Todd Krasnow Paul Velez Police photo
What could possibly prompt two young guys to team up and nearly beat to death an elderly man they worked out with at a gym?
Todd Krasnow, 33, and Paul Velez, 29, are charged with aggravated battery in the alleged kicking, beating and stomping of a 67-year-old man at the World Gym at 909 West Montrose.
The incident happened about 5:30 a.m. November 9. Police say the victim and suspects argued over something and then the disagreement turned physical.
Krasnow was arrested by the Fugitive Apprehension Unit on Thursday, according to a police department press release. Velez turned himself in later in the day.
Police say witnesses positively identified both men in a lineup.
Comments
Something seems to be missing here...
According to my sources, the story is a bit more complicated. As far as I know, Paul could--and SHOULD--have filed assault charges against the older man as he is said to have applied downward force on the weights that Paul was using while bench pressing. It was this and other similar behavior on the part of the older man that supposedly triggered the response from Paul and Todd. The report posted in the examiner.com blog portrays Paul and Todd as if they were preying on a "helpless" elderly man. I do not condone any violence of any kind, and certainly not this one. A wise old former Cook County court bailiff once told me, and it's worth repeating here: "There are 2 sides to any story; and the truth is always somewhere in the middle." So, Ms. O'Malley, do us all a favor and please be more objective with your reporting. Thanks!
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