Knife-wielding madman robs McCain-Palin campaign volunteer and carves a "B" (for Barack) in her face

**Terminator** · 10-23-08, 08:01 PM

A knife-wielding man robbed a McCain-Palin campaign volunteer and etched a “B” into her face after he saw a McCain bumper sticker on the woman’s car, Pittsburgh police said.
Ashley Todd, 20, of College Station, Texas, was using an ATM at Liberty Avenue and Pearl Street in Bloomfield just before 9 p.m. Wednesday when a man approached her, put a knife to her throat and demanded $60, police said.
Todd handed the man $60 she had in her pocket and stepped away from him, investigators said. The man then noticed the bumper sticker on the woman's car, which was parked in front of the ATM. The man became very angry, made comments to Todd about John McCain and punched her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground, police said.
"He continued to kick and punch her repeatedly and said he would teach her a lesson for supporting John McCain," said police Chief Nate Harper.
The man then carved the "B" into Todd's right cheek. Todd, who isn't familiar with the area, drove to a friend's house nearby and told her friend she wasn't sure of the exact location where the robbery took place but remembered a green sign above the ATM. The friend called police and the officer met them on Cypress Street in Bloomfield, police said.
Todd's friend offered to drive her back in the direction she came from to look at ATMs until she found the right one, police said. A police officer followed until Todd pointed out a Citizens Bank ATM at Liberty and Pearl, police said.
She declined medical treatment at the scene and said she would go to a hospital today.
Todd declined to comment.
"She is a volunteer for the McCain-Palin campaign," said campaign spokesman Peter Feldman. "Sen. McCain has reached out to her via telephone and has spoken to her and her family,” as has McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Feldman said. “Out of respect for her privacy we're not going to comment further."
Democrat Barack Obama's campaign released a statement saying: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the young woman for her to make a speedy recovery, and we hope that the person who perpetrated this crime is swiftly apprehended and brought to justice."
Police described the suspect as black, about 6-foot-4, and said he was wearing dark-colored jeans and a black undershirt.
The ATM has a security camera and investigators are trying to watch the video, police said.

**BigDawg** · 10-23-08, 08:48 PM

Somehow I wasnt surprised when I read the description of the suspect.

**countybear** · 10-23-08, 09:11 PM

Precisely why I will never have a "TBL" sticker on any vehicle that my family drives.

**TXCharlie** · 10-23-08, 09:29 PM

Does anyone doubt that there will be rioting if Obama looses?

And also probably if he wins.

**Pinki** · 10-23-08, 09:41 PM

Good grief. Prayers for her speedy recovery and that the etched part of her face doesn't scar...

**Captain America** · 10-24-08, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

Does anyone doubt that there will be rioting if Obama looses?

And also probably if he wins.

No.

**10-42Adam** · 10-24-08, 01:03 AM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

Does anyone doubt that there will be rioting if Obama looses?

And also probably if he wins.

No doubt in my mind with either way.

**Ducky** · 10-24-08, 01:09 AM

I'm seriously contemplating going to hide in the middle of the woods for a couple days following the election. Just me, hubby, and the pets. And my weaponry.

**Captain America** · 10-24-08, 01:13 AM

Originally Posted by Ducky

I'm seriously contemplating going to hide in the middle of the woods for a couple days following the election. Just me, hubby, and the pets. And my weaponry.

Ducky and cover.

**Ducky** · 10-24-08, 01:18 AM

Originally Posted by Captain America

Ducky and cover.

I'll be hiding in the ducky blind.

And this link has nothing to do with anything but it made me laugh.
http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Rubber_Duck
And this one. http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Rubber_duck (it's better!)

Now back to your regularly scheduled non-hijacked thread!

**dadyswat** · 10-24-08, 08:18 AM

Roiting either way, the revolution is about to begin.

**Twan007** · 10-24-08, 12:53 PM

for those of you who know what I'm talking about - just remember, the codeword is "Wolverine"

not now, but just remember, the codeword is "Wolverine"

and yes, it feels as if there is something huge on the brink - can't help but think of the CCR song "Bad Moon Rising"

**TXCharlie** · 10-24-08, 02:37 PM

Now the TV news is saying that she has some inconsistancies in her story, so it may be a hoax - But the inconsistancies that they cited didn't sound like much (he robbed her after he beat her up, vs. she handed over the money before he beat her up).

