I'm a bit embarrassed to share this here, but figured others needed to know. Plus I'm exhausted with people breaking the law and not facing consequences. 

This Tuesday, I was walking across Washington Ave at Willoughby and, as I went to cross Washington (with a very clear walk signal) a biker almost hit me zooming down Washington. I calmly said "alright" as he passed. He crossed Willoughby and started shouting back at me as he rode away (I don't know what he said). I yelled at him to "keep riding". 

I crossed Washington and start heading south, at which point I see him turn around on his bike further down the block. He starts traveling north, the opposite way he was going, passes me, then takes his bike up on the sidewalk. As he rides toward me I stand there with arms by my side, I look at him and say "what do you have to say?". He proceeds to pull up directly next to me, pulls out a bottle of pepper spray, and sprays me in my face as I quickly duck my head. He then nervously pedals away but stops further down the block on the sidewalk to put his pepper spray away (this is where I took his photo). He was last seen making a right on Lafayette, going against traffic (presumably to get away from me before I could take more photos). 

Luckily I was wearing sunglasses and it didn't get in my eyes, but my forehead was burning for a little bit after. I called 911 and police were shockingly there in less than 5 minutes, at which point I described the above, shared the photos with them, and showed them my now red forehead, officially filing a report. They said they would ride around the neighborhood and look for him, but I haven't heard from them since. 

So, I'm sharing this photo to a) warn people to stay away from this psycho and b) to see if anyone recognizes him or the bike he's on. Take note of the incredibly bright pink backpack, his tan water bottle, white helmet, white riding gloves (what a nerd....). He's about 6'1", black and male. 

For what it's worth, I'm a 5'9" white male in good shape and he still had the confidence to come up right next to me (albeit to be a wuss and use pepper spray). I've lived here for 20+ years...this is a first.   


If you do recognize him, please DM me. Stay safe out there. 



Assaulted with pepper spray on Tuesday, 7/7