I just got interviewed by the Austin PD

[VelmaD]

Yup. My neighbor, who I had never really heard a peep out of til this morning, got into a screaming match with some woman and then assaulted her on the stoop between our apartments. I got to watch the whole thing up-close and personal through the little fish-eye lens in my front door.

The cops came after the people involved had all already left but they caught me before I left for work and I got to tell them all about it.

Frankly it was a little scary. He pushed the woman into my door hard enough to rattle the hinges. I found out from the cops later that the banging noises I heard earlier in the morning were probably him kicking the door of the apartment in. Eep.

Anyway, I'm gonna write down everything I remember before it all slips outta my head. Any advice from anyone who has gone through something like this with their neighbors would be greatly appreciated.

[GOPisEvil]

1. Yikes!!!

I've never had that particular experience. How unsettling!

[Bronco69]

2. Make sure you tell the cops

that you want to remain anonymous, otherwise your door might be the next one kicked in.

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. It's a violation of the Patriot Act to video police beatings

So you should probably not mention anything about police pushing people.

[GOPisEvil]

4. Huh?

Let me clarify my "huh". Where in the story does police pushing people get mentioned? Much less video-taping same?

[DuctapeFatwa]

6. Oh it was the neighbor who pushed, never mind (nt)

[Loonman]

8. withdrawn

n/t

[freestatevet]

11. Probably made it up

And was trying to be funny.

[GOPisEvil]

9. OK.

:-) I was starting to wonder if I needed to visit the coffeemaker. :hangover:

[Loonman]

5. Got a link?

?

[DuctapeFatwa]

10. it's not relevant to this thread. my mistake. sorry (link inside)

http://www.bet.com/articles/0,,c3gb8578-9431,00.html

[VelmaD]

7. Huh?

The cops in this situation were actually quite nice to me. I was a little wigged out by the whole situation and he kept it business-like but still friendly and that helped me stay calm.

It probably didn't hurt that I see that cop every morning. He's one of the two motorcycle cops that patrol my neighborhood of a morning and keep people from speeding through the school zone.

[GOPisEvil]

12. By the way...how come just about everytime I am near your apts...

...there is a freaking cop? I mean, I guess it's good that they're around, but they're around a lot! I sorta get an "unsafe" vibe around there...

[VelmaD]

15. I dunno

I've lived there for years and never felt particularly unsafe, although some of my friends seem to think it isn't the best neighborhood. :shrug:

I guess I'm just used to the cops. They run up and down my street all the time to get from Burnet to Lamar. That might explain why you see so many of them.

[Richardo]

13. Yoiks!

Have no brilliant suggestions, but reducing it all to paper is a great start. Also, I concur with the post that says to keep anonymous if possible.

Hang in there!

[southerngirlwriter]

14. Write two documents

One is strictly the facts -- what you saw and heard.

"At 6:15 AM I awoke to the sound of loud banging."

The other is your impressions and thoughts based on having known your neighbor for so long.

"John has always had a nasty temper, so when I heard the banging I was immediately afraid he was assaulting someone."

(the quoted sentences are examples)

If you end up testifying or talking to an investigator, both of those will help you immensely.

[VelmaD]

16. Great ideas

I'm working on "strictly the facts" as I remember them right now but when I'm done I'll try to put down my thoughts and impressions. Thanks. :-)

[Aristus]

17. I once saw a gangland shooting occur just outside my apartment

building when I was single. No one got hurt, but it was a scene straight out of 'Boyz in the 'Hood', there. Get this: NO ONE showed up to investigate it. And it's not like we were in an especially bad part of town; we were a stone's throw from Tacoma Mall for Pete's sake!

If I were you, Vel, I'd request anonymity from the police, get a police bar for your door, in case Mr. Wonderful shows up looking for payback, and keep your eyes open.

[VelmaD]

18. Thanks honey

I'll do my best to implement your advice. Especially the part about keeping my eyes open. What exactly is a "police bar"?

This story gets better if you know more details. I came home one day last week and there was a notice on his door that he was being evicted. They had just done pest control and apparently his apartment was in sorry enough shape that they were considering it vandalism and kicking him out. (I know - I'm a nosy neighbor.)

Anyway, I hadn't really seen him around since until this morning. Apparently he had to kick the apartment door in. I saw into his apartment while I was talking with the police - it looked like a tornado had hit it.

