Got "interviewed" 90 minutes ago...

[freyasman]

I was on my way to work, (active-duty military), and stopped to get a quick morning workout at a park near the river, since there was no PT scheduled this morning. The area where I stopped is a large parking lot, which adjoins a grassy area near the Riverwalk, and is rather concealed from the road by a shopping strip, and is somewhat isolated. However, it is impossible to approach me without me being aware of it. I had finished my workout and stowed my gear in my SUV, then put my uniform top back on over my t-shirt, and was standing, drinking from my coffee mug, when I saw a single individual approaching me. 5' 10", white or hispanic, late twenties to early thirties, shaved head, goatee, navy blue long sleeve work shirt un-tucked over a dark t-shirt, jeans, work boots, wallet chain on the right. Did an immediate and obvious 360 degree scan, while setting my coffee mug on the hood and putting my right hand on my belt line behind my hip, under the tail of my uniform shirt. Individual came up and tried to engage me in conversation, (the weather, his homelessness, etc). I told him I couldn't help him, while constantly watching his hands and eyes, and after a couple moments he moved on towards the Riverwalk, and as he moved on, he raised his hands and said, "no bad guy here!". That last statement confirmed my suspicions, and as soon as he was far enough away, I got in the truck and de-assed the area. Thoughts?

 

[o Unforgiven o]

Could you go into more detail of what was said, and elaborate on the "no bad guy here!" part?

 

[heeler]

Sounds like by his statement of "no bad guy here" he picked up on your obvious suspicion of him.
Frankly I hate it when these types stroll up on me like that all the while trying to talk about a lot of nothing.
I too would have been well on alert.
Why other than looking for a hand out would some guy come out of nowhere and approach the only person in a parking lot at such an hour if they were not thinking of something else??
You get an A in my book.

 

[JustinJ]

It sounds like absolutely nothing more than a bum asking for money. Maybe something was left out of the story but i see nothing to the contrary. "No bad guy here" i suspect was in response to your words or attitude towards him such as having your hand on behind your hip. Assuming this was fairly early morning the time also makes nefarious intent less likely.

 

[freyasman]

He tried the "how 'bout this weather", and "hey, I'm homeless" shuck on me. I have seen a number of homeless people around the community, (and even gave one old-timer an army blanket this past winter), and they all carry a pack or a bundle of possessions. This guy had nothing like that. He even asked if I was military; I'm standing there in full ACU's! It was one of the most obvious "interviews" I've ever been through. Enough so, that I was surprised he was alone, and I was checking the perimeter looking for his crew.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

I would bet that he was just a homeless guy looking for some charity.

But I wouldn't bet my life on it, or yours. You still did well.

 

[Kleanbore]

...and I was checking the perimeter looking for his crew.

A common mistake is to not do that.

 

[JustinJ]

Homeless people regularly leave their belongings in a location while panhandling. Many are also not old and vary greatly in condition. "Bout this weather" is simply a way of trying to be nice and make you feel like you relate and "hey, i'm homeless" is trying to get pity so you give money. How do those mean "i'm going to rob you"? Please don't take offense to this but i think people sometimes, ecspecially younger men, become so focused on looking for these things they start to expect them and see them when they aren't there and some even partly wish for them after spending so much time and money preparing. Either way, if you are so certain he was seeking victims you obviously called the police, right?

 

[o Unforgiven o]

It sounds like absolutely nothing more than a bum asking for money. Maybe something was left out of the story but i see nothing to the contrary. "No bad guy here" i suspect was in response to your words or attitude towards him such as having your hand on behind your hip. Assuming this was fairly early morning the time also makes nefarious intent less likely.

At this point, I agree.

He tried the "how 'bout this weather", and "hey, I'm homeless" shuck on me. I have seen a number of homeless people around the community, (and even gave one old-timer an army blanket this past winter), and they all carry a pack or a bundle of possessions. This guy had nothing like that. He even asked if I was military; I'm standing there in full ACU's! It was one of the most obvious "interviews" I've ever been through. Enough so, that I was surprised he was alone, and I was checking the perimeter looking for his crew.

Maybe he did not fit the profile for other homeless people you have seen in your area, but as said above it still seems like he was just asking for money. Could you describe his demeanor?

 

[MtnCreek]

How close did the guy get to you? Also, looking back, is there something you could have done or said that would have kept him further away?
Thanks!

 

[freyasman]

In a town with a large military community, the young Joe's are constantly preyed on. They may know how to survive in Afghanistan, or Iraq, but that ain't the same as being jumped when your alone, unarmed, no body armor, and in a place you think of as "safe". He saw a guy in a uniform from a way's off, and went to check it out; it was only when he got closer that he realized I was a bigger, older and a damn sight meaner predator than him. And he had to be wondering if I was armed; (I was NOT carrying a handgun), but he didn't know that for sure. I was certainly trying to give the impression that I was!

 

[freyasman]

To clarify; I was not rude or mean to this guy in any way. But I was not friendly either. Downrange, I lived by the saying, "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet."

 

[Loosedhorse]

Thoughts?

I consider myself a reasonable guy; if I were approaching a guy wearing a military uniform who had just finished his PT, I would

• Hail (hand wave and "Hi, there") as soon as visually engaged.
• Stop at some respectful distance (maybe 10 yards, so I don't have to shout; maybe twice that), state my business, and ask if I may approach closer
• If my intent was to attack you, well, as a reasonable criminal you darn well better believe I would have a weapon and a crew--and an appointment with a psychologist to figure out why I am attacking hard targets in public places!

To the extent that he didn't follow the first two points, you are right to be concerned. But it'd take one strange dude to pick you of all people as a "victim". Not that there aren't strange dudes out there, but my guess is that he specifically picked you because you were unlikely to panic when you saw him, so he might be able to ask for a dollar.

 

[Captain33036]

Freyasman

I am sure you did well, but for my 0.02, being former military...never engage unless it is a time and place of your chosing.

You allowed this person to engage you. You allowed a conversation, no matter how short to take place. You allowed this person to close the gap between the two of you.

Perhaps this is harsh, but, I would say, do not engage.

When this happens to me (quite often, since I grew up outside a large city and live in an urban environment), I see what is coming, I raise my hand to have them stop and politely but firmly (in your command voice) say, "no, thank you." End of conversation.

If they try to engage any further, firmly but politely, "good day to you, sir."

My best to you and thank you for your service.

J

 

[freyasman]

LoosedHorse, I appreciate your thoughts, and I agree; I don't fit anyone's "victim" profile; that was why I did not leave while he was approaching me. But, there's an awful lot of crazy out there, and I try to remember that. Just because I wouldn't pick me, doesn't mean SOMEBODY wouldn't.

 

[Loosedhorse]

there's an awful lot of crazy out there

Words to live by. The world is what it is, not what we'd want it to be.

 

[freyasman]

JustinJ, I apologize; I did not read your post all the way thru. You make excellent points, and the possibility that he had no ill intent is why I was polite, and didn't take off the moment I saw him approach. That being said, I have not lived to middle age, living the life I have, without being able to spot a potential situation. Good judgement comes from wisdom, wisdom comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement. I failed a couple interviews in my youth and was lucky to survive. As to notifying the local law, my wife works for the DA's office, and is also a graduate of the the Citizen's Police Academy. Patrol officers for that area will be advised, and asked to keep an eye out, but he didn't actually DO anything.

 

[robmkivseries70]

The "No bad guy here!" statement is just about a dead give away disclaimer. Best, Rob

 

[Manson]

Frey you do not need to explain your attitude or behavior to me. I think you did well. He may have been harmless to some but I would rather err on the side of caution. You done good.

 

[xXxplosive]

Yep..............you passed the interview.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Shoot, southnarc,
he had an article about the interview, you got inside his OODA

no bad guy here!

tells you what he was thinking, why did he say that? What was he thinking that made him react to your by telling you that he WASN'T a bad guy?

That kinda like the guy following you, you stop and he blurts out 'I'm not here to rob you' when confronted, really? Now why would you think that?

 

[Al Thompson]

Downrange, I lived by the saying, "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

Brother, you step outside of your home, you are outside of the wire. Especially as you are prohibited from CCW at work.

BTW, if that Riverwalk was in SC as opposed to TX, holler.

 

[jcwit]

What in Heavens name has happened to this country. Both to you and to the stranger.

Sorry state of affairs.

 

[sidheshooter]

Shadow has it right, IMHO (as does robmkiv, above). The placating "no bad guy here" translates as "well that didn't go as well as I was thinking it would, so please don't escalate on me for picking the wrong guy to intimidate"

Had he instead said "what the ---- is your problem, anyway", then he might well have been an innocent just looking for a little spare change.

I wasn't there, but what you've given us to go on sure sounds like an interview to me.


In the "interesting read" thread started by Al Thompson (above) in this very forum (below), he provides a link to a similar story with this quote:

"In the Street Robberies And You post, BurnedOutLEO touches on verbal cues. *I believe the reason the man said “I’m not a robber” is precisely because he was a robber. *Robbery was in the forefront of his mind. It was all he could think about, so much so that when I got inside his OODA loop by acting contrary to what a 5’03″ 115-pound potential female victim should act like, all he could do was voice what was on his mind in the most innocuous of stumbling words."

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=648983

Again, JMO.

 

[freyasman]

Al Thompson, its in TN, and thanks for the support.