Man, 50, critically beaten by teens

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - The victim knocked from his bike and severely beaten by a large group of teenagers is a mentally ill man who was riding his bike home after visiting his mother, his brother told 24 Hour News 8.

He identified the victim as Timothy Stafford, 50, who lives not far from where the assault took place just before 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Stafford was in critical condition at Bronson Hospital, police said. His brother said he remained unconscious and on a ventilator. He said he had stitches around an eye and on his forehead, as well as severe facial swelling.

Leonard Stafford was at the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Wednesday to speak with detectives about the attack. He said the attack makes no sense, and he called on those responsible, or at least those who witnessed it, to come forward.

Police had earlier told 24 Hour News 8 that Stafford was beaten by as many as 50 teens, but have since revised their estimate downward, saying that a majority of those present did not participate. They estimate Stafford was still beaten by about 10 of the youths.

Police said Stafford was riding his bike at Westnedge Avenue and Frank Street when the teens knocked him to the road. They struck him in the head with a bottle and kicked and punched him several times as he lay in the street, police said. A suspect took off on the victim's bike, but police later recovered it on Ada Street.

Lt. Tim Hemingway said police expected that the unusually warm weather, with temperatures reaching the 60s, would lead to large crowds and potential violence. They responded by more than doubling patrols citywide -- from the usual 13 officers during the day to about 28, he said. About half of those were working on the north side of the city, where the attack took place.

Police continue to search for the suspects. If you have information about this incident you are asked to call police at (269) 337-8994 or Silent Observer at (269) 343-2100.

In fact, he said, officers were around the corner at the time of the attack.

Public Safety officers said the incident was one of at least three involving large crowds Tuesday evening.

Less than an hour later, a fight broke out between young women after a large group had gathered in the 700 block of North Westnedge Avenue, police said. Police arrested one woman on marijuana and disturbing the peace charges.

A short time later, police watched as one of the women approached a group and tried to attack another woman, police said. Officers said they scuffled with the woman before subduing her and finding a foot-long serrated knife in her coat sleave. The officers suffered minor scratches during the fight; the woman was not injured, police said. She faces charges of fighting, resisting police and weapons possession.

About 7 p.m. in the area of 1000 N. Church St, police responded to reports of large crowds and gunfire. A 17-year-old man apparently was struck by a ricocheting bullet fired from a semi-automatic handgun but was not seriously injured. Police said they arrested a 27-year-old man in the shooting.