Sun Run Hero

This unfortunate stabbing incident occurred during the May 9, 2010′s 10km Vancouver Sun Run

Hometown Hero Article – Vancouver Sun Newspaper & My Sun Run Story – by Ron Putzi

Hometown Hero Article: VANCOUVER SUN – May 11, 2010

Vancouver man, 36, charged in stabbing at Sunday’s 10-km run Police have charged a man in connection with a stabbing in downtown Vancouver on Sunday morning that occurred in front of hundreds of runners participating in the city’s popular 10-kilometer Sun Run.

Calvin George Walker, 36, of Vancouver is facing criminal counts of assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon after he allegedly attacked another man with a knife in the 800-block of Carrall Street around 10:30 a.m.

The victim, a 36-year-old man from Surrey, was at the race baggage claim area when he was struck on the head from behind. Witnesses said the assailant also slashed the victim’s cheek with a small knife before running off towards Expo Boulevard.

Several people, many of them race participants, quickly gave chase. They caught up to him a short distance away and held him until police arrived.

Sun Runner Ron Putzi, 39, was among those who intervened in the incident. Putzi, a former pro basketball player who once played with Steve Nash, had just finished the race and was standing across the street from where the attack occurred when he heard a sudden commotion.

“There was just a lot of noise and a lot of people screaming … ‘Stop that person,’ ‘He just stabbed somebody in the eye,’ and, ‘He’s got a knife,’” said Putzi. He said he didn’t think twice about using his six-foot-six frame to tackle the suspect as the man ran toward him.

“I was definitely pleased that I was the person in his way because I wasn’t intimidated,” he said.

Putzi said others quickly joined him in holding the flailing man down until police arrived.

“He definitely wasn’t going to get much further than me and the other runners,” Putzi said.

The victim of the knife attack was taken to hospital with serious knife wound to the face, was hospitalized for days and has since been released.

dahansen@vancouversun.com

My Sun Run Story by Ron Putzi (2010)

I was exhausted from having completed the 10 km run. Thankfully, I was in-shape therefore able to recover quickly. The day itself was beautiful and seemingly perfect, especially for runners. A gorgeous Georgia Street sunrise came with ideal running conditions, the temperature being around 10 degrees. It was the kind of day every runner loves …and a perfect May morning can remind us that Vancouver, Canada really is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

A zenlike calm came over me after the run – yes, also referred to as runner’s high. I think I am smiling while at the same time desperately catching my breath. It is calming to slowly reflect on the race now that it is done. I have a few come-and-go thoughts… “it’s somewhat funny that we do this to ourselves”… “who consciously trains for these runs?”…“God, I’ll never do that again.”…“I wonder how I placed?”… and of course, “I’m hungry!”

Runners never eat much before their run. Post-race there is usually this exaggerated, perhaps absurd starving sensation, and today I had it. Yes, I had now earned the runner’s right to devour a scrumptious brunch. Pleased with myself, I slowly headed through downtown toward our predetermined restaurant to enjoy a dark roast java, an omelet, and some freshly squeezed juice.

Then things changed.

One day I’d like to find the first man who bravely attempted to grab the violent stabber. The alleged stabber slipped his grip, then scrambled directly my way. The mystery-man and the stabber were kitty-corner from me, on Abbott Street (Roger’s Arena & Costco).

Suddenly the expected din and normal peacefulness post Sun Run was abruptly interrupted. Loud shrieking cries from people asking for help, others obviously in utter panic. Loud accusations, both certain and uncertain, and chaotic finger pointing pursued. I focused my attention on ‘the actual problem’, quite clueless to what had transpired… somewhere close …just out of my sight.

I remind myself throughout that I don’t know if this man fast approaching me is actually the stabber. I don’t have facts; I don’t know the details. For whatever reason, there was an odd contemplative calm about me, a voice, which continuously said, “You don’t know if this is the stabber, you don’t know what he has done” This man is merely the alleged stabber. Meaning, I must display and exercise some “intense moment” rationale. And, that is not easy to do.

In a split second I consciously looked for a knife, then quickly determined he held nothing visible in his hands. Good, for now, my UFC ‘front-kick’ could be shelved. Next thought, “let’s use his forward momentum to tactfully swing us both to the ground (‘Oh Yes, I do this takedown work all the time – NOT!’).

Success!! It worked.

We both fell to the ground and thankfully the mystery-man had also arrived to help me thwart any further attempts by the stabber to struggle free. We asked other people to help, and quickly they offered their support. Suppression complete!!!

