Richmond’s Most Unusual Robbery: A First Hand Account

It is not uncommon to find me writing about the news, however in this case I am not only the author of this post but the subject of it as well.  Despite that fact I will do my best to remain objective and simply relay the story including what I believe are some important facts that seem to have been overlooked in recent reports.

On Monday June 6, 20011 I was walking along East Main street in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom, a walk that is usually routine and quit uneventful.  This day however was to be anything but routine or uneventful.

As I walked in the 1800 block of east Main street I passed a man sitting on the sidewalk, as I passed he began saying that I was faking and I didn’t need the cane. Initially I thought that this must be someone I had met in the past, I turned and step closer and asked, “Who are you”. As he continued his tirade I saw his hand move and he opened a pocketknife and acted as if he was (unclear on this part) cleaning his nails or whittling.

At this point I said “have a good day” and began to walk away, he continue to hurl insults such as you are faking, you don’t need that F… cane, you are taking advantage etc.  I thought I heard him rustling around as if he was getting up, I soon realized that he was in fact walking towards me from behind.

My only thought at this point was “I can’t have my back to this guy”, I turned to face him and as I had feared he still had the knife in his hand.  At this point he was only a couple of feet away, he continued his verbal assault and his hands seemed to be flailing around rapidly as he ranted. It took all of my limited vision to try to keep up with the knife.

He took a few steps as if he was going to walk away, suddenly he turned and approach me again this time saying “I’m taking this F…. cane” and grabbing it from my hand.  As he walked away with my cane I pulled my cell phone from my pocket and tried to dial 911, again he returned, this time slapping the phone from my hand breaking it and striking me along the outside corner of my right eye.

After he walked away I went into the nearest door I [later heard that it was a gym) and the police where called. The first police officer arrived in less then a minute followed by several others. With the help of witnesses police located and arrested William V. Carter within approximately 10 minutes, Carter is being held in the Richmond City Jail, he is charged with robbery and is currently awaiting a preliminary hearing.