Should I Contact the FBI? (Suspicious Activity Observed)

Vanity | 11-5-01

[dogbyte12]

Sorry for the vanity folks. But something happened today to me that spooked me, and I don't spook that easily.

I was driving to work today going south bound in San Gabriel California on a major street when a van turned in front of me. Large custom white van with a huge bubble top on it.

As we are going, liquid suddenly drips from underneath the van. Hmmm, I thought, bad exhaust or something. It stops. Then about 30 seconds later, another 4 oz of so of liquid drips out. Again, it doesn't appear to be from the exhaust pipe, but I figure it must be.

Then it happened. Out of nowhere, from the right passenger window a large... I mean 3 by 3 foot cloud of either white smoke or white powder flies out the right window. It dissipates and is invisible in about 2 to 3 seconds. I know anthrax is brown, but it freaks me out that I see this substance in such quantities. This was no cigarette smoke, it was just an instantaneous dicharge of something in such volume that it was probably about the size I think. around 3 by 3 feet.

I then wanted to get a look at the driver. It was a "olive skinned" man approximately 25-35, with short wavy hair, who appeared pakistani, indian in appearance. The van took a quick turn, I headed to work, related the incident to co-workers, who convinced me to call the local police.

Talked to the desk officer who basically humored me. I had written down the liscence plate number told him what I saw and he basically told me that he didn't hear any other complaints yet about this van, and the white smoke or powder was probably an engine discharge or something.

My question is, should I take this further. This very likely can just be a weird congruence, and the local police might have investigated it, but I am wondering if I should call the feds to be sure. I have been hearing stories of them blowing off people with similar tips as well. Any imput would be appreciated.

[American_Patriot_For_Democracy]

I think maybe some Prozac would be good.

[Heisenburger]

I would contact the FBI. Local police, especially in the People's Republic of California, can often be incompetent. At any rate, better safe than sorry.

[My dog Sam]

Call the fibbies - let them make up their own mind. The local cops are asleep at the wheel

[poindexter]

Probably a mobile meth lab.

[sonofagun]

Blown head gasket?

[Vauss]

Get yourself tested for anthrax.

[Timesink]

I agree, tell the FBI. If they don't do anything with it, well, at least your conscience will be clear.

[Dubh_Ghlase]

Did you get the make, model, year, and license plate number? (At least the plate number!) If it is a rental, it can be tracked. Do it...

[The Turbanator]

Just call the FBI NOW!!! Take it from someone who called them with a tip, they will follow up on this and you will probably never here from the FBI about it.

[onedoug]

...or the CHP. Screw the pooh-pooers. One just never knows these days.

[abner]

Call the FBI. If for no other reason than your own conscience. You will know that you at least have done your part. I would also follow up tomorrow with the police. That squeaky wheel thing.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Our leaders have asked us to report such behavior. Let them decide if it is bunk. Do you really think they would be asking us to report strange behavior if they were not interested. It is your civic duty. The other posters here who have bad mouthed you are part of the problem... not the soultion. Good luck.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I'd call the FBI or I think they have a website for reporting suspicious activity. Look at it this way, with all the potential for terrorist acts, someone just like yourself may thwart one. Nothing to lose, dogbyte.

[Slic]

If it was an "olive-skinned" man in a bio-suit complete with respirator I would call the Federales. Was he in a bio-suit? You didn't say.

[dogbyte12]

Did you get the make, model, year, and license plate number?

Yup got the plate number. Never saw a van like it before. It almost looked like a medical van. It was about a foot larger than a regular van, then extended even higher with a very large bubble top, probably 24-36" in height on the bubble top.

I don't know enough about blown gaskets to quantify. I just know there was just that one short discharge of powder or smoke out the passenger window. I think I will email the local FBI with these details, explain that I don't know for sure if it's anything serious, and will leave my number if they want to call me back.

[RightOnline]

No-brainer. Call the Feds. They'll decide if it's worth tracking down or not...........and emphasize that you aren't some Nervous Nellie....but that this isn't something one sees every day where you live, etc., etc. Good luck.

[exmoor]

Not to worry, that was just that delicious snow cone syrup.

[Lizzy W]

I do hope you call the feds. We pay the FBI's budget to investigate things like this. Thank you for being an aware citizen.