CALL THE POLICE!!!

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marksman13

marksman13

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Just a funny story about an event that took place tonight. I figure some of you will get a kick out of it. Mods feel free to move this if it is inappropriate.

So, I'm taking my dog out tonight so she can do what dogs do. Brand spanking new Glock 22 in tow, and I hear shouting. This isn't college kids having a drunken, good time shouting. It is some, "I'm really pissed off and somebody might get hurt shouting." The guy across the street from me is beating on the door of his shed and screaming at someone inside. "Call the police! Call 'em! I don't care, you stupid b%$@h!!!" He repeats this about twice before I pull out my cell phone and dial 911.

No need for me to run over there and risk having to use my weapon and possibly end up in court, right? So, as I am calling the cops, he looks over and sees me on the phone. He starts screaming all kinds of drunken, nasty insults about my chicken s@%t a$$, and telling me he's not afraid of the cops. At this point, I'm just trying to get the dog back inside and talk to the EMS operator. He starts walking in my direction and my weapon comes out, behind my back and out of his line of sight as I move the dog towards the door.

The operator tells me that the cops should be there any minute and wishes me a good night (kinda rude, but I was ready to get off the phone anyway to free up my left hand). The guy stops at the edge of his yard and starts broadcasting for the whole neighborhood to call the police. "I ain't scared of no po-lice! Call 'em!"

I've made up my mind that he must be high or drunk (possibly both), and that my best course of action if he comes at me is to put him down FAST. I was going through the motions in my head when the first cruiser pulled up. The loud mouth's reaction was classic. He runs. He just takes off screaming like a girl. It was so bizzare that I litterally began to laugh out loud. This 250 lb guy, who was daring someone to call the cops 5 seconds earlier was litterally squealing like a pig at the top of his lungs and hauling butt down the street.

Turns out he probably was high and drunk and that he had beaten the crap out of his girlfriend. He was in tears when they brought him back to the car. Was it justice? Not really, but it was damn close. I really hope he gets some jail time out of this. Drugs and alcohol create some crazy stories. Sorry this turned out so long. I just wish I had been able to video tape this one. BTW, any suggestions for what I could have done different. Always willing to listen to advice from others. Good night ladies and gentlemen. Hope the rest oof it is quiet.
 
Hahahahaha, BIGDADDY, this is actually a farily nice neighborhood. This is the first time I have ever felt threatened at all here. I knew somebody would make that comment.:D
 
Hmmm, everybody lived, no one went home with bullets in them, you didnt have to sight down on anyone, and a girlbeater spends some time in jail. All actions sounded reasonable, not alerting to early, deciding to clear the area, etc.

Sounds like a good end to a good story.
 
From your story I got a mental image of you standing in front of your own front door getting the dog inside and this guy is on the edge of your property yelling. If that was the case, your best course of action if he came after you would be to get inside and close the door, if at all possible.

If you weren't in a position to get to the door, fine, you should probably clarify that.
 
Good job! Pat yourself on the back, you handled that very well. Not trying to further escalate him and attempting to retreat was a good show of trying to avoid conflict. What's sad is that most places no one would have called the police. In this politically correct society, everyone seems to want to just mind their own business. Unless of course your kids are playing with capguns. Then they'll call the police.
 
I'd suggest that if the Alpha Male is spending some time in county lock up, you introduce yourself to his (hopefully ex)girlfreind/wife. Much better that she know someone in the neighborhood to turn to next time, rather than locking herself up in the shed.

You might have better luck reaching out to her through your wife/girlfreind (if applicable). Battered women tend to have trust issues towards all men except their abuser.

You might also recommend to her a PPO and a CPL, depending on her situation.
 
You did well

The only thing I think you could have done differently would be to get in the house before calling.
 
The only problem I had with going inside was that I would not be able to keep an eye on the situation. If he had gotten through the door to her I would have had to intervene. I am not the kind of person who can just sit back and watch another get injured. I'm just glad I didn't have to make that decision. The really sad part is that there were at least a dozen other "spectators" standing in their yards watching this unfold and doing nothing about it. I can only hope that if I am in trouble somebody like one of you guys will give me a hand. Thanks for all the feed back folks.
 
marksman13 said:
I've made up my mind that he must be high or drunk (possibly both), and that my best course of action if he comes at me is to put him down FAST.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by "put him down"? If that means you would shoot, then at least in Ohio, you would be guilty of manslaughter because your life was not threatened by a drunk man with no weapon.

Personally, I've fought off a drunk man before (a hitch-hiker) and it was like seeing someone in slow motion. It was no problem "putting him down" with my hands.

If you really felt your life was threatened, or if he got the best of you, then you would have the "right" to defend your life with deadly force.

Now, understand, even while I'm typing this, I'm not totally convinced you could hold off until you were really sure your life was threatened if he was getting the best of you, but that is what you must do according to the Ohio code...

