My Step Son is Deaf

That was so awful. I am sorry about Cody.
 
What took place is sadly a frightening and terrible thing to happen. This may be getting more 'attention' due to the fact the person/victim is deaf, however, it also could be a 'sign' that when someone is turned off (or pissed), etc.,...the anger takes them to a 'new' danger level whereas assaulting or committing a crime is more likely to be used. Self-restraint or even patience doesn't always seem to be what they 'used' to be anymore these days.

Anyhow, I do hope Cody is recovering well and doing good. :)

Thanks for sharing this with AD'ers and also, welcome to Alldeaf!





~RR
 
shel90 said:
I think this guy was looking for an excuse to assault someone. Most people dont beat up other people like that simply because the other person didnt respond using their voices.
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I agree. This person has a screw loose and needs professional help
 
Damn Cody is pretty hot! :naughty: Sorry let's get back on the important topic here, excuse my manners. :whistle:


That cashier had no business assaulting anyone just because one doesn't talk. that's horrible thing anyone should ever experienced. :(
 
How horrible someone to attack Cody. People need to be more respectful to each other. My heart goes out to you and your family.
 
Well I am trying to keep up

I am trying to keep everyone informed as to what is going on the person that hit Cody is out of jail on bond, two more TV stations came over today for interviews, the local news paper had a article in it this morning, it is at Star-Telegram.com | 10/04/2007 | Angry cashier attacked deaf man, police say and mostly correct just a couple of mistakes, the reporter from NBC5 told us that the man that hit Cody was going to have to go before The Grand Jury on Nov 1
 
barryadair said:
I am trying to keep everyone informed as to what is going on the person that hit Cody is out of jail on bond, two more TV stations came over today for interviews, the local news paper had a article in it this morning, it is at Star-Telegram.com | 10/04/2007 | Angry cashier attacked deaf man, police say and mostly correct just a couple of mistakes, the reporter from NBC5 told us that the man that hit Cody was going to have to go before The Grand Jury on Nov 1
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Nov. 1 is my birthday. For a birthday present I would love to see the grand jury return an indictment!
 
I hope the casher will be guilty for assaulting Cody, it doesn't matter what reason for the assault, nobody has the right to assault anyone period.
 
Angry cashier attacked deaf man, police say

Found this story from other thread that is relating to here ....

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Star-Telegram.com | 10/04/2007 | Angry cashier attacked deaf man, police say

A store cashier struck a deaf customer in the head with a crowbar after he mistook the man's silence for rudeness and disrespect, police said.

The cashier, Ricky Benard Young, 20, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The customer, Cody Goodnight, 31, suffered "a large knot" on his head during the incident, which occurred Saturday at the Family Dollar Store at 4117 E. Lancaster Ave.

"I can't believe someone would hit him for not speaking," said Goodnight's mother, Kay Goodnight. "When you're deaf, you don't make a point of starting conversations with people."

Young's defense attorney, Mark Price, said Thursday that he was recently assigned the case and declined to comment.

Kay Goodnight called police after her injured son returned home from the store late Saturday morning. When officers arrived, she translated her son’s story to officers using sign language, said Lt. Dean Sullivan, a police spokesman.

Cody Goodnight said he had walked several blocks from their house to the Family Dollar to buy a soft drink for his 5-year-old son. Inside the store, he put the soda on the counter to pay.

The cashier tried to speak to him but got angry when Goodnight didn't respond, Goodnight told police. The cashier threw Goodnight's change at him, scattering it on the floor.

As Goodnight picked it up, the cashier hit him in the side of the head with the crowbar, Goodnight said.

Officers went to the store, where Young immediately asked if they were there about what "happened earlier," Sullivan said. The cashier told officers that he had tried to start a friendly conversation with Goodnight but that Goodnight wouldn't acknowledge him.

At one point, Young told officers, Goodnight mumbled something that Young thought was racial in nature, Sullivan said. Young told officers he struck Goodnight because he thought Goodnight was going to assault him.

After officers told Young that Goodnight was deaf and unable to communicate verbally, Young responded "Oh," Sullivan said.

