BajaNomad - American and his girlfriend assaulted in Rosarito

American and his girlfriend assaulted in Rosarito

Woooosh - 4-23-2010 at 01:25 PM

http://www.frontera.info/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Noticias/22042...

An American and his girlfriend were assaulted in Rosarito, Baja California.

An American living in Ensenada and his girlfriend were ambushed a few meters from the beach. They beat him to take money and his car. As a result of the assault, an ambulance had to be called to assist the American- Aaron Smith, 33, who moments earlier had been beaten on the head with a metal crossbar. He was in the Colonia Obrera (central Rosarito near La Quinta) in this town near the beach with his girlfriend named Erica Medina, both are residents of Ensenada.

They were in his gray 1996 Ford Escort 1996 with Arizona plates when the victims were threatened and beaten about the head, immediately stripped of their wallets with 700 pesos and 200 dollars, their identification, laser visa, and passport. Then the thieves stole their car leaving them stranded.

[Edited on 4-23-2010 by Woooosh]

DENNIS - 4-23-2010 at 02:07 PM

Shame on you, Woooosh. Don't you know how bad these reports are for tourism? :lol:

Bajahowodd - 4-23-2010 at 02:25 PM

And just what were they doing in Rosarito, anyway?

rts551 - 4-23-2010 at 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Shame on you, Woooosh. Don't you know how bad these reports are for tourism? :lol:

Shame on you Dennis. Don't you know its the medias fault.

Bob H - 4-23-2010 at 02:37 PM

Oh, darn, they got away with a 1996 Ford Escort....

knuckles - 4-23-2010 at 02:53 PM

Woosh...

Any chance this is close to a street called Via de las olas? I guess you are familar with the area?

Bajahowodd - 4-23-2010 at 03:59 PM

I dunno. Just seems that almost every time we hear about a US citizen getting into some sort of trouble SOB, it ultimately involves drugs. As I mentioned in my first post, Rosarito? Just thinking that if I lived in Ensenada, my only reason for being in Rosarito was because I was driving through to or from the border. Not dissing Rosarito here, but just have to wonder what could possibly be in Rosarito that couldn't be found in Ensenada.

DENNIS - 4-23-2010 at 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Not dissing Rosarito here, but just have to wonder what could possibly be in Rosarito that couldn't be found in Ensenada.

Friends?? Relatives??? I don't know. There must be some other reason to be there other than drugs.
Oh..I know. Private dining. :lol:

Hook - 4-23-2010 at 04:11 PM

I gotta call Mark Burnett. What TV needs now is a survival show, based in a city setting.

Survivor-Rosarito Beach

Bajahowodd - 4-23-2010 at 04:11 PM

Genius! :lol:

Hook - 4-23-2010 at 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
And just what were they doing in Rosarito, anyway?

Maybe they were victims of the pro-Rosarito PR campaign that the mayor (or is it ex-mayor) was funding.

It's entirely possible that there are people out there that dont know about what goes on in Rosarito Beach.

mtgoat666 - 4-23-2010 at 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Not dissing Rosarito here, but just have to wonder what could possibly be in Rosarito...

most people will agree with that statement :lol:

(except the tweekers that live there)

vandenberg - 4-23-2010 at 04:24 PM

It's all Bush's fault. :no:

Hold That Thought!

Bajahowodd - 4-23-2010 at 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg
It's all Bush's fault. :no:

Although I have no idea what you mean. :cool:

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 4-23-2010 at 06:45 PM

yeah, joke about it ! it's still bad press and will lead to a more major decline in tourism activity ! that's all we need, less tourists to feed the people, maybe the wrong people ? get your small minds together to enhance our beautiful baja and it's wonderful people. hey, try and be constructive to stimulate the economy, not destroy it !

the economy may be the faults of people that just think about themselves and enrichening their wallets and leave behind very distraught peoples that are really the so called salt of the earth. it is truly so sad that politics leave such a destructive deluge of humanity behind.

sorry, my opinion.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Woooosh - 4-23-2010 at 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by knuckles
Woosh...

Any chance this is close to a street called Via de las olas? I guess you are familar with the area?

about four blocks south towards the tourist/club zone. That is a safe section of public beach with hundreds of walkers/joggers. The police, Lifeguards and rangers patrol it all day- so I don't think it was a tourist/beach thing. Maybe the media will cover it when they get more facts. Could be anything- drugs included as is the usual, but probably isn't USA or tourist related. More a local-interest story.