In all, about 10 Sun Runners were directly involved in holding the stabber spread-eagle on his back. I was also surprised by the inaction of many bystanders. Taking a man down is one thing (knowing full well you are backed by 50,000 runners), however containing him is difficult. It took ‘many’ motivated men and women many minutes to finally quench his ravenous appetite for escape.

I had heard that the pinning down of a narcotized man, laced on ‘what-have-ya,’ is virtually impossible. If you are fortunate enough to tackle him unharmed, then containing him for any time is another story; it was exhausting.

It felt like an eternity for the usually prompt VPD officers to arrive. Especially during a large metropolitan event, you would think the VPD would be available immediately. Not this time. After approximately five minutes the police cruiser’s siren alerted us help had arrived. Trying to ease the tension, while waiting, I even had the wherewithal and time to respectfully say, “Really, are there no officers at BC Place and Rogers Arena today?” It felt like an inordinately long wait for a civilian’s arrest.

The stabber was panting like a hyena. I bent his wrist aggressively backwards to suppress his unrelenting fight for freedom. I looked at his ripped sinewy muscles (specifically his arms, and abdominal muscles). Like a mad man, he is not giving up so I decided to ever-so-slowly flex his wrist further back until finally he ceded to the pain. He looked at me and agonizingly uttered, “my wrist”. I carefully released the tension – he calmly nodded – then surrendered with a “Thanks”.

VPD Constable Huge N. Strong, tapped me (the civilian) on my left shoulder before confidently asserting, “I’ll take it from here.” At this precise moment, I realized that he and I had distinctly different occupations. I sit sedentary in my swivel chair tapping (and typing), on an alphanumeric keyboard, while HE deals with, among other things, street thugs. That’s logical, I know, however the crystallization of this fact was shockingly instantaneous. Two-handedly, the officer grabbed, lifted, air-walked, and slammed the stabber onto the hood of his cruiser. He then had hand-cuffs applied on the stabbers wrists faster than I could lift my ‘Hometown Hero-self” off the ground. I brushed myself off, shook my head, smirked, and probably said, “Holy Something.” I was in awe. I had been easily upstaged. This wasn’t the constable’s inaugural ‘violent offender’ arrest.

Funny enough, I was still hungry, despite the interruption. My stomach unnaturally turned as I tried to internalize the reality of a man ’s choice to reek havoc on Vancouver’s innocent joggers.

Today, the part of the story I love best (save Constable Huge N. Strong), happened while I was walking away from the scene. I received a tap on my shoulder. Wide eyed, a young couple stopped me and emphatically exclaimed, “We saw the whole thing, and man are you ever our hero! We heard the screams, witnessed the guy running towards you, saw you widen your feet, crouch down, then spread your arms, and all we could murmur was, “Maaaaaan, that.. guy.. is.. f***ed.” They turned my mood around by giving me a view I would never have had. A momentary super-hero feeling had me smiling again and we shook each others hands with a genuine thank you from both sides. I like my arms because they essentially gave me my basketball career. I’m 6’6”, but my reach spans to an unusual 6’10”, thanks to these two, I loved my monkey arms much more today.

I wanted to close begging questions, make connections, align some dots. So, I went to VGH to visit the man who was brutally stabbed in the head for running shoes and pair of sweaty socks. A married man, hard-working, father of two. His second child, a baby, just new to Earth. I have two young children too. My emotions escalate, I am standing there, prim mouthed, listening, thinking, head-shaking, stammering the only word I could… “Jesus.”

The recovering victim Bidong Chen, was accompanied by his brother Biyong Chen (which I adored, because it’s the only humourous piece to this story). Bidong and Biyong – couldn’t make that up.

Both brothers were still distraught and shaken. Both were angered, shocked, and deeply affected. We sat together exchanging pleasantries, numbers, and the usual etceteras. Then, we shared our stories with an intense mindfulness of how extremely lucky Bidong had been not to die or now live with horrible disabilities.

Calvin George Walker’s knife went 3.5 inches into Bidong’s skull and dug straight into his brain. Miraculously, his blade slipped just passed Bidong’s left eye leaving a small unassuming incision-like mark on his face. By merely millimeters, Bidong was spared severe chronic levels of injury or death.

Special thanks to the mystery man for initiating the first attempt to bring the stabber down (I would love to meet him again). Thanks to the Vancouver Sun Run runners who quickly helped us. High-Five to VPD’s Constable Huge N. Strong who’s starry Oscar performance and pivotal role in “To Catch A Thief” was unforgettably epic.

