Meet the Good Samaritan who Tried to Stop the Brutal McD’s Beating
- Posted on April 26, 2011 at 9:47am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
ROSEDALE, Md. (AP) — A witness who tried to help a transgender woman who was being beaten at a McDonald’s in Maryland said she was overwhelmed by the response from people who have praised her for intervening.
Vicky Thoms was embraced by strangers at a rally Monday night outside the McDonald’s in Baltimore County where the assault took place.
The victim, 22-year-old Chrissy Lee Polis, decided not to attend, but Thoms said she wished she had come so she could give her a hug.
Thoms said she walked into the restaurant April 18 and saw two teens beating Polis. No one was helping the woman and one bystander was even recording the attack with his cell phone camera, she said.
Thoms told The Baltimore Sun she watched for about two minutes but decided to step in because she thought Polis would be killed. When she stepped up and asked the girls to stop, Thoms ended up getting punched in the face herself, she said.
“She hit me like a man would hit and she was 14 years old,” she said.
Afterward, a man behind the counter asked Thoms if she realized the person being beaten was not a woman and was transgendered.
“I told him, ‘No I didn’t and I don’t care,’” she said. “He said he worked with her and she had a smart mouth — in other words, she deserved it.”
Teonna Monae Brown, 18, was arrested Friday and charged with first- and second-degree assault. A 14-year-old girl has been charged as a juvenile. Prosecutors are reviewing other charges are warranted including hate crimes counts.
Polis, told The Baltimore Sun that before she was attacked, she heard a teen say Polis was a man using the women’s restroom and accused Polis of talking to her man. The 14-year-old told police she and Brown fought with Polis over using the restroom, according to charging documents.
Video of the attack shows Polis being beaten, dragged though the restaurant by her hair and then apparently having a seizure.
Since the attack, Thoms said her nerves are shot and she can’t stop crying. She told her family about it, but they didn’t understand how bad the situation was until they saw the video on television last week.
“They couldn’t watch it,” she said.
More than 200 people gathered in the parking lot of the McDonald‘s for Monday’s rally. The restaurant had closed for the evening in support, and the roads around it were clogged.
Michael Strebeck, 43, came with his 15-year old daughter, Lindsay, who was upset by the attack. He grew up blocks away and had worked at the McDonald’s briefly and the Jiffy Lube next door for years.
“I think (the attack) should never have happened, but it should have been stopped and the police called sooner. That‘s why I’m here.”
Crimes against transgender people are included in the state’s hate crime law, but advocates who pushed for a bill that would have extended housing and employment protections say this shows that discrimination against the group is real. The bill passed the House, but was never brought to the Senate floor for a vote.



















Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (157)
OneRepublic4us
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:23amTheCountOfLiberty
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:07am
So what were white people in the 50′s when they were even more violent towards black people?
________________________________________________________________________
Those people were Democrats. Not much has changed since then, has it?
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:21amEvery violent crime is a hate crime. What a stupid argument.
What have we become?
Report Post »OhSuzieQ
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:31amYou can thank Obamamama. One sided laws.
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:21amI wonder why the 14-year-old isn’t being charged as an adult. In other instances of this kind of brutality (race not being a factor), that would be the case even here in NY.
Report Post »MontanaRob
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:18amAll of this, racial tensions, gender issues, disinterest of bystanders, and animalistic behavior, is the result of a century of progressive politics.
Report Post »The Bolsheviks formed the Comintern (Communist International) as their revolution was succeeding. It’s goal was to spread the “worker’s” movement globally but it met with substantial resistance. However, it’s actions spread to some extent, including here and many of the ills we suffer today were in fact marching orders set forth from Comintern to be implemented by CPUSA and the many “dupe” sympathtetic organizations and individuals.
We are witnessing the global movement they wanted, it’s just 90 years later!