Woooosh - 4-23-2010 at 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
yeah, joke about it ! it's still bad press and will lead to a more major decline in tourism activity ! that's all we need, less tourists to feed the people, maybe the wrong people ? get your small minds together to enhance our beautiful baja and it's wonderful people. hey, try and be constructive to stimulate the economy, not destroy it !

the economy may be the faults of people that just think about themselves and enrichening their wallets and leave behind very distraught peoples that are really the so called salt of the earth. it is truly so sad that politics leave such a destructive deluge of humanity behind.

sorry, my opinion.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

I hear ya. I've seen some cool little shops close and re-open as OXXO stores recently. The tourism decline has been hard on all the local families. The whole economy is based on it. Crime against property is up but hitting someone over the head with a metal bar to rob them is still rare. The narcos are done fighting over the area. Rosarito is probably as safe now as it ever was - which was never really all that safe to begin with. The local police have always been corrupt to some extent and the 'gotcha' one-way streets are part of the local charm. They need to give Tourists a financial incentive to visit- the pricing on everything is still too high, based on the "goose-that-laid-the-golden egg" years, not today's economy.

JESSE - 4-24-2010 at 02:54 AM

1996 Ford Escort? lets call the Marines. :spingrin:

DENNIS - 4-24-2010 at 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
They need to give Tourists a financial incentive to visit- the pricing on everything is still too high, based on the "goose-that-laid-the-golden egg" years, not today's economy.

Nope...Gotta disagree. The "Security Incentive" is still THE factor to be dealt with, real or not. People need proof that security is back in place.
Now, I don't know exactly how that would be implemented, but it has to be done. A bargain hotel room will be nothing if one can't sleep at night.

Bob H - 4-24-2010 at 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
yeah, joke about it ! it's still bad press and will lead to a more major decline in tourism activity !

Yes, it is a joke.... go to Baja and enjoy yourself. The chance of trouble is about the same in the US if you are not aware of your surroundings.

Bob H

Woooosh - 4-24-2010 at 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

I don't think there is any one PR campaign that could do it, but $400K condos and $25 fried lobster dinners are an obstacle unto themselves and make a day-trip or potential real estate investment a non-starter. They can hit the Ortega's Lobster Buffet in San Diego and buy an Imperial Beach oceanfront condo for less. The list of negatives is long and incentives short.

durrelllrobert - 4-24-2010 at 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Shame on you, Woooosh. Don't you know how bad these reports are for tourism? :lol:

Mybe you are happier with this version that I saw: :?:

A Mexican visiting Newport Beach and his girlfriend were ambushed a few meters from the beach. They beat him to take money and his car. As a result of the assault, an ambulance had to be called to assist the Mexican- Pedro Gonzales, 33, who moments earlier had been beaten on the head with a metal crossbar. He was in the only hospital in this town near the beach with his girlfriend named Maria Medina, both are residents of Escondido.
:lol:

DENNIS - 4-24-2010 at 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by durrelllrobert

A Mexican visiting Newport Beach and his girlfriend were ambushed a few meters from the beach.

The only people in Newport who use the metric system have leaf blowers strapped to their backs. :lol:

BillP - 4-24-2010 at 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Nobody is gonna venture south until we quit seeing headlines like this each and every single day on every news service there is.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/04/24/mexican-police-offic...

Bajahowodd - 4-24-2010 at 01:54 PM

Many people are more sophisticated than to associate the trouble in Juarez with the entire country. It would be like foreigners passing on a trip to Disney World because there were riots in the streets of Detroit. I agree to a certain extent that virtually any crime news has some chilling effect. But I can't see it as a total deal breaker for everyone.

woody with a view - 4-24-2010 at 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by durrelllrobert

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Shame on you, Woooosh. Don't you know how bad these reports are for tourism? :lol:

Mybe you are happier with this version that I saw: :?:

and, being from a foreign land, they were promptly billed for services rendered, no? just like in mexico?

DENNIS - 4-24-2010 at 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BillP
Nobody is gonna venture south until we quit seeing headlines like this each and every single day on every news service there is.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/04/24/mexican-police-offic...

I hope we don't stop seeing these reports of events while they're still happening. That is actually what some people would want, no news reporting as a means of bolstering tourism.
That is scarey ridiculous.

