Okay...back up. We hear gunshots over there all the time. Guy has half a dozen or so dogs he allows to run loose: one pit bull, one german shepherd, and several mutts, all of them aggressive. Traffic flying up and down the road all hours of the night, lots of cars in their driveway all the time...
His dogs have been chasing the horses. They tore a chunk out of one of the colts before his mama could run them off. The pit bull has been stalking my kids. The german shepherd ran 1/4 mile down the street just to growl and bark at DH when he went out to paint the gate.
Six weeks ago, DH took his AR-15 to the range. When he got back, neighbor guy was driving past when DH carried it in, and was staring.
Three weeks ago, neighbor guy's house was raided by about thirty deputies who were looking for a fugitive. They found a meth lab, and hauled about a dozen people off to jail, including neighbor guy and his wife.
The next day, my kids were out riding their bikes when pit bull makes an appearance. He's hiding, crouched down behind the van watching the kids. I see him there and get between him and the kids, herding my monsters into the house.
We've called the deputies about these dogs. They say they can't do anything unless they actually SEE the dogs on our side of the road. We've called every animal control agency we can think of, no one can help us. DH asked these people to keep their dogs over there. They laughed and told him to get lost...in much more vulgar language.
I tell DH what just happened. I'm sick of my kids not being able to play in our yard because of this guy's dogs. DH is royally ticked. He goes out and shoots the dog.
Guy bonded out of jail a few days later. Ever since, he's been waiting in the road with a baseball bat every time DH leaves the property or is expected home.
A few thoughts: We're not sure if he's pissed about the dog, since we're not the only neighbor that has problems with them, or if he thinks DH turned him in, since there are frequently police cars here. He couldn't possibly know either for sure, could he?
He's been out there twice a day for about two weeks now. He's had time to cool off, and he's still out there. Is he crazy enough to flip out and come over here?
Since he knows DH has at least one gun, is he the brightest cookie in the jar for bringing a ball bat to a gun fight?
For the record, we HAVE called the deputies, of both counties involved...they say there's nothing they can do until something happens. DH goes out of his way to avoid driving past this guy's house (where he stands with his bat) and tries not to antagonize him. DH hasn't even mowed the lawn since this happened. He won't even let me be here at home alone with the kids, and the kids can't play outside.
My biggest fear right now is not that he'll confront DH one day, because DH can take care of himself. I'm afraid that he'll come over here while DH is gone. The guy's a nut...and I've got kids to protect. This is not a pretty situation.
No, I don't feel bad that the guy's dog got shot, I'm just sorry it wasn't killed. I have no sympathy for the guy: he's cooking meth less than 200 yards from my house. I'm not trying to make excuses, but we shouldn't have to live in fear, either from this guy OR his dogs.
What would you do? What would you have done?
[ June 21, 2004, 01:52 AM: Message edited by: Boon ]
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
Well, not that I advocate killing the guy or anything, but can you shoot a gun? Or at least make your neighbor think you can? What about the other people on your street? Perhaps they can look out for you.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Yeah, I can, but who needs THAT hassle?
Generally, I have a small caliber pistol in my pocket when I'm awake. That's changed to a larger pistol on my belt the last couple of weeks.
And, since we hear gunshots over there too, what's stopping him from shooting over here? Or coming over herre with a gun instead of a ball bat? Laws only stop the law-abiding, you know.
Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :
wow.
that's...wow.
Posted by Anthro (Member # 6087) on :
Jeez.
Wait, he got busted on this meth thing and he's not in jail?
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Depending on criminal history, bail or PR release is generally very easy to get in drug cases. By necessity.
Any felony he commits while on release will probably send him away for an extra long time, though. Not a comfort to Boon, but an incentive to behave.
Doesn't sound like he's real capable of judging the consequences of his actions, though. Be careful!
Dagonee
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Damn, and I thought MY former neighborhood was rough. And I lived in inner-city Baltimore.
(((Boon)))
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Hey, Boon, what's with the whole "DH" thing? Why not call your husband by, like, his actual name?
I mean, if I started calling Christy my "LW" or something, I think her skin would crawl right down off her body.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
And we all know how messy that can get.
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
Since this guy's access to firearms is limited because of his criminal history, his next move may possibly be vandalism of your property or something else to convince you that it's time to move.
If you don't have any friendly neighbors to watch your back, put in a 24-hour surveillance camera and video recorder. Get an infrared illuminator for nighttime recording. If you can afford an AR-15, you can afford something that will give you real protection.
PS: If that AR-15 goes off in a neighborhood dispute, you’re in big trouble. (I’m assuming that DH used a pellet gun or wrist rocket to shoot the dog, since the dog didn’t die. It would have been better to let the owner believe that the dog strayed off rather than to send the dog limping home.)
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
The DH thing is because my dear, darling husband doesn't want me to use his real name here. What else should I call him?