Sun Run Hero

This unfortunate stabbing incident occurred during the May 9, 2010′s 10km Vancouver Sun Run

Hometown Hero Article – Vancouver Sun Newspaper & My Sun Run Story – by Ron Putzi

Hometown Hero Article: VANCOUVER SUN – May 11, 2010

Vancouver man, 36, charged in stabbing at Sunday’s 10-km run Police have charged a man in connection with a stabbing in downtown Vancouver on Sunday morning that occurred in front of hundreds of runners participating in the city’s popular 10-kilometer Sun Run.

Calvin George Walker, 36, of Vancouver is facing criminal counts of assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon after he allegedly attacked another man with a knife in the 800-block of Carrall Street around 10:30 a.m.

The victim, a 36-year-old man from Surrey, was at the race baggage claim area when he was struck on the head from behind. Witnesses said the assailant also slashed the victim’s cheek with a small knife before running off towards Expo Boulevard.

Several people, many of them race participants, quickly gave chase. They caught up to him a short distance away and held him until police arrived.

Sun Runner Ron Putzi, 39, was among those who intervened in the incident. Putzi, a former pro basketball player who once played with Steve Nash, had just finished the race and was standing across the street from where the attack occurred when he heard a sudden commotion.

“There was just a lot of noise and a lot of people screaming … ‘Stop that person,’ ‘He just stabbed somebody in the eye,’ and, ‘He’s got a knife,’” said Putzi. He said he didn’t think twice about using his six-foot-six frame to tackle the suspect as the man ran toward him.

“I was definitely pleased that I was the person in his way because I wasn’t intimidated,” he said.

Putzi said others quickly joined him in holding the flailing man down until police arrived.

“He definitely wasn’t going to get much further than me and the other runners,” Putzi said.

The victim of the knife attack was taken to hospital with serious knife wound to the face, was hospitalized for days and has since been released.

dahansen@vancouversun.com

My Sun Run Story by Ron Putzi (2010)

I was exhausted from having completed the 10 km run. Thankfully, I was in-shape therefore able to recover quickly. The day itself was beautiful and seemingly perfect, especially for runners. A gorgeous Georgia Street sunrise came with ideal running conditions, the temperature being around 10 degrees. It was the kind of day every runner loves …and a perfect May morning can remind us that Vancouver, Canada really is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

A zenlike calm came over me after the run – yes, also referred to as runner’s high. I think I am smiling while at the same time desperately catching my breath. It is calming to slowly reflect on the race now that it is done. I have a few come-and-go thoughts… “it’s somewhat funny that we do this to ourselves”… “who consciously trains for these runs?”…“God, I’ll never do that again.”…“I wonder how I placed?”… and of course, “I’m hungry!”

Runners never eat much before their run. Post-race there is usually this exaggerated, perhaps absurd starving sensation, and today I had it. Yes, I had now earned the runner’s right to devour a scrumptious brunch. Pleased with myself, I slowly headed through downtown toward our predetermined restaurant to enjoy a dark roast java, an omelet, and some freshly squeezed juice.

Then things changed.

One day I’d like to find the first man who bravely attempted to grab the violent stabber. The alleged stabber slipped his grip, then scrambled directly my way. The mystery-man and the stabber were kitty-corner from me, on Abbott Street (Roger’s Arena & Costco).

Suddenly the expected din and normal peacefulness post Sun Run was abruptly interrupted. Loud shrieking cries from people asking for help, others obviously in utter panic. Loud accusations, both certain and uncertain, and chaotic finger pointing pursued. I focused my attention on ‘the actual problem’, quite clueless to what had transpired… somewhere close …just out of my sight.

I remind myself throughout that I don’t know if this man fast approaching me is actually the stabber. I don’t have facts; I don’t know the details. For whatever reason, there was an odd contemplative calm about me, a voice, which continuously said, “You don’t know if this is the stabber, you don’t know what he has done” This man is merely the alleged stabber. Meaning, I must display and exercise some “intense moment” rationale. And, that is not easy to do.

In a split second I consciously looked for a knife, then quickly determined he held nothing visible in his hands. Good, for now, my UFC ‘front-kick’ could be shelved. Next thought, “let’s use his forward momentum to tactfully swing us both to the ground (‘Oh Yes, I do this takedown work all the time – NOT!’).

Success!! It worked.

We both fell to the ground and thankfully the mystery-man had also arrived to help me thwart any further attempts by the stabber to struggle free. We asked other people to help, and quickly they offered their support. Suppression complete!!!