[Aristus]

20. A police bar is that long steel pole that you set into a prepared notch

in the floor and then brace against the door. A really determined housebreaker can smash the door in despite the bar, but he'll break a leg doing it. That ought to take the fight out of him. Take care, sweetie. :-)

[VelmaD]

22. Kewl

I'm going out tonight to get a cel phone (my best friend yelled at me about that this morning) and I may look for a police bar while I'm out.

Thanks again for teh good advice and for worrying about me. :hug:

[fudge stripe cookays]

19. Zoinks! Good advice all round about staying anonymous

When I first moved to Dallas, I lived in a disreputable neighborhood around the corner from Oak Lawn.

One afternoon I came home from work to policemen everywhere, and yellow crime scene tape. I was freaking out!

We had a community doorway at the bottom, then an individual doorway inside and I lived on the 2nd floor. They almost weren't going to let me up to my apartment.

Evidently, the 2 lesbians upstairs from me had gotten into a quarrel, and 1 stabbed the other with an Xacto knife. There was a small trail of blood on the rug in the hallway and out on the front step.

I'd barely ever seen them, so I couldn't give the cops much information. Later that week, there was a polaroid sitting outside on the half wall next to the door-- obviously the one that had done the dumping, I guess, and the dumpee left it for her as a nasty payback present.

It was a half nude picture someone had taken of her with her face scratched out. I called the cops about it, but no one ever came and got it from me. I guess things settled down after that.

Be careful! Where do you live in Austin? Between Burnet and Lamar like Woodrow? Medical Parkway? Further north? I'm nosy too. Hard to see my old hometown getting all scary.

[VelmaD]

21. I live pretty far north

on Rutland about halfway between Burnet and Lamar.

And it isn't usually scary. I've lived in my apartment for nearly 6 years and this is the first time something like this has happened.

[fudge stripe cookays]

51. Is that at the big curve in the road?

What are those apartments...they used to be Cedar something or other?

Them's my former stompin grounds!

We lived on Parkfield just south of Kramer for much of my young life (1976 to 1992--with a short 3-year break in San Antonio while we rented out this house).

I went to Lanier for 2 years (when it wasn't quite as much of a joke as it is now...)

[VelmaD]

52. Yup...

I'm at the big curve. Rutland Place.

Not sure if they used to be something else. I've lived there for a while though. My first apartment in Austin back in 1995 was on the other end of the complex and it was already Rutland Place back then. :shrug:

[fudge stripe cookays]

53. Yup. you're right.

I've only been gone 10 years, but it's amazing the way things start to fade after awhile.

I can still see the streets and the way they used to look clear as a bell, but sometimes I really have to fight to remember street names, and THAT bugs me!

[Superfly]

23. Why didn't you try to stop the assault?

Just curious....

[VelmaD]

26. Because I was...

naked at the time - I had just gotten out of the shower. By the time I had gotten any clothes on they had left.

[Superfly]

27. Ah...OK...

That would have stopped them in their tracks, you have to admit...

[VelmaD]

30. he...true

Thanks hon. That's the first time I've been able to laugh this morning. I can just picture me bursting through the front-door stark ass nekkid and hitting that guy over the head with a cast-iron frying pan.

Actually I imagine what I was like in teh apartment this morning would have looked pretty funny. Trying to get logged off so I could call the police and trying to get dressed and trying to figure out if I should go out there and take my chances or just watch and write it all down to tell the cops or what. And of course by the time I could have done any of it they were all done and ran off still screaming and I'm standing in the apartment half-dressed and totally confused trying to figure out "what now?"

[Aristus]

32. Um......uh......

*gulp* Out of the shower......dripping......wet.....

Where was I? Oh yeah. I can see the poor police officers now. "Uh ma'am? Do you need a towel? Should we come back later?"

[VelmaD]

33. *snort*

Well, I wasn't still wet by the time the cops got there. I was half nekkid though. I was in the middle of getting dressed for work when they knocked on the door.

And no, I did not flash the nice police officer. :-)

[Aristus]

34. Too bad for him. Wonder how often he gets stuff like that.

I used to deliver pizzas, and I always heard stories from the other guys about women coming to the door naked. Never happened to me, though. They must have been having me on.

[VelmaD]

35. Poor baby

I woulda pulled you inside for a pizza-boy quickie. ;-)

I would imagine that real-life for most cops doesn't involved as many half-nekkid people as one sees on "COPS".

