Posted on 02/20/2005 1:44:42 AM PST by Avenger
Ok, tonight I was at Barnes&Nobles with a couple of my classmates. We were sitting in the coffee shop reading Unte Reader with all the other Leftists (kidding!) Anyways, this guy walks in, and immediately my spidey sense starts to tingle. He kinda walks around the coffee shop and looks around a bit and then leaves - I was of course eyeing him the whole time. About 5 minutes later him comes in again. This time he draws out of his pants pocket a small white plastic spray bottle and starts spraying it around the room - trying to be discrete as possible - I don't think my friends even noticed at the time. As he was leaving the room he noticed another guy watching him and he sprayed the bottle in his direction as if he was threatening this man. After I saw this I immediately informed B&N security guard and an employee. Me and my buddies later went outside but the man was gone. This was the B&N in Santa Monica on the 3rd st Promenade for any LA Freepers. I probably wouldn't have given it a second thought if I thought he was a homeless person because we have alot around here and they seem to like to go to the bookstore cafes and enjoy some reading and free milk, but he didn't appear to be a homeless person by his dress. What should I do? Should I report this? If so, to whom?
You have to remember that these people are willing to die for their cause. Or they could have had a vaccine beforehand, so they can merrily spray away.
Ok, I reported it on the FBI tips. I will call Santa Monica police tomorrow. The B&N security guard didn't say much of anything. I pointed him out and he said he would keep an eye on him. I am surprised nobody noticed him before me. He was acting very strange - nervous, looking around but clearly not for books or coffee. I spotted him right. I guess most everybody else in the coffee shop was too buzzed on coffee. I should have gotten the phone number of the guy who got sprayed since he will probably be the first to die. :-)
I'm thinking the guy probably had a serious mental illness and whatever was in the spray bottle was harmless. If someone really wanted distribute a harmful agent in a bookstore, there would be more discrete ways of doing it. Nevertheless you should probably call the police non-emergency number and report it.
I am glad you reported it.
Talking about spraying, I just came across this article and posted it:
DEADLY STUN GUN THAT FOOLS AIRPORT X-RAYS (can also spray CS gas)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1347103/posts
"The gun, which paralyses with a 50,000 volt shock, can also spray CS gas and could become a favoured weapon of terrorists. It was found during a routine baggage search at Heathrow after its owner had passed through X-ray checks.
One airport-based detective said: "This is a major cause for concern. This stun gun is sophisticated and in the wrong hands lethal with potentially disastrous consequences."
===
Of course if it can spray CS gas, it can spray anything else too...
Also, FoxNews had a special on Saddam's bioweapons, that they were making them in spray form and had a lot of perfume bottles, presumably to use those to spray the stuff.
So, seeing anyone spraying around a public place is definitely reportable.
You did the right Avenger.
Now, before going to sleep, write down the description of the guy with the spray bottle.
There are no other scenarios to account for this. "Nutecase" is simply part of the same thing.
I would have been completely freaked out too. At least you had enough sense to tell the gaurd.
Definately report itto the FBI as Barnes & Noble may possibly be asked for their security tapes by whoever may investigate this incident. Personally I would have contacted 911 and had them dispatch police. Reasoning being that a man spraying something out of a bottle in a local bookstore is not normal behavior. I would rather have it be investigated immediately then let it lag. The man with the bottle, whether he be a homeless individual, mentally deficient or just someone playing games should be found and spoken to. Abnormal behavior at the least by this person. Report it immediately.
Don't get so excited. I have no idea exactly what those people will do next, but a pattern is emerging, and it is interesting.
Dang, I really don't think I should say any more. Use mail if you want advice.
Get too excited and you will see thousands of copycat incidents. Lots of people would love the attention. Not a crime to spray a little water. A few sprays and a panic stricken crowd runs away, trampling women and children, what a mess.
This would, of cours, totally tie up the police. This will let the real bad guys do whatever it is that they have in mind.
The thing is that in any case it's unacceptable in this day and age. Such behavior should be shut down as harshly as possible.
It'd still freak me out though. Who does stuff like that without being a nutjob? I'd feel the same hesitation before reporting it, I'm glad this guy did.
BTW - I was reading your homepage even before I even saw your post. Great job. Thanks for your service!
A real gem of a buddy. Where is he now, jail?
Could be, lost track of him a long time ago.
Homeland Security should have a place for people to report something like this. Than I would have left there immediately in case it really was something biological he was spraying.
Thanks. My wife thinks I have a real strange sense of humor.
Could it be so? Nah, impossible!!!
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