ScreaminEagle
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:17amA long road that doesn’t have a turn in it somewhere,,, I dare say these sweetpeas who did this,, will run up on someone one day,,, and they will remember all they have done that hurt innocent people,,, one day,,, they will stand before a Holy God,, and they had better hope that their “ways” have changed,,, and that they have had a newbirth experience,, but after all, but for the Grace Of God,, there go I,,, these girls are in for a rude awakening,,, the Book says,,, “be not decieved, for God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man (or women) soweth, THAT shall he (she) also reap,,,, ” farmers soon learn the law of sowing and reaping,,, you will reap in the SAME field you sowed in,,, and these “ladies” will reap, in THIS life,,, from the very seeds they have sown,, you don’t plant corn, and harvest strawberries,,, enjoy the harvest “ladies”,, listening to your past record,, you are well on your way to a quick harvest.
Report Post »MonroeFan
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:17amI detest this ‘Hate Crime’ issue. Isn’t violence against anyone a hate crime no matter the race, gender, etc.? I am a sinner saved by the grace of Jesus Christ who laid down His life as an example for all of us. Shouldn’t we all do the same for our fellow man no matter what? I believe this woman has displayed this for all to witness that we are all equal in God’s eyes. Thank you good lady for your courage to say NO to the cowards out there.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:16amThat woman is the only bright spot in a very ugly story.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:14amBack then, they were called Democrats
Report Post »John 3:16
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:13amKurwa we support Human rights. The thugs and the other cowards watching have to be sub-human to stand by while another human is treated this way..Back to your mamma’s basement troll.
Report Post »Bullcop34
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:09amSo what I get from this story and others about this one, is that it is a hate crime now(which I feel is bad legislation at its very best)only because the victim is transgender? Not because it was black on white crime. The law should apply equally but of cousre it is not. The attacker should be charged with attempted first degree murder for the voracity of the attack and the blows to the head. You can‘t defend the blows by saying I didn’t know that would hurt.
Report Post »Conceal carry…..two to the chest, one to the head and this **** will slow way down
dantom
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:09amno hate crime why?
Report Post »USACommoner
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:08amI applaud the woman. The situation could have easily escalated into something much more violent. As for the two girls, I feel sorry for them as well. They were obviously deprived of something growing up; now they are stuck in this level of their development. It will be difficult for them to escape it and chances are they never will. IMO, this is the biggest problem with today’s troubled youth.
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 8:33pmThey were deprived of a Christian belief and education. Read the bible to see how the “pretend religious”
Report Post »people acted.
TheCountOfLiberty
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:07amSo what were white people in the 50′s when they were even more violent towards black people?
Report Post »green_manalishi
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 8:56pmIf it was wrong then , then it is wrong now. If its not wrong now then there was never any reason to change it, Apparently your average black can not handle the responsibility of equal justice, but we always knew that.
Report Post »green_manalishi
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 9:16pmIf it was wrong then , then it is wrong now. If its not wrong now….. then there was never any good reason to change . The difference is back then there where white people willing to stand with blacks against violence. Today you will never find any blacks standing with their white neighbors against primate like behavior. its not in the africam american character. But then we always knew that..
Report Post »dantom
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:07amAnd who tried to help a older white woman go figure.
Report Post »John 3:16
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:07amToo bad the thug is one of Noboma and Holders “PEOPLE” otherwise we might see some justice. The jerk with the Camera? I would like to give him a little behind the woodshed lessons if “it” AKA: he would just go with me. He is a sniviling little coward and I hope he reads this.
Report Post »TopOfTheMuffin2u
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:05amGod Bless her
Report Post »RED-DAWN
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:03amLet’s see, my mother always said, Right is Right and Wrong is Wrong…
I‘m so glad she didn’t confuse the issue with qualifiers like race, gender, sexual orientation and all that other crap!
Right is Right and Wrong is Wrong…..
Report Post »NEL
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 12:38pmAmen red dawn….Amen
Report Post »streetrodder
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:03amKickillegalsout,Those 4 idiots would be all over this if it was white on black.
Report Post »kurwa
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:02amwow the people here are supporting transgender rights cause they hate blacks more.. awesome
Report Post »Leadthemtothelight
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:07am? What ?
Report Post »We don’t hate other ethnic groups. I think you are confused. The issue is not race but right and wrong.
I know the Kool – Aid tastes sweet but back away….slowly.
MontanaRob
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:21amIt appears that some of your lefty cohorts are in attendance today. Can you spell TROLL???
Report Post »Must have been a slow night of videogames!
