Crowd turns out for Women’s Safety Forum

By Malynda Fulton

VALDOSTA — The room was packed at the Women’s Safety Forum, hosted by State Rep. Amy Carter, at First Christian Church Thursday evening.

During the forum, attendees had the opportunity to address the truths and myths of various e-mails about recent crimes against women in Lowndes County, as well as asking law enforcement officers about methods to prevent them from becoming the victims of brutal or fatal attacks. Among the panel of law enforcement officers were Lowndes County Deputy Amanda Giddens, Valdosta Police Department Cmdr. Eugene Bell, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Training Coordinator Joseph Dukes and LCSO Investigator Felicia Brantley.

The audience also got to hear the accounts of two local women who were attacked and escaped danger.

Stephanie Burnham was leaving her church in broad daylight a little over a year ago when she spotted a man by a dumpster as she walked to her vehicle. While approaching her vehicle, the man appeared to be approaching a nearby vehicle; however, he grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth as she attempted to enter her car. During the tussle that subsequently occurred, Burnham was threatened at knifepoint as she kicked and screamed hoping that someone would hear her.

Eventually a man noticed the scuffle and came to assist Burnham. The offender fled the scene after threatening the man. Some men from the church chased and caught the assailant a few miles from the church. He was arrested, charged and recently pleaded guilty to the attack.

Burnham spoke of how the attack changed her outlook on life and safety. She also advised the audience, “If anything like this ever happens to you, please fight.”

Blaine Tyson relived the night she escaped possible danger by accidentally running over a man after he attempted to attack her in her car. Last month, Tyson was in her vehicle stopped at a red traffic light around 11:15 p.m. when a truck pulled up to the light in the lane next to her. She had her windows down at the time.

“I looked over at the truck, but everything seemed okay, so I went back to playing on my iPod and then I felt a hand over my mouth,” Tyson said.

A man suddenly tried to pull Tyson out of the vehicle. The seat belt prevented him from pulling her completely from the car. Tyson immediately hit the gas to escape and realized that she had run over the offender’s foot or leg while doing so.

Tyson told the audience of how she now remains aware of her surroundings at all times. “I was one of those girls who grew up in this community and thought that nothing like this would ever happen to me.” Tyson then challenged attendees to always take safety precautions when riding alone.

Bell explained that while these incidents did occur in Valdosta, attacks such as these are not common in the community. However, he did advise audience members to call law enforcement if they encounter suspicious activity and warned them to not make themselves targets.

Dukes added, “Although statistically we don’t have a high-crime city, events can and will happen.”

After giving some safety tips, the panel addressed various questions from audience members, including the accuracy of several recent rumors about crimes against women in the community.

In response to the growing number of emails circulating about dangerous attacks, Carter organized the forum to “arm the community with awareness and education.”

“Incidents have been rampant in the last few months,” Carter previously told the Times. “Through cooperation with Valdosta Police Department and Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office we are able to address issues with the officers who are the first on the scene of these crimes against women. My goal in sponsoring this forum is to empower women to provide the education for self-defense and awareness of our surroundings. We must take a proactive approach to addressing and ending these attacks.”

The following safety tips were among several presented by Bell during the forum:

- Always use common sense and vigilance.

- Don’t be oblivious to the people around you. Don’t let your guard down even in the daylight.

- As much as possible stay in well-lit areas at night.

- If anyone asks you for your wallet, give it to them.

- If you see someone broken down on the side of a road, don’t stop. Call 911 and let a dispatcher know.

- Keep all house doors and windows locked.

- If someone knocks on your door at strange hours or seems suspicious, do not answer. Call 911 if necessary.

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