Posted on 07/08/2017 7:45:19 PM PDT by castlegreyskull
Lately, I have been walking about 10-15 miles everyday. I started this around Memorial Day. I have been doing this, so that I can get into shape, because I might have to donate a kidney to a woman at my church, and I thought it would be best to be in better shape than I was before going into surgery. I thought it might help fight off complications if they happen with the procedure. I lost 17lbs in 5 weeks.
Anyway, I was about 5 miles away from my house on a through road that I have walked on about 8 times in the past few weeks. Suddenly, a black Nissan Xterra pulled up next to me and two men immediately got out of the car. One of them was extremely ripped, and very scary looking with heavy tattoos and large scars on his face, legs and feet (he had no shoes on). He asked if I opened any of the car doors on the road in front of a house that had a children's birthday party about a half mile back.
He said the kids at the party saw me. It must have been young kids, because they had a large inflatable slide. I told them "no and that I had nothing on me accept my phone, a water bottle and an iPod." He immediately got very close to my face and had both of his fist clenched, and told me that he doesn't believe me. I said "I don't know what else you want me to say, it is the truth, and if the kids thought they saw me do this, they are honestly mistaken or it was someone else." I was afraid of him, and thought he was about to hit me. I tried walking away, but they wouldn't let me pass.
Suddenly a car came, and I asked the driver to stay with me while I waited for the cops. I asked him to stay, because I was afraid they would attack me before the cops came; which sadly was nearly 10 minutes later. The cops asked me repeatedly where I was from, and where I was going. They even asked what I do for a living, and about my family (maybe just to calm me). I said this was part of a 12 mile circuit that I have been doing in preparation for my potential kidney donation in about 2 weeks. I showed them the "fit app" on my phone to demonstrate that I have been in fact logging in some major miles.
I told the cops they can finger print the cars; which they replied that I was seen wearing gloves (by the children). I said, you can send out bloodhounds to look for the said gloves. I also said that they can connected me to a lie detector. Eventually, the cops seemed to believe me and let me walk home.
What does one do in this case? Those two men could have put me in the hospital. The cops could have arrested me based on the kids' statements.
No chance you can team up with anyone for a few days? As for the home front I wouldn’t worry too much - their names are on file along with yours - one would have to be stone cold stupid to escalate like that.
Pray a prayer of protection over yourself before you go walking. (Psalm 91) Walk with a friend.
Scary. I can’t tell you what to do in a situation like this.
Back in the early 1970s, when we were in our early 20s, my brother and I were driving along a rural road when out of nowhere a police car came up behind us and flashed it’s red lights.
I immediately pulled over and the two cops in the car ordered us to get out of our vehicle. They held us at gunpoint with revolvers until a call came over their radio telling them that the suspects they were looking for were just sighted some distance away. Without a word, they jumped back into their vehicle and took off at high speed.
Needless to say, we were shook up and drove home quietly and carefully.
It’s a good thing those two aren’t cops.
“they might of overheard my address when I was talking to the police.”
Don’t talk to the police.
That is crazy. In some places Cops aren’t your friends. In my case, they were friendly.
I should have been armed.
Also, holding you against your will is false imprisonment.
I agree, now that I thought about it for a few hours.
I knew a retired Army Air Force and Air Force Colonel who was also something of a hero.
When he was in his 70s, he and his wife were driving along in their pickup when the cops pulled them over and at gunpoint made them lay flat on the ground.
It turned out they were looking for armed robbers who were driving a similar pickup but did not match their description at all.
He was furious and I don’t blame him. Cops have a tough job but they often mistreat the public. Things need to change.
Neither one of them struck me as very bright. Seeing that they came from a children’s party, I am surprised that someone would let their kids around the one who got in my face. He looked like he just got out of prison.
several of my friends from church live nearby. I will car pool with one for at least a week because of this. I will limit my walking to public parks in such.
They did one thing which makes me think they were up to no good tho I don’t know what it was.
They had two people. Two witnesses against one.
I think they planned on beating me up, until I pulled my phone out and called 911.
Yep.
I am not sure that being armed in a situation like that would have helped.
Having a video that proved you hadn’t stopped would.
A headband mounted video camera is about $70.00
It sounds like you have the right instincts and if this has never happened to you before, it offers the opportunity for a “teachable moment”. I agree with the poster above that you should limit what you say to the cops (they are NOT your friend!), you should always practice operational awareness (be constantly aware of your surroundings), try to avoid “bad” areas, and always, always try to leave yourself an out.
Best of luck to you and the recipient (kudos for going above and beyond!).
My guess is the children just gave them a general description except for the gloves. The guys just went out looking for a person walking alone. That might make them suspicious enough to ask you a few questions but these guys sounded like goons.
They very well may have beaten you. You probably did about as well as you could considering everything.
I will buy one today.
Yeah, I think if i had a gun, I might have been arrested.
It was unnerving having two .38s pointed at us. My poor younger brother couldn’t have been a more innocent person.
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