[Aristus]

36. Eew! The half-nekkid folks on "Cops" are all ugly-ass, hairy MEN!

Or ugly-ass white trash women with their bra straps showing.

BTW, it'd have to be a REALLY quick quickie. We weren't allowed inside the customer's house, and the delivery runs were timed. Nice thought, though.

[VelmaD]

37. Lie

"Had to stop for gas"

"Had a blowout"

"Stuck in traffic"

:evilgrin:

[Aristus]

38. 'Had a blow-out' is good.

Makes for a much longer quickie. ;-)

[VelmaD]

39. Just have to make sure...

you don't slip up when you're pitching your story...it's blow-OUT...blow-OUT. ;-)

[Aristus]

40. That would depend on

what was involved in the quickie. ;-)

Remember that line from 'Tootsie'? "What kind of mother would I be if I didn't give my girls tits...erp, TIPS!......tips."

[VelmaD]

41. I haven't seen that movie...

in forever. Gonna have to break it out one of these days and spend an afternoon curled up on the couch watching it.

I'm thinking we start packing little extras into that quickie and even the blow-out story might not fly. Better stick to something simple. Now where's a handy wall? ;-)

[Aristus]

42. Okay. Four flats? All at once?

And is the police bar set? :evilgrin:

[VelmaD]

43. yup

Wouldn't want the neighbors to hear "weird" noises and try to break the door down. :evilgrin:

Although I suppose I could forestall that with a gag. :evilgrin:

[Aristus]

44. For you or for me?

Or for both of us?

It's great to be a noisemaker. The neighbors are all busy doing taxes or watching a boring TV show; they hear that and think 'Damn, wish I was doing THAT!'

[VelmaD]

45. I'm having a hard time...

coming up with a response about leaving your mouth free that won't get deleted and get me sent for a "time-out" from the mods. ;-)

[Aristus]

46. Well ma'am, that's about all we'll need for our report. If you think of

anything else, *proffers card* give us a call. *tips cap* Have a nice day.

[Bertha Venation]

48. "weren't allowed inside the customer's house" -- but - but - but

What if it's freezing cold or snowing or raining or windy as hell or hotter than hades, and the jerk you've delivered to didn't write the check or get the cash together yet? And said jerk invites you in because of the weather, or so the cats don't get out?

You still can't go in?

[Aristus]

50. Nope. Absolutely, positively, under no circumstances whatsoever

not permitted in the house. They might want to roll us for our $20 in change!

[VelmaD]

24. An update

I talked to the manager at my apartments and found out that the gentleman in question is currently in police custody at the hospital. I hope that girl he hit clocked him one upside the head.

They also told me they are in the middle of evicting him and his girlfriend and they'll be gone in a couple of days. The apartment manager said if he comes back to either call 911 if he appears violent or to call the apartment office if he doesn't and they'll keep an eye on him and call the police for a courtesy patrol to kind of put the fear of god in him.

[Richardo]

25. Feel OK with those options?

Inquiring minds etc etc...

Good that he's getting thrown out..

[VelmaD]

28. Actually I think I am

If he even looks at me funny I'm calling the police. I also like the idea that tthe apartment people will call the cops for me if he shows up and the police have agreed to come do a courtesy patrol just to keep an eye on him if necessary.

[cally]

29. I've called the cops a few times

about domestic abuse in neighboring apartments. One time I called the cops when a gang of Hells Angels were beating up a lone man. Each time, I requested that I remain anonymous. The police were very professional, called me back once or twice, and the neighbors never found out that I was the one who had called. I agree with others, pay attention when coming home, get the cell phone and maybe the police bar, and watch out for yourself. It's good to be a nosy neighbor. It keeps us all safe. :hug:

[VelmaD]

31. I'll admit that I'm not usually...

the one who calls the cops on my end of the apartments. The guy who lives just across from me is a big guy...pretty buff. He's the one who always calls the police or who goes out and tells the guys in the parking lot to turn the music down or that kind of thing. No one is gonna fuck with him. He was out talking to the cops when I left for work. I smiled at him and said thank you (thanked the cop too).

[HEyHEY]

47. I thought maybe the gathering got out of hand

:-)

[NoPasaran]

49. Ah, the joys of apartment living!

May I NEVER experience them again.