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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Woman arrested in Faron Hall beating

By: Staff Writer

7/02/2010 11:48 PM | Comments: 66

Faron Hall, formerly homeless, saved two people from drowning in the Red River. Here he is seen with injuries he suffered in a Christmas Eve assault.

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

Faron Hall, formerly homeless, saved two people from drowning in the Red River. Here he is seen with injuries he suffered in a Christmas Eve assault.

WINNIPEG -- A 31-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection with the beating of Winnipeg's "homeless hero."

Geraldine Ruth Colomb faces charges of aggravated assault in connection with stabbing Faron Hall Saturday afternoon. She is detained at the Winnipeg Remand Centre.

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Hall, 45, was rushed to the Health Sciences Centre Saturday afternoon in unstable condition with numerous injuries to his upper body. Hospital officials said Hall is in stable condition but remains in critical care.

Police say Hall was socializing with another man and woman at an apartment in the 100 block of Marion Street around 3:25 p.m. At some point, the trio became involved in a verbal dispute and the two allegedly assaulted and assaulted Hall, and fled the apartment. Hall was found by apartment security.

The investigation is continuing and a further arrest is pending, police said.

Hall became known as the "homeless hero" after rescuing a teen who fell into the Red River last summer, and then a woman who fell into the same river last fall. He was awarded a bravery medal for his actions.

Hall was also assaulted on Christmas Eve, beaten by people he said had recognized him from the media stories.

city.desk@freepress.mb.ca

History

Updated on Sunday, February 7, 2010 at 11:51 AM CST:
Arrest announcement and details of assault; update of victim's condition.

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But is he a hero for getting that girl drunk before she fell into the river and then saving her? He's also part of the problem. A true hero would of taken the booze away from her and to prevent her from getting into that situation in the first place.

It's great to see all of the people that care and mean well for someone like Faron. However, some of us have to face reality (as maybe Faron's family has). In my own family, we have an addict on prescribed medication. Our family has done everything in our power to help this person. She went from a slum with no utilities to Manitoba Housing. Things were "looking up", or so we thought. Not so. She is still the same person as she was BEFORE addiction. She wants her own way all of the time. We are expected to cater to her wants and whims and if we don't, there's a big argument, with yelling, swearing and throwing stuff around. She also chain smokes, and is up most of the night. We are afraid that she will fall asleep with a lit cigarette. She has gone out, and not locked the doors with everyone else in the house sleeping. Many of the reasons why some "families" cannot help their relative. It's really sad and heartbreaking for all of us. I'm not going to write about her "prescribed addiction", as that is another story, that has been told and researched, to No End.

Brian, it doesn't matter what issues he has, he is still a hero for the good he has done.

I don't get why people are praying to god and worshipping this guy. Every week somebody innocent is stabbed for no reason and yet you guys don't bown down and cry to the skies for those people.

Yet you have a homeless alchoalic guy who has had MANY opportunities to change his life and he gets stabbed and the guy is deemed some noble warrior.

In case your memory is short, the last person who he saved was with him drinking and sniffing by the river. If the man was a true hero he wouldn't of allowed his friend to do it in the first place.

I wish Mr Hall a speedy recovery, and then once he's done that I hope he cleans up otherwise to me he's just another downtown vagrant that I will go out of my way to avoid being hassled for spare change.

Sorry to offend some people, but instead of spending energy praying for this guy , why not pray for REAL heroes like the Firefighters, Doctors, Police who actually save lives and contribute to society day in and day out.

Perhaps mr Hall should clean up his act and stop hanging around with alchoalic and drug addicts. I'm sure the Siloam Mission would be glad to help him clean up his act and get away from his bad lifestyle.

Mr Hall did do some acts of bravery, but people lets not make this guy a saint. I'm sure he's been involved in just as many "bad" situations.

How is this guy a hero? He was at the right place at the right time and if I'm not mistaken the second time he resuced his alcoholic female friend. This is not a hero and should not be recognized as a hero. Let's move on, Faron Hall is another alcohol abuser, how about we focus our time and attention on real issues that are facing our Province/ city. How about the huge increase in violience and crime in one of our city's oldest areas, let's focue our time on something meaningful and not wastes our time on what our society calls a "hero".

This man will always be a hero and shows us that genuine Good exists in everyone.

@gail... I'm guessing the headline has changed since you posted but the one I am reading now is "Woman Arrested in Faron Hall stabbing"... obscene?

To charge the tax paying public with failure on the front page is abuse. You are guilty of manipulation just as any addict is and if Faron wishes to continue to keep company with certain people that is his choice. We cannot dictate lifestyle even though we want to. But society is not at fault. That headline is obscene.

