I listened to the call, and the voice wasn't in the nature of "urging." That said, this is the same standard advice always give by law enforcement. Don't get involved, call the police. It's more for the protection of the eyewitness.
-- I've got a big problem with someone taking it upon themselves - when they ARE NOT law enforcement - to follow someone. --
So, you would NEVER follow a person who just stole the stereo out of your car.
-- I don't see this "following" business as harmless, and in this case - it set the stage for the rest of the evening. --
This following business is usually harmless. The police do it all the time, watching what's going on and sometimes following cars when they suspect DUI, etc. Even non law enforcement people do that (follow, to maintain visual contact until the law arrives).
I agree, sometimes it ends badly. Especially when the person being followed over-reacts with unjustified violence.
“So, you would NEVER follow a person who just stole the stereo out of your car.”
Well....2 things. If I did follow...it would be because I had just witnessed an actual crime.
Second...I don’t think I would follow since the the type of person who would do that could also be violent.
I would call the police.
Would you ever follow someone who was walking down the street?
The police are trained for these situations - and even they find themselves in compromising situations.
How much more potential for error is there for the NW watch guy, who takes it upon himself to follow people?
A guy who, if reports are true, has had a dream of becoming an officer, and has not achieved that dream.
Is it possible we are looking at an overzealous person who wants to be law enforcement and couldn’t “cut it”