Richard
 
I think you did the right thing including not going inside, IMVHO. I live in a Rural area and if anything like this had happened my neighborhood (I can see houses for my door, it's not THAT rural) I would have done the same exact thing. I did not say that it was the right or legal thing to do, but it is what I would do. I would not go inside my house because of some idiot on my property. I still pick up things that are too heavy for me too. I am 26 years old with no kids or wife which is a big factor in my decision making.
I wish I could have seen that guy running and screaming, hi-freakin-larious I'm sure. I love tough guys. They are funny (in a sad sort of way).
 
According to MS law, as soon as he stepped foot onto my property after making his threatening comments and gestures, I would be completely within the law to use lethal force. Personaly I didn't want to have to shoot this idiot, but he had already hurt one person, and I wasn't going to be next. I have fought drunks and dope heads before and I'm not buying into the slow motion bit. They are just harder to stop because they are more "numb" to pain.

I drew the pistol because I believe in giving myself every possible advantage. There is no such thing as a fair fight. I didn't show him the weapon because I figured in his current state he would only become more belligerant(sp?) I guess after seeing his reaction to the police, I guess he wasn't as big a problem as I thought. He sure looked tough while he was beating up on his girlfriend.
 
While I read your story I pictured you standing in your yard holding a "big black gun" while the police rolled up. You didn't mention in your story if you had told the dispatcher that you were armed. If infact you didn't say anything, your situation could have taken a turn for the worse when the cops came. Just my .02
 
Would you actually shoot a guy for yelling at you and stepping in your yard? I think I would have just went in the house or at least stayed in the door so if he did charge, you could walk inside and shut him out. You had already called the authorities and they were on their way, you had distracted him from beating on the door of the shed, and he obviously couldn't get into the shed to get the girl if he was just standing there beating on the door in the first place. Your job was done.

That's what I would have done. The gun wouldn't have even came out if I was that close to an option of getting away from a harmful situation.
 
Sniperstraz, that was the first thing that crossed my mind when I hung up the phone (or got hung up on rather). As soon as I saw the first patrol car round the corner the Glock went back into the holster. It wasn't out in the open though, so I doubt the cops ever would have seen it. It is definatley something to consider. Thanks for the good info.

sph33r, at that point..yes. The way he was acting made hima threat to myself and others who were standing outside at the time. Sure, there would have been some escalation of force ie: showing of the weapon and a verbal warning. After that I would have fired. Is this the best possible reaction? Maybe, maybe not, but I refuse to let some drugged up whacko put me and my family/neighbors/friends in danger. His previous actions had shown him to be dangerous. I have no illusions of being a hero or clanking my big brass balls and thumping my chest. I do, however, have to sleep on my actions at night and look in the mirror in the morning, so I could not allow him to hurt someone else when I have the means to stop him. I'm just glad it turned out for the best. Thanks again all.
 
I for one am not going to run from somebody on my own property. One reason that I bought this land was to have a refuge from all the riff-raff in the world.

If somebody is in my front "yard" (the maintained lawn and driveway/parking area) then they are already trespassing on my land by a distance of at least 1/8 mile. The long driveway is posted, so you should already know by then that you are trespassing unless you are an expected visitor.

If someone wants to do me or my family harm, why should I wait until he has broken down the door to defend us? Can I defend myself in my living room, or do I have to retreat to the bedroom first? Or maybe the bedroom closet...? :rolleyes:
 
He doesn't have to be armed with a knife or a gun to be a lethal threat. It would have been a very bad idea to not at least have had your hand on your weapon. You don't have to wait until you are severe attack to be prepared to deal with a threat, especially if the threat isn't aware of your preparations.

You were prepared to take action if necessary yet didn't threaten or brandish or escalate the situation. The last thing you want to do is be scrambling to get a grip on your weapon as someone is attacking you.

Going inside would have put another layer between you and him but every situation is different.
 
marksman13 said:
and that my best course of action if he comes at me is to put him down FAST.
Click to expand...
did anyone bother reading this portion of marksmans story, or did most of you just skip from drawing to the police showing up?
 
I'm not an uppity kinda person but

Personally, I've fought off a drunk man before (a hitch-hiker) and it was like seeing someone in slow motion. It was no problem "putting him down" with my hands.
Click to expand...

I call BS. Maybe that was one anecdotal experience and good for you. I grew up in a big city and have seen some pretty mean drunks, crackheads, and generally tough people that are up one something. I've seen first hand and even been the target of their violence and how amazingly fast it can develop and be over. And bullies don't just roll over like in the books. Sometimes they kick the crap outta you. I've seen street kids so easy and quick with violence that they take down people with loads of training. It even happened to me. Loads of unarmed and armed training and I was taken out of a fight in the first few seconds not for being trained, strong, fit, or tough (which I'm not particularly), but for not being ready. Most of it's about being ready.

So, I think the original poster did the right thing. He got ready, but found every possible way to avoid actual conflict. Well done, Sir.

As a p.s. My lack of readiness almost got the other person with me killed. And they didn't have knives, guns, but broken glass. Man they were fast too. By the time some rather large knots were forming in two places on my head, the entire gang was gone. So Marksman, if you ask me, which you didn't, you did the Right Thing.
 
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