something stupid and dying.

originally posted by: skunkape23

originally posted by: bullcat

originally posted by: skunkape23

originally posted by: bullcat
Why is the world so upset about plants?

I don't understand, can somebody explain this to me in baby terms?

This plant knocks a dent in the profit margin of several different industries.
Most simple explanation I have.

And they cannot profit from it, how?

Good question. I suppose lack of imagination and just being stuck in the old way.

It does not take lots of imagination to imagine how to profit from it.

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

porn.

You're a monster! I used to have to wait half an hour for a picture to download below the neck, I deserved a reward for my dedication!

I'm of the same opinion. I also don't think cops get to pick and choose which laws to enforce, I agree with discretion, but a complaint is a complaint. Just because they don't agree with the law doesn't mean they don't have to enforce it or follow it. Flip this around and a cop could say he doesn't have to worry about beating a suspect because he gets to pick which laws to follow. Obviously an extreme example.

Dont blame the cops. They were responding to a complaint that very quickly accelerated and that is there job to gain control of any potential situation until it has been investigated.

Dont blame the kids. They naturally scatter like stoned roaches in the light when confronted while doing something they shouldnt be doing.

Dont blame the cannabis. It should only be used by consenting adults in a safe environment and only where allowed by law.



Base point. It is a tragic loss of life. Dont politicize it. It isnt deserving of the parents to have their loss so trivialized.

originally posted by: Domo1
We're really going to blame the police for a kid running from them and falling off a building?

This is my thoughts exactly. I'm pro legalization but that doesn't mean I abandon all reason and blame the cops for some idiots stupid decision to run. This is no fault of anyone else except for the kid that decided to run.

Just legalized ganja already, not that it would help in this case as the smoking age would still be at-least 21 but maybe there wouldn't be such urgency about it.