In my experience, they can be meddlesome busybodies, but I don't have experience with any that threw a first punch. Of all the contact that Zimmerman made with the police, how many of those incidents have him confronting the person? Maybe he does follow the advice to be nothing more than eyes and ears, and to maintain distance while waiting for police to arrive.
than why did the dispatcher feel it was necessary to urge him to stop following?
I know I’m ticking off people here, but obviously I’ve got a big problem with someone taking it upon themselves - when they ARE NOT law enforcement - to follow someone.
I don’t see this “following” business as harmless, and in this case - it set the stage for the rest of the evening.