Having spent the night in such wonderful places around the country such as Oakland California, Chicago Illinois, McAllen Texas, I preferred to keep some sort of weapon with me in the semi.
In Denver, if someone woke me up by detonating an explosive in the middle of the night that shook the house, the first thing I would do is reach for a weapon to protect myself. As you also know, when you get jolted out of bed and your heart is pounding from an adrenaline rush, you aren’t going back to sleep for at least 3 hours. I would be setting in to sleep then hear explosions outside.
I’d jump up and see Mexican families strolling their children down the street throwing fire crackers. I’d approach them and say, “Hey, it’s night time. I’m trying to sleep. Please stop it.” They’d say okay then proceed further down the street and continue their activities. I was being sleep deprived.
After many calls to Adams County Police I realized that they couldn’t do anything unless they personally witnessed it happening. So I took it upon myself to start observing, position locating addresses and video surveilling the neighborhood. I documented nearly 10 addresses around me where this activity was taking place. Yes, the problem was pervasive.
When an explosion went off after 9pm I would call the police and give an address. They would come out then tell me later that they spoke to some people but that was all they could do since they didn’t see it happen. One night when another full on display was taking place around the neighborhood I got out of bed and drove my car to one Latino family address where I’ve visited before requesting them to stop. They were drunk this time and one of them became angry and nearly crawled through my window. Other members of his family pulled him away and I drove to the next location.
There were 2 Latino families on both sides of the street recreating in the dark. I got out of my car and approached one group. I asked politely if I could speak with them. They said sure. As I explained to them about being a sleepy truck driver the other family started to cross the street. The angry guy from the last location was also storming down the sidewalk.
I was being mobbed. It became hostile. I was shouted at by many people all at the same time. I was called a f*king white person. I went back to my car and found cigarette butts on my windshield and an empty beer bottle placed on my passenger seat. I pulled it out and told them someone put a beer bottle on my seat, but they laughed at me and joked that I was a drunk driver and they should call the police.
Other instances like this occurred on other nights around the neighborhood. I’m sure they knew where I lived so I began to expect the worst. The fireworks were not just a form of recreation, but a form of intimidation and defiance against working neighbors.
I had been hearing about legislation being passed where our elected officials who claimed Denver was not a sanctuary city had decriminalized public defecation in order to protect illegal immigrants from being arrested and deported. So I purchased some secluded land many hours back in the mountains and pulled up out of the city I grew up in, the city I went to church in, the city I graduated college in, the city I worked in, the city I cast my ballots in for decades.
This is me bugging out of Denver last year.
Yeah, a lot of animals and children are genuinely traumatized by the sound of fireworks including my son. In places I’ve lived thoithe fireworks were the least of the issue — loud music, litter, unauthorized residents, lawns replaced by car repair shops, unlicensed and/or drunk drivers, etc., etc.