I will pray for you Faron, yes its hard and when someone trys to quit drinking, you lose all the only "friends" u thought u had. People get lonely while sobering up and miss thier buddies. Another evil thing is jealously, his street friends probably were jealous of him and probably ridiculed him of trying to recover. Pressure. I dont remember if the families of the two people he saved ever try to help him?

@Kinguni

Why are you lecturing me about "panhandlers"?

I think my question about why he was taken to HSC instead of the St. B is legitimate, if he was in serious conditon, he would have triaged to near the top of the line at St. B as he would at HSC. My issue is the transport time is several minutes instead of seconds. A no accepting ambulance cases order out from the St. B itself is the only logical explanation as to why he wasn't taken there. In which case, it means the south east side of the city was not receiving proper medical coverage at the time. Which is an issue all should be concerned with.

Faron Hall was in treatment for 58 days during which time not a single worker from any organization made a single visit or inquiry. It's important to note that Faron self referred to treatment. One would think that Manitoba Housing, Income Assistance and other programs funded to assist people like Faron would have taken advantage of those 58 days to meet with him and his treatment team to plan for his discharge. During those 58 days, Faron's only visitor was me -a caring citizen. Faron was discharged from treatment without benefit of any level of aftercare planning. Under those circumstances he could only return to the very same circumstances he sought refuge from in treatment. Like so many others, Faron requires considerable support through long-term relationships with caring service providers. Unfortunately, what Faron needs seems not to be available. Faron told me he's received an eviction notice. So what now? Is his punishment to be a return to homelessness? We've done nothing to help this wonderful soul. The world that Faron lives in is as cold as the harshest winter he's endured. I hope you - the readers - will begin to ask questions on his behalf.

Hey dundermuffin!
Get your head out of your butt! This man, even with his personal problems, is head and shoulders above the likes of you! This man, saved two people from crtain death! How many can you claim credit for? As far as sleeping at my home .... I'll have a bed ready for him and will personally make a darn good meal for him in the morning when he gets up!

Dunder Miffin sure has a lot extra time on hand to always post on WFP and review google streets.

Did google drive by Dunderville?

My thoughts and prayers are with you Feron!

avatar

BTW: The Province needs to crack down at that apartment block on Marion. It's so bad, even Google Street View doesn't drive past it.

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Here's the scoop. He happened to be on the river bank when:

A) Kid goofs around and falls off bridge.
B) Intoxicated people fall into river.

In both cases, he was there to save them. If he was elsewhere doing something with his life, those two folks would have died. So his choice of friends and lifestyle had something to do with him being there. 50 y/o women from Tuxedo do not hang out under bridges reading their Kindles.

Just because you save two lives, it doesn't automatically change the person you are. He's just as flawed as everyone else in this world, but being a street person makes for great headlines. We just assume the homeless are devoid of moral instincts. So he's the hero of the moment, everyone wants to be in the photo.

Would Sam let the guy sleep over on his couch? Anyone here offering that sort of compassion, or are prayers and well-wishes as close as we want to get with this?

We're putting so much pressure on the guy to become someone he just isn't. I feel sorry that he's under such a microscope. All the accolades and media coverage has probably made his life worse (if that was possible).

He falls off the wagon, hooks up with sketchy 'friends' again and people who don't have the gonads to live a week on the street judge him.

I wouldn't blame him if he lets the next idiot in the water drown.

@Al the Fish: Faron hangs out with his street person friends around Marion/St. Mary's. The same people you see trying to get money from motorists there, the same ones that you see passed out in the bus shelters there, the same ones that stabbed one of their own in the bus shelter there about a month ago. If he's not in that area then he's likely in the bus shelter mid-block of Fort between Graham and Portage which is another drinking hangout for Winnipeg"s "panhandlers".

Now, they would have taken him to HSC because he was likely to receive care faster there than at St. Boniface hospital.

Bronwyn..while the instigators of this assault are on the lower food chain of society..you should rethink the term "Brain Damaged"...I find it insulting to those and their loved ones fighting with this condition!!!

Wow, I can't believe that people would do that
to someone who risks his own life for others!
Ungrateful pieces of trash that they are for sure!
I hope you heal fast Faron.

Faron Hall is a better human being drunk than most people are sober, so who the h### cares if he's drinking again?! This man has put his own life on the line to save other people twice that we know of; he's probably done it other times too. If anyone in this depressing, violent, ugly City deserves to be treated with kindness and respect it is Mr. Hall. I hope he recovers quickly and can testify against the person/people who did this to him.

