davis_square: Sketchy guy

Christoph (

subtledagger) wrote in

davis_square,
@ 2007-11-25 18:49:00

Entry tags:

crime, local characters

Sketchy guy
Has anybody else ever been in or around Davis Square late at night and run into the guy with the clip board asking you to donate money to children in Africa? He's super sketchy, and gets really aggrivated when you refuse. I've seen him follow people for a block or so pestering them to give him money...

The first time he approached me, he shouted at me from like 50 feet away and said "I AM NOT A CRIMINAL! I DO NOT HAVE ANY WEAPONS!"

I saw him last night standing in the middle of the square looking for people, and it made me wonder if anybody else had run into him.

(Post a new comment)

glen_highland
2007-11-26 12:01 am UTC (link)

If it's the same Sketchy B. McSketch I'm thinking of, we have encountered him twice. The first time, he was wearing scrubs and "collecting money for med school" or something. But I'm pretty sure it's the same guy, as he was completely nuts and shouted preemptive warnings about not being a criminal as he approached us. The second time, (more recently), I didn't give him a chance to make his pitch. ;-)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

rishikanta
2007-11-26 01:41 am UTC (link)

It's the same guy.

This guy goes down Cambridge St to Lechmere.
From my own experience, and that of my friends, he can get very aggressive around women sometimes following them for blocks, but the one time I encountered him firsthand he backed off once I got out of my car.

My friends (both female, who live in the Inman area) have called Cambridge PD but have been given the "nothing we can do" line as he didn't physically assault either of them, and they don't have a name.

He is dressed neatly and cleanly (almost looks like an 'academic' with his glasses, tie, satchel, and papers) but he behaves like someone with a strong mood or personality disorder.

If people start reporting more encounters with him maybe that will spur the PDs to action.

	chivesthebutler 2007-11-26 12:12 am UTC (link)
	is he blonde? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	subtledagger 2007-11-26 12:22 am UTC (link)
	Nah he's just a normal looking black guy. Glasses, clipboard, and wearing a suit if I recall correctly. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	ron_newman 2007-11-26 12:15 am UTC (link)
	What organization does he claim to represent? There are so many people around the square with clipboards for Greenpeace, Environment Massachusetts, Mass PIRG, and the like, it's hard to keep track. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	subtledagger 2007-11-26 12:23 am UTC (link)
	I don't know who he claims to represent. I don't remember him saying he represented anybody. And it was like 1am. Super sketchy. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	plumtreeblossom 2007-11-26 12:41 am UTC (link)
	I haven't seen this particular one, but they're all over Harvard Square. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	righteousness_1 2007-11-26 01:06 am UTC (link)
	I bumped into him too. What about the Vet looking guy with the dog tags going around saying "shoot me in the fucking head"?! (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	ellf 2007-11-26 01:16 am UTC (link)
	There are few things that would set off my sense of concern about a person I don't know more than having them approach me while announcing that they were unarmed, especially at night and in the city. (Reply to this)

	thetathx1138 2007-11-26 01:42 am UTC (link)
	If you think he's a fraud, just call the cops. I run into these guys occasionally at Porter. (Reply to this)

	derekp 2007-11-26 03:15 am UTC (link)
	In all seriousness, I'd tell her to walk quickly past him and not to say a word. I'm amazed that this works well enough on people that they keep doing it. I once had a friend who gave a guy who had quite obviously not seen a bicycle saddle in 20 years $20 for the "AIDS Ride" in December. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	othniel77 2007-11-26 02:44 am UTC (link)
	He was hanging out in front of Skybar this past summer. My fiance thought he was a Jehovah's Witness and ran him off. (Reply to this)

	dylanesque29 2007-11-26 06:19 pm UTC (link)
	That is pretty messed up. Davis Square could use a few less characters like him, the Spare Change guy (whom I thought had been disapepared, but has been pooping up in the subway station crazy early in the morning.......don't forget your headphones, kids.....), and Loud Mumbling Drooling and Smells Like Pee Guy who "hangs around" Ball Square and Powderhouse. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	obie119 2007-11-26 08:29 pm UTC (link)
	I know of a similar guy at Central, but I thought he had longer hair, maybe in braids. He does have a clipboard though, yells at people, and is not affiliated with the other clipboard people around. I guess either he got a haircut or has a twin? :) (Reply to this)

	Re: seen him in kendall sq grateful1311 2007-11-26 11:08 pm UTC (link)
	Somerville is a City =) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Re: My story dylanesque29 2007-11-27 12:17 am UTC (link)
	Is this the same guy I was talking about in my entry? Balding, slightly paunchy, smells like piss and nicotine? Hangs around Powderhouse? (Reply to this) (Parent)

	slick_o 2007-11-27 12:20 am UTC (link)
	Komos seems to enjoy to presence of the sketchy individuals around the square area so s/he can write amusing stories about them, how noble...As for the question where the aforementioned types should be placed, well that's for the democrats to decide since they like to spend the money. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	closetalker11 2007-11-27 01:11 pm UTC (link)
	Wow, did you create your account to troll THIS thread? You must REALLY hate poor people! (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	slick_o 2007-11-27 08:18 pm UTC (link)
	Then stop talking and come up with a viable solution. Everyone knows what should be done. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	I ran into him once in Kendall square bobobb 2007-12-02 03:13 pm UTC (link)
	I was going to meet a friend at the movie theater and he jumped out of the bushes at me. He was persistent, but eventually went away when I said I didn't have time to talk. (Reply to this)

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