This is the email I sent to my boss after the incident in its entirety. There's more underneath it too.

Ms Hill:
I wanted to let you know about the events that transpired today on my way to work, I feel that I owe you that, knowing I was supposed to work from 3:00-9:00pm tonight. I'm sure by now you are already somewhat aware of what happened but I wanted to clarify exactly what happened.

Like every Wednesday on my way to work I got off the red line and proceeded to walk over to True Vine. I came earlier than usual, hoping to make it to the office by 2:30 because my enrollment for classes was set to take place at that time and I didn't want to miss the opportunity for a class that I wanted. At 2:25 I had checked my phone and I was crossing the playground over to Normal (I think the street name is). I turned onto the street and opened my laptop as I walked in order to make sure I had it ready for the 2:30 enrollment assignment.

Behind me, I heard footsteps and I turned around to look who it was. An African American male about 5'10 with a gray shirt tried to run past me and swipe the computer from my hands. I turned my body away from the attacker and looked at him and asked him what he was trying to do. He ordered me to hand over my laptop and I refused so I turned around and started to run back towards the playground that I passed through. Unfortunately, three men were behind me stopping my escape. I stood frozen as the original mugger pushed me into the other three and they demanded I hand my laptop over, again I refused. I was then punched across the face by another African American male about 5'5-5'6 with a white polo. The total number of people around me was five.

I fell to the ground not hoping to instigate more violence and someone stepped on my head to stop me from getting up. They swiped my pants pockets and stole my laptop, iPod, cell phone, external hard drive and ran off into the alley. Someone on the Robeson High School baseball field saw the attack and called the cops. There, I waited as the cops came to take the profiles of the people I saw. The people around me waited until the police came and we went into the school and looked at the security tapes to see if it caught what happened, I just was out of view of the camera it turns out.

I don't know what time it was when the police brought me to True Vine to talk to you, but you weren't there. In my state I was emotional and aggravated so I apologize for the way I came off to those there. I left with the police and they gave me a ride home to Fullerton.

I am sitting on a friends computer now having completed putting the pictures on the websites slide show. I feel I have completed the last objective you gave me. Today, my worst fears about Englewood were realized and I am truly sorry that it happened, I would have gladly stayed on the position. Talking to my family and confronting my own personal conflicts, I regret to inform you that today will be the last day I come to True Vine to be an intern with the organization. My talks with you a few weeks ago, should be a testament to the experience that I had working at 'Imagine Englewood if.' If you still need me to write up something about my experience, omitting the most recent occurrence, I will do so.

I am going to be emailing my supervisor after I finish with this email and will be letting her know what happened. Please understand my side and I wish you all the best in continuing the efforts within the Englewood community, I know how much they need it.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the websites or anything feel free to email me. Know though, I don't have a laptop at the moment and am not able to read my email as often.

Take care,
Eric David Ruelle


So the little bit of extra stuff I had to write was about the police giving me a ride home. Not only did South Siders reinforce typical stereotypes but the Chicago police as well continued the trend.

The police took a while to show up to the place where I was attacked and it was only one car with three people in it. They took down the information of the people and said they would go looking for them and that another car was on their way. We saw the other police car drive right by us and again it took a while for them to find where I was, even though I gave them exact intersection names.

So the two police officers that I spent the most time with were, to me, Sergei Federov (the NHL player) and Erik Estrada (from CHiPs). They were nice. They took me anywhere I needed to go. It wasn't fun for me though because I was riding in the back of the police patrol car, which isn't comfortable and alienating.

The thing about these two were was that they didn't care what they say or did in front of me, obviously. They offered to take me back to DePaul, which I didn't really care about, I mean, they stole pretty much everything I had. Instead of going the highway, they took me down Halsted. Are you kidding me po-po? Referred to one of the officers as "the scenic route." They seemed less concerned about getting me back to DePaul than wasting time getting me there.

On the way we talked about sports, avi.

They also talked about getting "shit-faced" and "plastered" on the weekends...apparently Sergei enjoys the spirits.

The experience of riding in the cop car can't be beat I must say, especially when you've done nothing wrong...it's funny to see how stop lights become stop signs and what they say about the other drivers on the road.

I got out of the vehicle at the corner of Racine and Fullerton. Fortunately, there was someone right next to me from my residence hall,...he looked at me, paused, and said "Sup?" As nonchalantly as I could I said "Sup?" back and walked down Fullerton towards University Hall. I felt pretty badass by doing it.

In all,...I had a pretty interesting day...I got mugged, quit my job, bought tickets to go home, emailed my professors about the incident, and all my important information is gone. Where do I go from here? I have no idea.

As to my physical condition, I'm sore, my head hurts and I have a few cuts and bruises.