He actually shot the dog with his shotgun, but it was loaded with birdshot instead of a slug by mistake, and the spread pattern was too wide. Oops.
Funny, why was his doberman trying to stop DH from getting into our house last night when he got home from work? Do they WANT all their dogs dead?
And, for the record, we live out in the country...not really a neighborhood, just 4 houses reasonably close together. It's also on a county line road, which makes involving law enforcement interesting since I'm in one county and bad guy is in another.
I know better than to pull out a gun on someone I don't intend to shoot, and I'd never shoot this guy unless he came over here threatening to hurt me or my kids. I just really don't want that to happen.
A surveillance system won't protect anyone. It'll just provide evidence once the crime is done. Do cameras prevent convenience stores from being robbed?
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
But when he's out on bail or PR, proof of a crime can put him away immediately. It's worth looking into.
Dagonee
Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
(((Boon)))
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
quote: Since this guy's access to firearms is limited because of his criminal history, . . .
HA HA HA HA HA LMAO!!!!!
<sniff> <wipes tears from eyes> I'm sorry, what did you say?
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
One thing I've learned real quick here at the US Attorney's office is that a lot of laws exist solely to give police the right to arrest a repeat offender easily. Gun possession's a big one, because there's never any sympathy for it, and it's an immediate felony conviction.
Just getting him on tape with a gun would put him away, as would any kind of serious misdemeanor.
But you're right, anyone assuming a criminal doesn't have a gun because he's a criminal is asking for trouble.
Dagonee
Posted by Richard Berg (Member # 133) on :
I second the recommendation for surveillance footage. You don't want to go to war with these types on your own, but the police can't help you without evidence. One clip of his doberman chasing your kids or his threatening you with a bat will stack the odds greatly in your favor.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
If you really are hearing gunshots over there all the time, why aren't you calling the cops every time you hear them? Do you actually live within any city limits (most places it is illegal to discharge a firearm within city limits) or are you really out in the country?
Posted by Damien (Member # 5611) on :
it's a countyline road...most countylines arent in any city limits, that I know of. COuld be wrong...
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
Can you fence your property to keep the dogs out? Is it legal for him to let them roam loose (I'm assuming it is)?
[ June 21, 2004, 02:45 PM: Message edited by: ludosti ]
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
(((Boon and fam)))
Good luck darling! Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
If the dog got at horses, I'd bet it's getting over or under fences.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
When the dog(s) attacked your horse, did you call animal control? I would think you should have been able to press charges/have it (them) destroyed...
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
What about stalking charges?
§21-1173. Stalking - Penalties. A. Any person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or harasses another person in a manner that: 1. Would cause a reasonable person or a member of the immediate family of that person as defined in subsection F of this section to feel frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested; and 2. Actually causes the person being followed or harassed to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested, upon conviction, shall be guilty of the crime of stalking, which is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one (1) year or by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Unconsented contact includes but is not limited to any of the following: a. following or appearing within the sight of that individual,
Just a thought. I agree with getting everything you can on tape. And make logs of everything. Time, date, what happened, etc..
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
The horses actually belong to a Tulsa County Deputy. If it were possible to do something about these dogs, surely he would've done it then.
All of the property we live on is fenced, as is bad guy's yard. The dogs just jump over his fence, and ours is barbed wire. (This property is a half mile by a mile...)
While it's legal for him to have unrestrained dogs, it's also legal for me to shoot any animals on our property. If I had a dog, I'd keep it in my own yard, wouldn't you?
I took Binky Boy to the doctor today. When I came back, bad guy was in his yard with his dogs. When he saw me pull up, he hid behind a tree to watch me. It wasn't until I got out of the car and he could see it was me and not DH that he lost interest and went back inside.
I've been keeping a log... This sucks.
I suppose stalking charges may be worth looking into... Kayla, is that from Oklahoma Statutes? Care to provide a link? I'll let you know what I find.
[ June 21, 2004, 08:30 PM: Message edited by: Boon ]
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
[ June 21, 2004, 08:31 PM: Message edited by: Boon ]
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
I see your point. I'm just frustrated and trying to paint a clear picture of the situation.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Excellent.
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
I always forget to include the links. D*oh!
Glad you found it. I used your profile to figure out what state you lived in and looked up their statutes and tried to find one that you could use. Sorry I forgot to include the link. Though, it was one heck of a download. 2.35 MB! Why do they make it so hard to figure out what the laws of the states are?
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
I see him there and get between him and the kids, herding my monsters into the house.![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
HA HA HA HA HA LMAO!!!!! ![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
If I had a dog, I'd keep it in my own yard, wouldn't you?![[Kiss]](graemlins/kiss.gif)
![[Hat]](graemlins/hat.gif)
I'm just frustrated and trying to paint a clear picture of the situation.
![[Hail]](graemlins/hail.gif)
Kalya the Google Goddess!