Lucy Larue
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 2:23pmKURWA,
Dear God in heaven! You have just posted the most ASININE, Jerked(with off) comment I have EVER seen posted here!
Please also know you should feel no pride in your accomplishment. You should feel deep shame.
Sadly….,like the two girls who did the beating, you probably are not capable of shame. UGH!
Report Post »straightshooter1
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:02amniga‘s being niga’s! Unfortunately these two girls are the epitomy of the bottom of there race. I wish I would have been there to envoke lethal force in the defense of life!!
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:00amWe are no longer a nation of laws. We are a nation of victim groups.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 9:58amAt the least, there are some people left who understand what courage really is about; and caring to help those in need at the time of danger to themselves as well.
Report Post »American Soldier (Separated)
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 9:58amThe bystander or employee that questioned her for intervening on the fact that the victim is a transgender should be charged as well. Aiding and abetting. I wonder how many of these bystanders consider themselves Christian….
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:09ami agree. While I don’t condone the lifestyle, that person is a human and in no way deserved that assault. The police should have been called immediately and the employee should have tried to stop it. However this assault would be just as much a hate crime if it was against a heterosexual, black person, yellow person, man, and on and on. ALL crimes are hate crimes. It is the action that is wrong. The reason for the action shouldn’t determine the prosecution or punishment.
Report Post »urrybr
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:13amRemember the parable of the Good Samaritan. Only one man stopped to help. The Priests just ignored what they saw.
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 8:31pmYes, too many are looking the other way rather than try to help someone in harm’s way.
Report Post »KICKILLEGALSOUT
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 9:57amChange we can believe in? Right Obama? Holder? J Jackson? A Sharpton?
Report Post »Oil_Robb
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:06amWhere are you Sharpton?…..Its real funny how simular the Blacks are to Muslims, you never hear a moderate BLACK or MUSLIM come out and tell thier own that they shouldnt commit crimes. They just blame it on the whites who provide jobs,education and health care for FREE yes for FREE because a vast majority dont pay Federal taxes, This country would be so much better if they would go back to Africa-stan and Afgana-stan, the crime rate would be drastically reduced.
Report Post »OhSuzieQ
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:27amyea…forsure. Only girls from the hood. What else is new?
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:44amObama, Sharpton, Jackson et al will excuse these actions because “poor (insert ethnic term of your choice) don’t have access to good schools, positive influences, mentors they can emulate, decent housing, pre-schools, counselors, summer camp, scouting, jobs….yada yada yada yada”
Guess what? I didn’t have access to many of those things either. I was raised in a severely dysfunctional family. But – I’ve never viciously assaulted anyone in my life.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 11:39amif you ask Al Sharpton he will say “I didn‘t see it that’s why I didn’t react” we all know he’s a liar .
Report Post »Thank you Vicky Thoms for your effort .
walkwithme1966
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 12:16pmThe problem is not really the beating – although that is troublesome – the problem was that no one except this one lady, did anything to help. That to me is the bigger problem! http://wp.me/pYLB7-V0
Report Post »reasonablerhetoric
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 1:30pmHaha, Oil_Rob, if you’re so passionate about the “fact” that they don’t pay federal taxes, how do you feel about the FACT that many American corporations get away with not paying any federal taxes at all?
If there is one entity who can afford federal taxes, it’s corporations.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 5:35pmAmern Midwestmom!
Had that same discussion with my husband just this morning! Did you happen to see the story about the Kansas 8th grade exam from, I believe, 1898? Most Kansans from that era would be considered poor in today’s terms. But they sure were smart! The difference is 1) a foundational belief in God and 2) proper parenting. Neither of which seems to exist in the majority of poor communities in our country today.
To all Blazers,
Please try to rise above the racists comments. I understand and agree with why you have animosity toward Jackson, Sharpton, et al. However, when you consider all blacks to be that way, you also include great men of character such as Col. Allen West and Herman Cain to name just two. Do not judge the horrible acts of these two teens by the color of their skin. Use discerning judgment over the atrocious violence they exhibited.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 5:41pmOops typing seems to be a problem for me today.