"Upon further investigation, it appeared the suspect became frustrated when the victim wouldn't respond or acknowledge his attempts to converse," Sullivan said. "He became outraged and struck the victim in an unwarranted attack." The store's surveillance tape was erased or taped over before the officers got there, Sullivan said.

A corporate spokesman for the Family Dollar Store did not return a phone message Thursday.

Cody Goodnight was treated at the hospital for his injury but still has pain in his head and neck, Kay Goodnight said Thursday.

Deaf since the age of 2, when he suffered a high fever, Goodnight speaks in guttural sounds -- "deaf speak" as his mother calls it.

His stepfather, Barry Adair, said Goodnight doesn't like talking to strangers.

"He gets embarrassed because people make fun of the way he talks," Adair said. "He's not trying to be rude or unfriendly. You just can't understand him unless you're around him a lot."

Emily Robinson, a Fort Worth deafness resource specialist, said that while it is unusual for a deaf person to be attacked, misunderstandings are common. People sometimes take deaf people for rude when they are unresponsive, she said.

"It is a really big problem," Robinson said. "Businesses should be professional and sensitive to deaf people. There are training workshops about the deaf culture and what to expect in interactions with us."
 
barryadair said:
I am trying to keep everyone informed as to what is going on the person that hit Cody is out of jail on bond, two more TV stations came over today for interviews, the local news paper had a article in it this morning, it is at Star-Telegram.com | 10/04/2007 | Angry cashier attacked deaf man, police say and mostly correct just a couple of mistakes, the reporter from NBC5 told us that the man that hit Cody was going to have to go before The Grand Jury on Nov 1
Click to expand...


I tried to click the link but it's not working :(
 
jillio said:
Okay, guys....I listened to the video, and here is a written transcript for you!

There is a lot of reaction to a story we first reported last night at 10:00. A Fort Worth store clerk is accused of striking a customer who he thought was acting disrespectfully. It turned out the customer as deaf. Carol Cavalos is live at the store where it all allegedly happened. Carol?

Reporter speaking: This weekend a store clerk inside this Family Dollar store in the 3100 block of East Lancaster reportedly got mad at a customer, threw his change on the floor, and then clubbed him! Other customers couldn’t believe it!

Woman outside speaking: Whoa! Are you serious?

Reporter speaking: Mayra Munoz couldn’t believe what happened.

Mayra speaking: Are you kidding? I’m not going over there! Because if they, if they treated somebody like that, you know, that is, that is wrong!
Reporter speaking: This Family Dollar clerk, Ricky Young, allegedly hit a customer over the head with a club Saturday because he felt “dissed”. The customer, Cody Goodnight, is deaf.

Cody speaking: He hit me, I almost fell.

Cody’s mother speaking: You almost fell?

Reporter speaking: He is still hurt and upset about it. His mother, in other ways.

Kay Goodnight speaking: It just makes me hurt because I wonder what’s going to happen to him after I’m not here anymore.

Emily Robinson speaking: Where in the world does that come from? I mean, that’s what we need to teach people. We’re just like you.

Reporter speaking: The Goodrich Center of Fort Worth helps the deaf, but in this case, has offered to help the hearing.

Emily Robinson speaking: I’d be willing to contact Family Dollar to do sensitivity training, like I said, for free.

Reporter speaking: That could make for more satisfied customers. The headquarters, located in North Carolina, say they are conducting an internal investigation. Live in Fort Worth, Carol Cavalos for CBS 11 news.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the transcript, Jillio. Nasty piece of business, that. Also, I paused momentarily at: "It just makes me hurt because I wonder what’s going to happen to him after I’m not here anymore". Maybe the family can hang around here and discuss with us his future; I am sure, after we find out a few things, we can assist the parents for this eventuality.
 
That Cashiere should at very least lose his job and a term in Jail would be a good thing too. I think Shel is right though, this could have happened to anyone. The guy obviously had a screw loose and just wanted to hit someone and the deaf guy just happened to be a convenient punch bag. :pissed:

barryadair: I'm very sorry to hear what happened to your son.
 
dreama said:
That Cashiere should at very least lose his job and a term in Jail would be a good thing too. I think Shel is right though, this could have happened to anyone. The guy obviously had a screw loose and just wanted to hit someone and the deaf guy just happened to be a convenient punch bag. :pissed:

barryadair: I'm very sorry to hear what happened to your son.
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Yeah, I agreed...
 