BillP - 4-24-2010 at 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Many people are more sophisticated than to associate the trouble in Juarez with the entire country. It would be like foreigners passing on a trip to Disney World because there were riots in the streets of Detroit. I agree to a certain extent that virtually any crime news has some chilling effect. But I can't see it as a total deal breaker for everyone.

Maybe many are, but I believe most aren't, they hear only Mexico, not Juarez or Baja.

I'd be willing to bet, if you took a survey of US citizens asking the question, "do you view Mexico as a source of opportunity or a source of problems" 99 out of 100 would answer "problems".

I think you give people credit for being smarter than they really are.

BTW, the hits just keep coming:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/04/24/20100424-D...

DENNIS - 4-24-2010 at 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BillP
BTW, the hits just keep coming:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/04/24/20100424-D...

"Bautista was returning from the inauguration of a fair when her three-vehicle convoy was stopped just after midnight by a truck the attackers apparently used to block the road."

Talk about dumb. Why would anybody who knows the danger be on those roads at night. Doesn't she know there's a war going on and she's somebody's enemy?

[Edited on 4-24-2010 by DENNIS]

Bajahowodd - 4-24-2010 at 03:56 PM

"I think you give people credit for being smarter than they really are."

Perhaps the first time in my life someone said that to me. :tumble:

Just have to wonder how long it will take for the cartels to run out of gunmen? :?:

Is that Calderon's end game? :?:

DENNIS - 4-24-2010 at 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Just have to wonder how long it will take for the cartels to run out of gunmen? :?:

It'll be right after the War On Poverty is won.

bajaguy - 4-24-2010 at 04:00 PM

Sounds like her security detail needs some additional training in convoy operations, adding a scout vehicle and maybe a new convoy lead vehicle that can bust through roadblocks.

Perhaps It's a Stretch, But....

Bajahowodd - 4-24-2010 at 04:02 PM

Quote:

Somehow, I see the analogy of what just happened to the two guys who do South Park on Comedy Central. The network edited out certain parts of an episode that purportedly had the prophet Mohammed dressed in a bear costume. The censorship was blamed on a reaction to a US-based website's veiled threat against the creators of the show, a la what happened to the Dutch filmmaker van Gogh a few years ago. My point is, don't terrorists win when decent folk cower to their threats?

DENNIS - 4-24-2010 at 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
Sounds like her security detail needs some additional training in convoy operations, adding a scout vehicle and maybe a new convoy lead vehicle that can bust through roadblocks.

You mean like this?

http://www.nicewallpapers.info/pics/other/m1a1-abrams-tank/m...

DENNIS - 4-24-2010 at 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Somehow, I see the analogy of what just happened to the two guys who do South Park on Comedy Central.

My point is, don't terrorists win when decent folk cower to their threats?

Could be, but you don't get in the ring with Mike Tyson just because you disagree with him. Suicide is a useless statement to make.

bajaguy - 4-24-2010 at 04:10 PM

Dennis, I like it, but it probably is just a tad too big for what I had in mind...........I was thinking of maybe maybe a Peterbuilt 5 ton dump truck with 2 tons of gravel in the bed and a V shaped front plow blade.

That should take care of any roadblocks :lol:

Bajahowodd - 4-24-2010 at 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Could be, but you don't get in the ring with Mike Tyson just because you disagree with him. Suicide is a useless statement to make.

But in the US, notwithstanding the fact that certain people in power have seized on a money making opportunity, it just seems to me that people need to stand up and live their lives. Living in fear of what might happen gives comfort to the terrorists.

DENNIS - 4-24-2010 at 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Living in fear of what might happen gives comfort to the terrorists.

Fear is an element of self preservation. Perhaps she placed her fate too heavily in the hands of God.
Four dead for a bad decision.

Woooosh - 4-24-2010 at 06:08 PM

"a bullet-resistant SUV" ? ouch.

durrelllrobert - 4-25-2010 at 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

You mean like this?

http://www.nicewallpapers.info/pics/other/m1a1-abrams-tank/m...

if everyone entering Mexico would just rent 1 of these new Baja bugs there would be no problema :biggrin:

http://s252.photobucket.com/albums/hh37/durrellrobert/?actio...

Bajahowodd - 4-25-2010 at 10:08 AM

Not exactly what one thinks of when someone mentions Baja bug. :spingrin:

Woooosh - 4-26-2010 at 09:48 AM

Might have been the Arizona plates... Zonies are going to have it rough for along time.