Meant “Amen”….not “Amern”
Report Post »loadingmyclips
Posted on April 27, 2011 at 5:23amOil_Robb is right. We should have picked our own cotton. And never told them about Chicago.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 9:56amOh now that the victim is gay suddenly hate crime is being considered…..It wouldn’t enter the prosecutor mind if it was just another white girl being assaulted by blacks.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:01amI am glad someone had the guts to make a stand to protect a victim being assaulted; weather is will be tired as a hate crime or not I cannot figure out, that the justice dept will handle, maybe. What will not suprise me is if the good samaritan who tried to stop the assault is in turn charged with assault and battery on a minor, as one of the ladies involved is 14.
That is the way our society is becoming more and more, blame the victim, blame anyone who tries to help the victim; the assailants are the true victims of a society who abandonded them…etc.
Report Post »lillymckim
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:02am@ smithclar3nc3 exactly…
Report Post »thank God there was “ONE” person Vicky Thomas who has the humanity to attempt to stop this repulsive act by the hate that hate produced.. what are their parents like…
I can’t even begin to imagine?
Leadthemtothelight
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:03amA sign of the times:
Report Post »If at age 14, I would have struck an adult like that.. my parents would have had a full on smack down party with me as the honored guest. I think again this comes down to parenting. I am not saying beat your children. I am saying that if your children do not have a healthy fear of you….that is a problem.
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:12am@LeadThemToTheLight:
You hit upon the correct term: a healthy fear of the parents, one born of respect for them. For they are the parents of the children. This does not mean parents ABUSING their children, just having the distinction of discipline instilled into them.
I grew up on the extreme side of a mother who would rule my life by anger, rage, and beatings with the motive of hers being that ‘the slightest thought occuring to her that I was out of line, or daring to THINK anything along those lines, needed the sternest of reprimands.”
I still have many such marks from her ‘actions’ and many that haunt my dreams in the night.
Report Post »My Sacred Honor
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:17amOH SNAP! It is tuesday and another episode of EpicMealtime is on!
Report Post »Be right back!
DonWoods
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:18amThe best part of this story is that the assailants have been caught and two Democrats now have there voting privileges revoked! (based on the ages one current and one future) There will be two less parasites to voting to line their pockets with welfare money.
BTW – Isn’t it amazing how the poor can get so fat? Only in America.
Report Post »Buck_Ofama
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:21am@smithclar3nc3 You’re right!
There are already laws against assault but now there are laws for special protected classes of people.
Gee, I thought the 14th Amendment declared that the laws of the US apply to everyone equally.
Report Post »Except of course if you are a member of Congress then you can pass laws that others have to obey but you don’t. Case in point: ObamaCare. Members of Congress are exempt or like the 1000 organizations and companies that have been give a waiver by Herr Obama and Czar Sebielius. Seig Heil
MidWestMom
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:26amThank you Vicky Thoms! You are a light in a dark world. God bless you.
And the employee who told you the person was a transgender or whatever……you felt THAT was the important thing in this crime??? And did nothing to stop the beating?? May God have mercy on your soul.
As far as “Hate Crimes” – thought this legislation was stupid to begin with & still do. A crime is a crime – the “gender or lifestyle choice etc” of the victim doesn’t make any difference. And beating the hell out of someone who has not attacked you is a crime.
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:34amoops!
“And the employee who told you the person was a transgender or whatever……”
Should read “TO THE employee telling you the person was a transgender or whatever….”
Report Post »teddyc73
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:45amOIL_ROBB grow up. Really, come on.
Report Post »Cheekymnky2
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:50am“but advocates who pushed for a bill that would have extended housing and employment protections say this shows that discrimination against the group is real”
Attention advocates: Why not treat ALL people the same? Also, what does housing have to do with the beating of someone in a McDonalds?
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 10:56amEveryone loves a HERO. Especially at times such as this when there are so few. Try it folks. Most people will rally behind you for standing for what is right. Maybe not immediately, but sooner or later they will. The truth always wins out. Realize that most people are going to stand on the side lines until they feel it is safe enough to join the fight and they have someone to lead them. Pioneers take the arrows. Most of our heros in life died doing heroic deeds. All of history remembers them. Reference the Founding Fathers, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Paul Revere, Davy Crocket, Spartacus…….on and on and on. All the cowards are long forgotten….not even a footnote in the margins of history.