Jeez! This is terrible that happened to your stepson Cody just because he is deaf. I am soo sorry he got hurt unneccessary by a heavyhanded cashier. That cashier deserve to go to jail for it. He must have erased the surveillance tape on purpose as he knew the police would be after him for it. He is still in trouble anyway. My heart goes out to your stepson. :hug:
 
Sunshine1 said:
Found this story from other thread that is relating to here ....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Star-Telegram.com | 10/04/2007 | Angry cashier attacked deaf man, police say

A store cashier struck a deaf customer in the head with a crowbar after he mistook the man's silence for rudeness and disrespect, police said.

The cashier, Ricky Benard Young, 20, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The customer, Cody Goodnight, 31, suffered "a large knot" on his head during the incident, which occurred Saturday at the Family Dollar Store at 4117 E. Lancaster Ave.

"I can't believe someone would hit him for not speaking," said Goodnight's mother, Kay Goodnight. "When you're deaf, you don't make a point of starting conversations with people."

Young's defense attorney, Mark Price, said Thursday that he was recently assigned the case and declined to comment.

Kay Goodnight called police after her injured son returned home from the store late Saturday morning. When officers arrived, she translated her son’s story to officers using sign language, said Lt. Dean Sullivan, a police spokesman.

Cody Goodnight said he had walked several blocks from their house to the Family Dollar to buy a soft drink for his 5-year-old son. Inside the store, he put the soda on the counter to pay.

The cashier tried to speak to him but got angry when Goodnight didn't respond, Goodnight told police. The cashier threw Goodnight's change at him, scattering it on the floor.

As Goodnight picked it up, the cashier hit him in the side of the head with the crowbar, Goodnight said.

Officers went to the store, where Young immediately asked if they were there about what "happened earlier," Sullivan said. The cashier told officers that he had tried to start a friendly conversation with Goodnight but that Goodnight wouldn't acknowledge him.

At one point, Young told officers, Goodnight mumbled something that Young thought was racial in nature, Sullivan said. Young told officers he struck Goodnight because he thought Goodnight was going to assault him.

After officers told Young that Goodnight was deaf and unable to communicate verbally, Young responded "Oh," Sullivan said.

"Upon further investigation, it appeared the suspect became frustrated when the victim wouldn't respond or acknowledge his attempts to converse," Sullivan said. "He became outraged and struck the victim in an unwarranted attack." The store's surveillance tape was erased or taped over before the officers got there, Sullivan said.

A corporate spokesman for the Family Dollar Store did not return a phone message Thursday.

Cody Goodnight was treated at the hospital for his injury but still has pain in his head and neck, Kay Goodnight said Thursday.

Deaf since the age of 2, when he suffered a high fever, Goodnight speaks in guttural sounds -- "deaf speak" as his mother calls it.

His stepfather, Barry Adair, said Goodnight doesn't like talking to strangers.

"He gets embarrassed because people make fun of the way he talks," Adair said. "He's not trying to be rude or unfriendly. You just can't understand him unless you're around him a lot."

Emily Robinson, a Fort Worth deafness resource specialist, said that while it is unusual for a deaf person to be attacked, misunderstandings are common. People sometimes take deaf people for rude when they are unresponsive, she said.

"It is a really big problem," Robinson said. "Businesses should be professional and sensitive to deaf people. There are training workshops about the deaf culture and what to expect in interactions with us."[/QUOTE]

I think ALL business should particpate in a workshop like that! Would save everyone the trouble of misunderstandings.
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jillio said:
Nov. 1 is my birthday. For a birthday present I would love to see the grand jury return an indictment!
Click to expand...

NO way!!!! That's my mom's birthday too! LOL!

:offtopic:
 
Unbelievable! How could one think one has the right to hit somebody for not speaking? The fact that the cashier erased the tape is telling me that he's guilty. I am glad Toby wasn't with Cody that day.

Barry, do keep us posted on the trial. I am sure things will be in Cody's favor.
 
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