The part I wonder about is why the "B" is backwards. I hope she didn't do it to herself while looking in the mirror.

She was also visiting her boyfriend in Pittsburgh, which brings up the possibility that he heat her up and she's trying to protect him. God, I hope that's not the case - All McCain needs is another embarassment.

**Captain America** · 10-24-08, 03:07 PM

What a maroon. Not you , Charlie , the idiot in Pittsburgh. It's a confirmed hoax now.

**Willowdared** · 10-24-08, 03:09 PM

Oh look, it's a lie....I'm shocked, shocked I tell you!

Reports: McCain volunteer lied about partisan-fueled attack

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KDKA-TV says a volunteer for John McCain's presidential campaign has admitted lying to police about an election-related mugging.

Ashley Todd, 20, attracted national attention when she reported that an unidentified man beat her up and scratched the letter "B" into her face because she had a pro-Republican sticker on her car.

"This afternoon, a Pittsburgh police commander told KDKA Investigator Marty Griffin that Todd confessed to making up the story," the station says on its website. "The commander added that Todd will face charges; but police have not commented on what those charges will be."

**armsmaster270** · 10-24-08, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by Ducky

I'm seriously contemplating going to hide in the middle of the woods for a couple days following the election. Just me, hubby, and the pets. And my weaponry.

I'm just going to make sure all my extra mags are topped off supplies laid in and have a select group of friends over.

If she was down and he was at her head that would explain the orientation of the letter.

**dadyswat** · 10-24-08, 03:24 PM

I see now she admitting it was made up.

**Ducky** · 10-24-08, 03:29 PM

Kudos to the Pittsburgh police.

PITTSBURGH – A McCain campaign volunteer made up a story of being robbed, pinned to the ground and having the letter "B" scratched on her face in a politically inspired attack, police said Friday.
Ashley Todd, 20-year-old college student from College Station, Texas, admitted Friday that the story was false and was being charged with making a false report to police, said Maurita Bryant, the assistant chief of the police department's investigations division. Police doubted her story from the start, Bryant said.
Todd, who is white, told police she was attacked by a 6-foot-4 black man Wednesday night. She now can't explain why she invented the story, Bryant said.
Todd also told police she believes she cut the backward "B" onto her own cheek, but she didn't explain how or why, Bryant said.
Todd initially told investigators she was attempting to use a bank branch ATM when the man approached her from behind, put a knife with a 4- to 5-inch blade to her throat and demanded money. She told police she handed the assailant $60 and walked away.
Todd told investigators that she suspected the man then noticed a John McCain sticker on her car, became angry and punched her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground and telling her "you are going to be a Barack supporter," police said.
She said he continued to punch and kick her while threatening "to teach her a lesson for being a McCain supporter," police said. She said he then sat on her chest, pinned her hands down with his knees and scratched a backward letter "B" into her face with a dull knife.
Todd told police she didn't seek medical attention, but instead went to a friend's apartment nearby and called police about 45 minutes later.
The Associated Press could not immediately locate Todd's family.
Bryant said somebody charged with making a false report would typically be cited and sent a summons. But because police have concerns about Todd's mental health, they are consulting with the Allegheny County District Attorney. She remained in custody and was awaiting arraignment.
Todd worked in New York for the College Republican National Committee before moving two weeks ago to Pennsylvania, where her duties included recruiting college students, the committee's executive director, Ethan Eilon, has said.
Eilon declined to comment on the investigation Friday or to help The Associated Press contact Todd.
Earlier Friday, police said they had found inconsistencies in Todd's story. They gave her a lie-detector test, but wouldn't release the polygraph results. Investigators also said bank surveillance photos did not back up the woman's initial story of being attacked at an ATM.
Police interviewed Todd after she contacted police Wednesday night and again on Thursday, Bryant said. They asked her to come back Friday, ostensibly to help police put together a sketch of the man. Instead, detectives began interviewing her.
"They just started talking to her and she just opened up and said she wanted to tell the truth," Bryant said.
Bryant said it doesn't appear that anyone else put the woman up to the false report.
Police suspected all along that Todd might not be telling the truth, starting with the fact that the "B" was backward, Bryant said.
"We have robbers here in Pittsburgh, but they don't generally mutilate someone's face like that," Bryant said. "They just take the money and run."