Report Post »Steel Awesome
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 11:17amAnd if it’s a crime against a black transgender, the law considers this a “double hate crime” which gets the offender twice the prison sentence.
Report Post »GMAN
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 11:46amI just cant believe it took a 55 year old woman to break that up when there were 4 or 5 other younger more capable people there. I agree with smithclar3nc3, she and her mom even said it wasnt about her being a transgender, so what was it about?
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 1:03pmI’d like to see this type of response to ALL violent crime, not just the ones where it’s convenient to exploit for political purposes or to move an agenda.
Especially police brutality, which is particularly abhorrent, seeing as how they swear an oath.
Report Post »heyjms
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 1:18pmWait… Black people being charged with Hate Crimes? Yeah right, Holder will step in and say he reviewed the evidence and see no crime being committed.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 2:42pmI have a few things to point out.. FIRSTLY would be this women is MY HERO.. her and others who STAND UP.. Secondly.. those that make fun of older white people better take heed.. seems THEY take a punch better have more courage than the SOFT YOUNG MEN who stood with their fingers up their ***** and did NOTHING.. most likely because they are NOT as BIG and BAD as the GIRLS that were attacking.. TO THEM I would say WIMPS..
Report Post »I think this is a AWAKING to those of us who are NOT of COLOR.. while we fought for EQUAL JUSTICE for others it seems we are now called upon to fight for EQUAL JUSTICE for ourselves.. the fact that UNTIL they found out the WHITE GIRL was trans gender did they decide to call it a hate crime NOT when the girl was attacked.. which pretty much is HATE..
slade37
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 2:58pmI don’t see the word “gay” anywhere in the article. …and there are plenty of people who gets jealous if someone simply speaks to their partners. I’ve seen boy-friends get jealous over someone asking his girl-friend for directions. Nothing was said about flirting, just talking.
Report Post »DirectlyUnPCman
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 3:09pmSo……they deserved it? Can I use that excuse? I got alot of folks I would like to “take care of” because they got it coming. Matter of fact, I’ll stop by that Mc D and and start there.
Report Post »Paradiddle69
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 4:07pmExactly! If this were just a WHITE WOMAN being savagely beaten, then that’s OK. However, because it is one of the protected classes, suddenly it’s a hate crime.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 5:15pm@ Snow,
My heart breaks for your childhood. You don’t know me but I feel like I know you from your numerous posts. I know you, not only found the Healer of All Broken-ness, but preach His truth. In Him, you found the perfect Parent.
@ Cheeky,
Very good catch! I missed that tidbit of entitlement on first view.
God Bless All of you Patriotic Blazers!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 5:21pmVicky Thomas: If you had been a packing Mama I bet you would have stopped it sooner.
Report Post »davidgoodbar
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 5:33pmThe law and the media are to politically correct to note the color of the person assailed by those two animals….
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 6:49pmA big yippie for this lady ,trying to stop the fight, the Mc Donalds employees there should be fired for doing nothing
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 8:27pmYes, kudos to Vicky, the Good Samaritan. I think I’d have done the same thing, the only difference is that I’d have a weapon with me to stop those idiot girls from beating up on another person. Trans gender is not an issue. These two girls, 14 & 18 should be charged very severely. My guess is they are not very nice people to start with. Girls like them are nasty, mean people. Bad, bad.
Report Post »timeout
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 8:29pmthe point, oh faithful ones, is: it took a white, middle aged woman to step in and try to stop it…where are your balls oh men? where? there is a real trend here. men don’t step up and act like men.
Report Post »timeout
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 8:31pmthe point is: a white, middle ages woman stepped up to stop it. not a man…where are you carrying your balls, you of the opposite sex….where?
Report Post »tooksdad
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 9:18pmI know I will probably catch heck for this but here we go…….. It’s a damn MAN stop calling him a women. Yes I am glad she stepped in yada yada yada Its a freaking man with a real penis, stop referring to him as a women.
Report Post »waggie
Posted on April 27, 2011 at 10:03pmThose girls probably don’t even have parents around. Call me racist, but statistics show that dads have probably never even been in the picture. I don’t care who it is getting beaten, it’s wrong and thank God that this lady stood up.
Report Post »