You keep bringing tears to my eyes whenever I read about you Faron, I wish you something better and I wish I knew how to help you see that way yourself. I believe You can do that for yourself Faron!!

the people who did this are brain damaged, with a long life of alcohol abuse and drug abuse its likely these people dont know right from wrong. Its pretty tragic to think there are SO many people like this walking the streets. As far as Hall goes with the going back to booze, its hard to undo 45 years of damage and make a break for it. Its about a community of support, and until the entire community owns their faults, heal their pain and banned together to triumph forward its going to be destruction that is the outcome. And for some reason those who follow that path are "ok" with it. Its sickening, there is no sense of pride, and respect doesnt exist, respect for ones self and respect for others

Very sad. It's unfortunate there is so much hatred in this city.

I wish some people wouldn't judge Faron for his decisions in these comments. What gives you the right? We don't judge you for your poor decisions.

@ DaveA, joseofthenorth's comments about Faron running for mayor aren't ridiculous. Faron would never have a chance, but the point is he would bring up a lot of important issues to the election that people don't usually consider when voting. This would force other politicians to address their stance on these issues. This is something that used to be more common before they installed a large upfront fee for candidates - some people would simply run to bring very important issues to the table, otherwise unaddressed.

I'm not saying that Faron should run for mayor. He should do whatever he wants. But I'm just saying that when people suggest that, it's not ridiculous.

A wise man once said to me: "If you want to be successful in life, hang out with successful people and do what they do". Faron, you need to hang out with a better class of people. You can't climb out of a hole if you surround yourself with people who, even by hugging you, hold you back. God Bless you, and continue to give you hope.

A question to the Free Press for followup, Mr. Hall was assaulted in the 100 block of Marion, and if it was such a severe assault, why wasn't he take to the Saint Boniface Hospital a couple blocks away instead of kilometers away to HSC?

I wish you a full recovery Mr. Hall, your life has been in jeopardy 3 times in a such a short period of time, I hope you haven't used up all your chances.

They who attack Faron shall be scrutinized for many years.

Get well soon, Faron.

Sounds like a good guy who surrounds himself with bad people.

How sordid!

shame shame shame, this man cannot catch a break :( Prays and thoughts for Faron!

I am so disgusted by this that I have trouble typing as I go.
SO typical that a sector of society envies someone amongst them who has risen against all odds, trying to turn their life around, is a local hero twice over and overcoming fierce obstacles and daemons.
The stabbers should be publicly humiliated and made to do some very hash work in jail as boot camp.But, we already know the result will be a slap on the wrist and the same up;people will commit more crimes.Stay tuned.

God be by your side Faron, I love you and wish you well. You are my true hero and always will be. Speedy recovery my dear man.

Faron most of us will never save one person in our life time But you saved two. God takes care of kind hearted people like yourself,and these bums wouldn't save anybody they just take. Well I hope they take jail real well because thats where they belong and will go .You have the heart to do what you did twice and I know you have the heart to pull thew. Bless you and get well soon.

FH is not only immersed in the real streets of a crumbling city core, he also has to deal with idealists like us. Painting a cape on FH after his heroic deeds has been a huge disservice to him. We want heroes to win, to represent us when we fail to find heroism in our own day or month. We must start to leave this guy alone right now or he wont make it. The day he made the news my partner and I feared more for his mental and physical safety than we would ever need to fear for our own. FH was put on a pedastill for all to see, see him up there in his new coat, going to the game...you notice hes more alone and vulnerable up there than he ever will be again. FH is indeed a hero, but we fear he will be a tragic one if he doesnt start over away from us. FH doesnt need any more press unless he calls you. Leave him alone if you want him to find peace. FH probably got stabbed because of who WE made him seem to others - not who he is. Were giving it to him from all sides, but none of us are going to be there to catch him if he falls. Farron Hall deserves what he wants and needs and should know that he doesnt owe this town anything, never did. FH doesnt need to be your hero anymore.

As the saying goes...never judge a person unless you've walked a mile in their shoes. This man has had some hard knocks and did not deserved to be attacked. I wish for him a speedy recovery and hope that he can slowly turn his life around.

We live in such a sick world.

Winnipeg: One violent wasteland of a city

What would it take to help out folks in these situations (homeless and substance abuse) ???
What would it take to prevent others from getting into a life like this???
Does ANYONE anywhere have ANY answers?
(and I mean real answers - real solutions, not some god crap)

My heart goes out to you Faron. The battle you fight is like no other...if people have never seen one close to them suffer through it....they'll never know. Some make it through...some don't, but they should not be judged harshly if they lose the good fight. It doesn't change the person they really are. Faron...you have proved to yourself, and the world how much good is inside you. You have more heart than some who have never touched a drop.

For those who inflicted this stabbing I bet they're hiding now to ensure no one knows it was them who performed this act....

Good luck Faron, be who you are, don't give in to the pressure, and if finding the life of sobriety is truely you YOU want ...you'll find your way.

Dear Faron, Please get well soon. More people with as much caring and compassion as you have shown are needed in this often judgmental, cold society we live in. Know that there are many people who genuinely care about you and hope you find your way to true happiness and fulfillment.

Here is a man who risked his life to save others despite his station in life.Only jealous cowards would do harm to someone trying to better themselves against the odds.I hope he makes a full recovery.To the people who did this,look at him as an inspiration not as an enemy.

The problem with Faron is he is a drunken street person. Faron doesn't know when to shut his mouth and the fame has gone to his head. I've run into him a few times since his newfound fame, and he is an obnoxious jerk. I'm not suprised someone stabbed him. I don't condone it, but i'm not surprised.

Faron, I'll pray for you to meet your demons and overcome them so that your life can take a different road...take care and hold strong.

Somewhere out there, a pompus, opportunistic columnist rejoices that he suddenly has months of material.

Thank you cptkirk,also I believe the Gordon Sinclair article stated that Faron started drinking again before he even left treatment.
sillyrichie these types of incidents could happen in any town or city for pete's sake!

I guess the Faron for Sainthood campaign has already started.

to sillyrichie, pray tell me what Utopian City you have moved to with no crime and poverty. I am sure we all want to join you and bad mouth Winnipeg for its few short commings.

Media celebrity, but he hasn't changed his ways. He's very good at heart and humble, but prefers the comfort and company of those he knows, those who take comfort from the bottle, those that you see passed out in a bus shelter after spending what could have been for a good meal and room for some bottles of beer. Those who choose the lifestyle they lead will end up hurt, although that choice is made for them by the substances they abuse, left on the streets by the elders whom abandoned their own people.

I hope for a full recovery for you Faron, and that you will finally see the light, accepting that the help people give you is to help you change your ways and make new friends, leaving those that would abuse you behind.

"Unfortunately there are two ways of having the tallest building in town. One is to build and the other is to smash everyone's that is bigger than yours." How profound.

How very sad to hear this news. I hope you will make a full recovery

get well soon faron!
and shame on the people who did this to you.....i'm sure you would never turn your angelic back on them if they ever needed your heroism! you are a great person!

lacinwpg, Gordon Sinclair did a piece about Faron about a month ago or so; about how he went back to alcohol immediately after getting out of the treatment centre. In fact, Faron admitted he was drunk or hungover when he awarded a cheque to a local charity (IIRC the Downtown Project, or something along those lines).

It's unfortunate for Faron, but these are the risks with living that lifestyle, he knows it and just can't climb that hurdle. I wish him a speedy recovery.

sillyrichie, I guess your name says it all.

Daddy Owe..Did I miss something in the article? where does it say he went back to "his old lifestyle of alcohol dependancy". I wish him a speedy recovery.

Joseofthenorth, you're kidding right?

Wow, this story makes me more happy than ever I left Winnipeg when I did. Nauseating. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Faron...

What a great city we live in where local heroes are jumped and stabbed...

Hope he pulls through OK. Faron should take a shot at the mayor's chair next fall. He might have a few short comings to deal with but this guy will put his life on the line for what he believes in and certainly wouldn't sell
us out. A definite step up for Winnipeg! 100% positive vibes going your way, find that inner strength! You can do it.

The people that did this to a man who has risked his own life twice to save others look at him and see everything they should have been. They are envious of the type of person he is and can't stand the thought that they are less than that. Much, much less.

I hope Faron makes a full recovery. Shame on you SOBs -- attacking anyone at all, much less someone with nothing of value to his name except his heart and caring nature. [edited]

Mr. Hall is in my thoughts and prayers. Such losers in this world.

It really is a shame that Faron Hall made the decision to return to his old lifestyle of alcohol dependancy. He was doing so well when he was in treatment last year, however I believe he hade a fatal error when he decided that he was going to continue associating with his old drinking buddies.Hopefully he survives this latest ordeal and decides to give sobriety another chance and hopefully he realizes that these people are not his true friends at all.

"Hall was also assaulted on Christmas Eve, beaten by people he said had recognized him from the media stories."

But yet the Free Press and Gordon Sinclair keep going to the well. Unbelievable.

Unfortunately there are two ways of having the tallest building in town. One is to build and the other is to smash everyone's that is bigger than yours.

There are just too many smashers in this world.

Good luck to you Faron, you are a builder.

Got a description of these guys?

Mr. Hall has put his life on the line in his genuine love for other people and this is what happens?

All I have to say is that anyone who perpetuates others' hardships is pathetic. Utterly pathetic.

What losers to attack someone who risked it all to help others. I hope they get what is coming to them.

The whole thing is just so sad.....

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