Blind Man Beaten in Philadelphia as Witnesses Simply Watch or Walk Away

Philadelphia police have released surveillance footage of a 33-year-old blind man being beaten and robbed in the street as witnesses simply rubberneck or stroll by.

The footage, taken from the Germantown area of the city, shows a suspect push the blind man to the ground from behind before delivering two punches and nearly a dozen kicks to the victim. The victim was robbed, and the suspect casually walked away.

Police say one 911 call was placed to police after the attack, but that the call did not specifically mention that the man had been assaulted.

Philadelphia Police Chief Charles Ramsey told a local FOX affiliate that instances of witness inaction are “becoming more and more common”.

“People now just sit around. It’s just a shame,” he said.

He added that witnesses are more likely to take out their phones and record a video than to call police.

The suspect in this case has been identified as a 29-year-old Mustafa Guyton, a man who lives near the scene of the crime. He is currently at large.

Meanwhile, Philly police are being criticized for delaying the release of the footage. The attack took place on Oct. 2, but the video wasn't made public until Oct. 9.

“We’ve gotta get these things out,” Chief Ramsey told the press. “And a guy like this has to get off the street very, very quickly, so we’re on it.”

The beating and robbing incident is drawing comparisons to a September attack on a Philadelphia transit officer during which witnesses simply passed by or filmed the attack.