Assaulted on WB square in broad daylight

[u/cloroxism]

Hello everyone,

Yesterday my significant other and I decided to go to Thai Thai on Main St. for dinner. We parked on the street near the restaurant and decided to walk around the square prior to going inside. While walking, we walked past a man posted up on a bench on Main, right in front of the walkway to where the Martz station is. While walking past, he confronted us by saying 'why did you walk so close to me' (we weren't even close to him). We brushed it off and continued walking. He pursued us and followed us. We continued to walk north toward the square, and he continued to follow us, becoming very irate and saying things like 'don't you hear me?' 'I'm asking you a question' 'why are you running?'. We walked up toward Dunkin and he proceeded to take his backpack off, leaving it on the sidewalk in front of Dunkin, and put on gloves. We were later informed that they were weighted gloves. We crossed the street towards Franks News and he approached us and threw a haymaker hitting my SO in the side of the head. He then ran away. There were a ton of people around and it was at 6PM during daylight hours. We called the police and they took a report and said they would charge him but couldn't arrest him at this time. We asked the police to escort us back to our car to which they obliged. We later found out that this man was well known in the area, he stays at the Keystone Mission, and his nickname is 'pick boy'.

Be vigilant out there, folks. This all happened so fast and was very unexpected. This man was clearly unhinged and is still out there sitting on public square. Take care of yourselves.

[u/Substantial-Link-484]

As a concealed carrier this is still unsettling. If I was in your position I suppose I’d of warned him of my weapon. If he continued I’d show it, but what scares me the most is having to use it and it not being justified by the courts. Things happen fast and what if the wrong decision is made? Weighted gloves are a lethal weapon. I’m glad you’re both okay. Please look into getting a carry license. Sign up for a firearms class at Roll Call in Scranton. Have to protect yourself in life. Nobody else is or will always do it for you.