The police investigation into a reported assault two weeks ago that left one man with serious injuries has been stymied by a lack of cooperation from one of the victims and the failure of potential witnesses to come forward, said Det. Todd Crossett.
The Batavian reported on the assault Oct. 28, which reportedly involved a group of people attacking a young man returning from 7-Eleven to a Halloween party on Swan Street with pizzas and a friend who went out apparently looking for the attackers. That second man was hospitalized after he was attacked by a group of people.
The victim who was seriously hurt has cooperated with investigators, but the first reported victim, who was the person who contacted The Batavian about the case, has declined all interview requests with police and police have found it repeatedly difficult to get in touch with him.
Several people posted comments online indicating they know who the attackers are, but police attempts to contact those potential witnesses have been unsuccessful and none has voluntarily contacted police.
Crossett is asking that those potential witnesses please come forward and answer questions.
"I'd like to talk to you and find out how you might know who these people might be," Crossett said.
Crossett's direct line is (585) 345-6353.
The information contained in the original story on The Batavian about the attack is consistent with what the police have been able to learn so far, but without further cooperation from victims and witnesses, it will be difficult to successfully close the case, Crossett said.
It's the same old, "snitches
It's the same old, "snitches get stitches" mantra.
We have the same thing here in Rochester.
No one wants to come forward because of fear of retaliation from those who would be accused, or their family members.
It's sad that society has degraded itself to the level we're at.