New "character" on Main Street

[runinbrynmawr]

This weekend, I had a man come into my shop and slap a $10 bill on the counter demanding I give him cigarettes. Note: I operate a running store. After trying to communicate with the man, I quickly realized he had a disability of sorts that was only masked by the intense smell of alcohol. I quickly realized trying to be aggressive/forceful/authoritative with the man would not be the solution to get him out. After a short time and being thankful that I had no customers at the time, I managed to coax him out of the store and he headed down the street. Since then, I have seen him several others time all of which I heard him asking for cigarettes, beer, or money. I dealt with him again this morning when he was being a bother to a young woman and a boy she was the nanny for. Again, I managed to coax him away from the situation not by force but by redirecting his attention. I just wanted to direct people's attention to him and just be careful. I have also watched him go into places of businesses disrupting business.

He is a large white man that walks with a limp. He says he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Navy that has a brain injury. It may be a lie because he would technically be considered a Commander. He is missing his front teeth from evidently decay. He doesn't seem to respond well to people trying to challenging him so I have handled him by redirecting him.

All that said, I don't see him being much of a threat other than an annoyance but it was worth noting. If you feel threatened by him, please call the police and don't try to deal with him on your own. Better safe than sorry.

[Jerry19127]

This weekend, I had a man come into my shop and slap a $10 bill on the counter demanding I give him cigarettes. Note: I operate a running store. After trying to communicate with the man, I quickly realized he had a disability of sorts that was only masked by the intense smell of alcohol. I quickly realized trying to be aggressive/forceful/authoritative with the man would not be the solution to get him out. After a short time and being thankful that I had no customers at the time, I managed to coax him out of the store and he headed down the street. Since then, I have seen him several others time all of which I heard him asking for cigarettes, beer, or money. I dealt with him again this morning when he was being a bother to a young woman and a boy she was the nanny for. Again, I managed to coax him away from the situation not by force but by redirecting his attention. I just wanted to direct people's attention to him and just be careful. I have also watched him go into places of businesses disrupting business.

He is a large white man that walks with a limp. He says he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Navy that has a brain injury. It may be a lie because he would technically be considered a Commander. He is missing his front teeth from evidently decay. He doesn't seem to respond well to people trying to challenging him so I have handled him by redirecting him.

All that said, I don't see him being much of a threat other than an annoyance but it was worth noting. If you feel threatened by him, please call the police and don't try to deal with him on your own. Better safe than sorry.

It could be Ponj. Bald on top and hair on the sides? If so, he's been gone for awhile and back in Manayunk. He drinks by the canal behind your shop and lives near the Green Lane Bridge.

[Volanova]

Please call the police if you witness him harassing people again. This guy obviously has a few loose screws and by the sounds of it is aggressive enough that he may hurt someone (or end up getting himself hurt by doing this to the wrong person).

[ResidentOf19127]

I think I know who you're talking about. Is his hair kindof long and stringy?

I've seen this guy walking around lately on Cresson Street. He's usually talking to himself in a vulgar and angry way. A few weeks ago he was going off about the 50th anniversary of "Love Me Do" and why it should have been re-released as a boxset. He's very creepy.

[AsYouWere]

Sad situation all around for both him and Main St. I doubt the police can do much more than lock him up for a couple of days unless he commits a crime such as an actual threat to harm. You'll probably see less of him with the colder weather coming but I would attempt to find out if he's really a veteran as there's many resources if he is.
Instead of police you could contact one of these groups first for advice:
We Want To Hear From You...
The National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans - Homeless Veterans

[Debbie1125]

I wonder if this is the same guy who comes into Starbucks a few times a week. He walks with a limp.

[NickleDimer]

Perhaps that's just his way of soliciting your expert advice on the proper running shoes to correct his limp...

[runinbrynmawr]

I am pretty sure it is not Ponj. That is the guy with long hair on the sides, and bald on the top. He often talks to himself and shuffles through the trash looking for "treasures." This new guy is much louder and is much more direct with people. He also stands over 6' tall. I know a lot of the locals around the area, and this fella is definitely a new one to me. Trust me in that as soon as he crosses the line, I will notify the police if need be. In the meantime, he has made no justification for the call. Thanks for the links. I will take a look into them. He hasn't displayed any aggressiveness other than his forwardness with people, but I think that is more related to poor social skills/his disability.

+1 on getting a good fit at BMRC haha

[Dayman]

He is a large white man that walks with a limp. He says he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Navy that has a brain injury. It may be a lie because he would technically be considered a Commander.

Not "may be", is. This reminds me of a time in my Coast Guard Auxiliary uniform a guy told me how he was almost drowned in Navy boot camp by his "DI", and was busted down from sergeant to private for ratting on him.

Coming from a military family, people who feign service make me explode with anger.

[AsYouWere]

He is a large white man that walks with a limp. He says he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Navy that has a brain injury. It may be a lie because he would technically be considered a Commander.

If you wish to get really technical, A Marine LCol is in the Navy but I wouldn't take a brain-damaged drunks word for it. See what you can find out.

[CrazyJoeDavola]

I came across this same guy with a severe limp last Saturday afternoon on Cresson St. He asked me for directions, I thought he was mentally retarded, but my wife and her friend had run into him the same day and said he was clearly obliterated and reeked of booze. It's possible he is a combination of both. He didn't give me any problems... don't think there is much you can do about it until he breaks some law, except maybe get him busted for public drunkiness...

[AsYouWere]

Maybe with all the attention someone can discern who he is and if he needs help. He'll have to get sober first which the VA can do but no one even knows if he's a veteran let alone his name.

[lucidinnature]

Why are you all being so mean to Hal Schirmer... he has every right to walk about the neighborhood despite his, err, boorish demeanor and appearance!

[Jerry19127]

Why are you all being so mean to Hal Schirmer... he has every right to walk about the neighborhood despite his, err, boorish demeanor and appearance!

I had this feeling it was Hal. Was he depressed that Kildare's was still open?

[lucidinnature]

I had this feeling it was Hal. Was he depressed that Kildare's was still open?

His traditional irish side was disappointed at their lack of traditional soda bread and cabbage.