[jdm]

Thanks a lot for any insight on this. And I apologize that I'm asking these questions without more info. Also any helpful links are appreciated since the intent of this post is not for someone else to do my homework for me.

[1rudeboy]

Menacing? Civil case? Witnesses?

[mnehring]

Does waiting three-four weeks to file the menacing charge AFTER the disorderly conduct was settled hurt Person A's credibility?

IMHO, no, three to four weeks doesn't sound all that unreasonable considering there may be time to consult lawyers, etc.

[stylin19a]

6) Person B apparently has a good lawyer,

what does the lawyer say ?

[rednesss]

"Person B starts getting lippy, cursing at Person A and is charged with disorderly conduct, pays $125 fine."

Person B needs to be smacked about the head and shoulders for several minutes.

[grellis]

I'll try to keep it short: I share my driveway with the house next door. A drug dealer used to live there, huge guy, 6'3, 300 easy. I'm 5' even and weigh 95 pounds. Two summers ago, I told some of Thug's "clients" to go roll their doobs someplace else, since my kids were watching them from the window. As they were leaving, Thug came over to me--a foot away--leaned right in my face and said "Get back in your house, b!tch, or I'm gonna pop your @ss." It was like movie dialogue.

I went in, called the police, told them what had happened. Thug took off before the cop came to take a report. A neighbor from across the steet saw everything that had happened but didn't hear what was said. Between my neighbor and I the cop had a clear picture of what was going on. Cop advised me "to stay inside for a few weeks, give the guy a chance to cool down." When I asked her if he could be charged with menacing, she laughed at me. "Just stay out of his way." Fortunately, I know a couple of detectives from our Tri-County drug squad, and the house was raided and boarded two weeks later.

Long story short (!): There is no such crime as menacing, at least not in Lansing.