Little Brother In Our Program Is Hero

The following is a recent article in the Post-Gazette about one of the children in our program.

Shawn, Quick to Action Sunday, - September 30, 2007
By Brian O'Neill
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

First came the arson, then the burglaries, and when I asked West View's veteran police chief if there's anything people should be on the lookout for, he was ready."We're looking for very short people who can hide under rocks,'' Chief Charles Holtgraver said. "They have to be the lowest form of life we can deal with, victimizing someone who's already been a victim.''

The fire at 15-unit brick apartment building at 440 Center Ave. began late on a Sunday night two weeks ago, and though everyone got out safely and a suspected arsonist was arrested that night, smoke and water damage has made the place uninhabitable. That allowed burglars to break in last Tuesday night and steal TVs, computers and more from empty apartments. Anyone with information that might help police find the bad guys can call the borough office at 412-931-2800.

That's the bad news. For the good stuff, I drove up to Joe's Hot Dog & Hoagie Shop on West View's main drag. That's where Shawn [Ed.- One of the children in our program] does his seventh-grade homework while his mom, Lori, works until 4 p.m.

He told me the story of the fire from the beginning. Shawn and his mother lived in a basement apartment at 440 Center Ave. He had his friend, Scott, also 12, staying over that Sunday night Sept. 16. Around 11:30 p.m., Shawn went to the kitchen. Hearing something in the hallway, he looked through the peephole and saw a stranger who appeared to be in his 40s.

When Shawn opened the door to ask what he was doing, the guy said "laundry." The apartment is next to the laundry room so, OK, Shawn shut the door.

Soon after, he heard a sound he didn't like and opened the door again to see the same guy lugging Shawn's bicycle, which he kept in the laundry room, up the steps.

Shawn is modest about what he did next, which was to confront the guy, who had 30 years and a considerable height and weight advantage. "I stopped the dude and got my bike,'' Shawn said.
When he told me that, his mom beamed, grabbed his arm from the next chair and said, "I love you so much.''

As he retrieved his bike, he saw a fire at the front entrance. He told Scott to call 911 (and he and his Mom tell me Scott should get as much credit as anyone). Then he knocked on his neighbors' door and told them to get out, because there was fire in the laundry room, too.

Then he chased the stranger up the hill, far enough to see where he was going. That helped police make a quick arrest. West View police charged Lance Haas, 46, of Ross, with arson, reckless endangerment, risking a catastrophe, criminal mischief and burglary.

"These kids absolutely did a great job," Chief Holtgraver said. "Without them, we wouldn't have anything.'' I asked Shawn's mom if she was proud of her son. "I always have been,'' she said. "This only proves it to the world." About then Brian Bigley, manager of the hot dog shop, walked over with a dog smothered with chili, cheese and onion. "This is our new Shawn Hero Dog.''

It's still "The Big Dog" on the menu, but you get the idea. Folks who know Shawn are proud of him. Lori thought that she and Shawn were escaping crime when they moved from the city five years ago. She's not too worried about losing material things, apart from family photos, but she's pretty busy between working and studying for her bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Point Park University.

"At 40, I'm finally getting it together,'' she said. It's tough to think it can all go with "the flick of a lighter, the strike of a match.'' They've been staying in a nearby motel, courtesy of the Red Cross, but should begin renting half of a friend's duplex this weekend. When I suggest it's good to have friends, she says, "It's good to have a Big Brother, too.''

That's Shawn David Roberts, young Shawn's mentor through Big Brothers and Big Sisters for the past five years. Mr. Roberts moved across the state 31/2 years ago, but comes back once or twice a month. Sometimes his sales job puts him here, but often he drives in just to throw the football around with Shawn, see a movie, talk about homework, talk about life.

Mr. Roberts has set up an account at SDR Charitable Trust, c/o Big Brothers and Big Sisters, 5989 Penn Circle South, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. He hopes to find or buy the essentials for a household. A North Hills business and the Marine Corps League/Three Rivers Leatherneck Detachment already have combined to donate beds and bedding.

Mr. Roberts isn't saying Shawn never made a wrong move, but he has a positive attitude and "the kid's got guts. He knows what's right and wrong and he knows the smart thing to do. That doesn't surprise me that he did that.''

I can't help but contrast all this with that ridiculous modern movement marketed by career criminals that barks, "Stop Snitching.'' Shawn and Scott went by an earlier, better, more conscientious slogan: "Do the right thing.''