Councilwoman Rochelle “Rikki” Spector is recovering in the hospital, but says she is “doing alright” several hours after two teenagers allegedly assaulted her and stole her car in a South Baltimore parking garage this morning.
According to police, Spector, who represents the 5th District, got into the driver’s seat of her car earlier today in the garage on Pierside Drive off of Key Highway in South Baltimore. But once she was inside, two foolish juveniles snuck up on her, assaulted her and threw her to the ground before trying to drive off with her car.
The unwise young assailants didn’t get very far at all thanks to a security-controlled gate at the exit and two upstanding garage employees. Police say both of them saw the whole incident unfold and were quick to detain one of the teens, a 15-year-old male, until officers arrived. Unfortunately, the other one, described as a similar-aged boy wearing a dark jacket, ran away in the direction of Key Highway.
Spector is 80 years old and is has been deemed “Dean of the Baltimore City Council.” After serving in office for seven terms dating back to 1977, she is retiring next week. In a statement, she thanked city police, two emergency personnel members in particular named James and Brian “the good Samaritans working in the garage who heard my pleas for help” and assisted police by detain the one teenager.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who’s also leaving her post next week, called the incident “extremely disheartening” in a statement.
“Councilwoman Spector is a dear friend and colleague, and as with all incidents of violence, it is devastating when innocent people become the target of criminal behavior,” the outgoing mayor said.
Sadly, Councilwoman Spector is in good company among carjacking victims in the city this year. According to the most recent data from police, they jumped 57 percent through Nov. 26 of this year compared to the same period in 2015. Police have previously said teenagers are driving much of the increase.