In all, about 10 Sun Runners were directly involved in holding the stabber spread-eagle on his back. I was also surprised by the inaction of many bystanders. Taking a man down is one thing (knowing full well you are backed by 50,000 runners), however containing him is difficult. It took ‘many’ motivated men and women many minutes to finally quench his ravenous appetite for escape.

I had heard that the pinning down of a narcotized man, laced on ‘what-have-ya,’ is virtually impossible. If you are fortunate enough to tackle him unharmed, then containing him for any time is another story; it was exhausting.

It felt like an eternity for the usually prompt VPD officers to arrive. Especially during a large metropolitan event, you would think the VPD would be available immediately. Not this time. After approximately five minutes the police cruiser’s siren alerted us help had arrived. Trying to ease the tension, while waiting, I even had the wherewithal and time to respectfully say, “Really, are there no officers at BC Place and Rogers Arena today?” It felt like an inordinately long wait for a civilian’s arrest.

The stabber was panting like a hyena. I bent his wrist aggressively backwards to suppress his unrelenting fight for freedom. I looked at his ripped sinewy muscles (specifically his arms, and abdominal muscles). Like a mad man, he is not giving up so I decided to ever-so-slowly flex his wrist further back until finally he ceded to the pain. He looked at me and agonizingly uttered, “my wrist”. I carefully released the tension – he calmly nodded – then surrendered with a “Thanks”.

VPD Constable Huge N. Strong, tapped me (the civilian) on my left shoulder before confidently asserting, “I’ll take it from here.” At this precise moment, I realized that he and I had distinctly different occupations. I sit sedentary in my swivel chair tapping (and typing), on an alphanumeric keyboard, while HE deals with, among other things, street thugs. That’s logical, I know, however the crystallization of this fact was shockingly instantaneous. Two-handedly, the officer grabbed, lifted, air-walked, and slammed the stabber onto the hood of his cruiser. He then had hand-cuffs applied on the stabbers wrists faster than I could lift my ‘Hometown Hero-self” off the ground. I brushed myself off, shook my head, smirked, and probably said, “Holy Something.” I was in awe. I had been easily upstaged. This wasn’t the constable’s inaugural ‘violent offender’ arrest.

Funny enough, I was still hungry, despite the interruption. My stomach unnaturally turned as I tried to internalize the reality of a man ’s choice to reek havoc on Vancouver’s innocent joggers.

Today, the part of the story I love best (save Constable Huge N. Strong), happened while I was walking away from the scene. I received a tap on my shoulder. Wide eyed, a young couple stopped me and emphatically exclaimed, “We saw the whole thing, and man are you ever our hero! We heard the screams, witnessed the guy running towards you, saw you widen your feet, crouch down, then spread your arms, and all we could murmur was, “Maaaaaan, that.. guy.. is.. f***ed.” They turned my mood around by giving me a view I would never have had. A momentary super-hero feeling had me smiling again and we shook each others hands with a genuine thank you from both sides. I like my arms because they essentially gave me my basketball career. I’m 6’6”, but my reach spans to an unusual 6’10”, thanks to these two, I loved my monkey arms much more today.

I wanted to close begging questions, make connections, align some dots. So, I went to VGH to visit the man who was brutally stabbed in the head for running shoes and pair of sweaty socks. A married man, hard-working, father of two. His second child, a baby, just new to Earth. I have two young children too. My emotions escalate, I am standing there, prim mouthed, listening, thinking, head-shaking, stammering the only word I could… “Jesus.”

The recovering victim Bidong Chen, was accompanied by his brother Biyong Chen (which I adored, because it’s the only humourous piece to this story). Bidong and Biyong – couldn’t make that up.

Both brothers were still distraught and shaken. Both were angered, shocked, and deeply affected. We sat together exchanging pleasantries, numbers, and the usual etceteras. Then, we shared our stories with an intense mindfulness of how extremely lucky Bidong had been not to die or now live with horrible disabilities.

Calvin George Walker’s knife went 3.5 inches into Bidong’s skull and dug straight into his brain. Miraculously, his blade slipped just passed Bidong’s left eye leaving a small unassuming incision-like mark on his face. By merely millimeters, Bidong was spared severe chronic levels of injury or death.

Special thanks to the mystery man for initiating the first attempt to bring the stabber down (I would love to meet him again). Thanks to the Vancouver Sun Run runners who quickly helped us. High-Five to VPD’s Constable Huge N. Strong who’s starry Oscar performance and pivotal role in “To Catch A Thief” was unforgettably epic.