I've been subpoenaed to appear in court

[Greylyn58]

I can't remember if I told ya'll about this, but last Sept, on a quiet Sunday morning, I was witness to an assault. Let me explain...

My apartment complex is right next to a major road here in Charlotte and on Sunday's there is a lot less traffic, so it can be very quiet early on. Well, between 10 or 10:30am, I was sitting on my couch having some coffee and looking on-line for jobs(this is before I was hired at Wally World)

Anyway, as I was sitting there, I heard the squealing of car tires out in our parking lot. My first thought was some idiot was trying to drag race in the lot.(has happened before) I'm on the 2nd floor of my building and my balcony faces out onto the parking lot. I thought about looking to see what was going on, but didn't...that is until the car stopped just below my balcony. I saw the nose of a truck appear within my view and I was going to ignore it until I heard a woman scream. I sat up and looked out my sliding glass doors and saw a man trying to pull a woman from the passenger side cab of a small truck. He was also beating on her. Well I immediately got off my computer and dialed 911.

For the next several minutes I related to the operator what was happening. I thought the woman was being car-jacked. Well the guy succeeded in pulling her out of the truck and then crawled over her and onto the drivers side and continued on out the door which was open. When he reappeared he was holding a baby--maybe 6 to 9 months old. This really freaked me out. He got back into the truck with the baby and the woman got back in as well even though he continued to try and force her out.

Well he drove off out of my sight range with the woman and the baby. I gave as much info as I could to the 911 operator. It wasn't long after I hung up the phone with her that I heard a ton of sirens. Not long after that the police came back into my complex and stopped at my building.

During the struggle, some items had fallen from the truck(sunglasses, a bunch of papers, and a hat and shoe) They stopped and collected most of the items and I came out to talk to the officers to make sure the woman was all right. One of them asked if I had seen anything and I said yes. He said he wanted to return and get a statement, which he did about half and hour later. I found out from the officer that I was witness to a domestic fight. The woman lived in my complex and the man had come over to take the baby for the weekend. The couple got into a fight and she decided she didn't want him to take the baby. Thus the fight I witnessed.

I haven't thought anymore about it until I received a subpoena from the sheriff dept. to appear this Thursday in court. Not real happy about this since it is a domestic dispute. Another woman who also witnessed the fight is also suppose to appear. I told the sheriff's detective who served it that I was nervous about this guy coming after me. He informed me that the other woman had similar worries, but he said all they could do was ban him for my apartment complex.

I don't regret calling 911 and reporting what I saw, but I don't relish being involved in someone else's domestic dispute. I just hope that this will be the end of my involvement. I also feel bad for the poor baby that is caught in the middle of all this.

[gkhouston]

1. you did tell us about it at the time.

And I can understand why you'd be afraid. :hug: for you. I hope this works out for the woman and her baby (and of course, for you).

[RevCheesehead]

2. How awful.

This is one of the reasons why people are reluctant to get involved in reporting a crime. Can't say that I blame them, either.

The last time I was subpoenaed, I didn't have to testify. In fact, nobody even checked to make sure I was there - which kinda pissed me off, because it made me look like I was taking sides in a messy divorce.

Can you contact the attorney and ask if they really need you? I think sometimes people use witnesses just to intimidate the other side.

At any rate, I hope and pray that the situation gets resolved, and that you and Super-Sheridan are safe.

:hug:

[Greylyn58]

6. Yeah, I have to appear.

this is according to the Detective I spoke to. He said it was very important that I appear. He also said the guy(who is the defendant) had never been in trouble before, however that doesn't make me feel any less nervous about the situation.

I do however feel alittle better about having my boy Sheridan with me even though he wouldn't hurt a fly. I use to tell my folks(jokingly)that if someone ever ever broke into my apartment, Sheridan would probably help the thief carry out my stuff. He's just that sweet.

Of course, he is a big guy and most folks don't know that he is such a sweetie and tend to shy away from him unless I tell them otherwise.

[RevCheesehead]

7. Sheridan IS a sweetheart....

But if someone were threatening you, I'd guarantee you'd see a whole other side of him, really quick.

Roo was like that, with me. My canine cat. O8)

[gkhouston]

8. I've got to agree here

Mary's BattleCat was the sweetest kitty ever to urp a hairball, but one night Mary heard odd noises outside her place, then Battle made this incredible noise in his throat she'd never heard before -- sort of like a housecat roaring. She called the cops and they sent a patrol car. Apparently, someone had been trying to break into the business across the street but took off just as the cops were pulling up.

[SharonRB]

3. I do remember when you told us about this

Good luck on Thursday!

[Berry Cool]

4. Yes, dear

You are doing the right thing. Take care of yourself.

[crispini]

5. Good luck

:hug: Scary situation. Be careful. :hug: