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Should I Contact the FBI? (Suspicious Activity Observed)
Vanity | 11-5-01

Posted on 11/05/2001 3:35:26 PM PST by 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.


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To: dogbyte12
This is a new kind of war, and we all are spies. Thank you for reporting this unusual event. With the license number, it shouldn't be hard for the FBI to find the vehicle. Either they'll rule it out, or if it is a custom built van, maybe they'll dig up some more info about at least the people in the van. Hey, it shoulda been called in even if the driver looked like Pat Boone. Now suspicious=possible terrorist. You did good!
61 posted on 11/05/2001 4:52:18 PM PST by I am not my own
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To: dogbyte12
Check out my experience here, post 21

Met my new neighbor this morning. After telling him about this, he indicated he stopped 5 Middle Eastern fellows from trespassing on his property about a quarter mile from a major military base boundary near their power lines about one week before the WTC attack. Later he and others had to help them get unstuck out of the sand 3 times. Not your normal desert rat wondering in the desert.

I agree it might all be coincidence, but if it walks, talks, swims and quacks like a duck,...

62 posted on 11/05/2001 4:59:33 PM PST by Cvengr
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To: dogbyte12
Hey, could it have been Cheech and Chong? I saw some VERY suspicious things in their movies.

Will you split the reward with us if it turns out they were bad guys?

63 posted on 11/05/2001 5:03:32 PM PST by Born to Conserve
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To: Humidston
Strange thing. I called the cops on a suspicious car and two young men who were "hanging out" at my neighbors house. I felt strange about it. But I was right. They had long records and they were casing the house.
64 posted on 11/05/2001 5:05:35 PM PST by vannrox
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To: dogbyte12
Call the FBI. Good observation. Local police = idiots.
65 posted on 11/05/2001 5:07:26 PM PST by Osinski
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To: Born to Conserve
Will you split the reward with us if it turns out they were bad guys?

If these were the bad guys, and I drove into the cloud of anything nasty about 20 feet behind them, I don't think I will be around to split up any reward :)

It's likely nothing, but when these guys do start serious chemical attacks, I hope other people do report it and do not worry about being taken as a paranoid worry wart.

66 posted on 11/05/2001 5:07:31 PM PST by dogbyte12
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To: dogbyte12
Or find someone to run the plate.

and then track them down with a WHOIS search.

67 posted on 11/05/2001 5:11:11 PM PST by nm_james
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To: dogbyte12
Could it have been a passenger emptying an ashtray full of ashes and a few butts?
68 posted on 11/05/2001 5:11:15 PM PST by GovernmentShrinker
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To: GovernmentShrinker
Could it have been a passenger emptying an ashtray full of ashes and a few butts?

Theoretically, it could have been ashes, no butts though... this stuff hung in the air, then vanished. I was looking at it directly when it happened. I hope, genuinely hope that it is something silly, like a blown radiator, or an ash tray litterer. I mean, I was right behind it and all. My hunch is that it will turn out to be nothing, however if it's nasty stuff, I expect to be avenged. *grin*

69 posted on 11/05/2001 5:15:36 PM PST by dogbyte12
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To: The Turbanator
great screen name!
70 posted on 11/05/2001 5:17:18 PM PST by oust the louse
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To: vannrox
what you said bump. got a very bad feeling about all of this. glad you reported it DB12.
71 posted on 11/05/2001 5:20:54 PM PST by the crow
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To: American_Patriot_For_Democracy
Your sceen name does not jibe with your post.

Eaker

72 posted on 11/05/2001 5:37:38 PM PST by Eaker
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To: Godfollow
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you. :)
73 posted on 11/05/2001 5:38:42 PM PST by Samwise
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To: dogbyte12
I'm no mechanic, but I have seen heater cores go out in vans before...sounds like this is what may have happened.
74 posted on 11/05/2001 5:50:41 PM PST by hope
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To: dogbyte12
It was probably an environmental terrorist. We all know how harmless they are ... /sarcasm
75 posted on 11/05/2001 5:52:33 PM PST by OrioleFan
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To: dogbyte12
Hey DB, where were you when this happened? City, suburbs, country?

Also, keep us posted.

76 posted on 11/05/2001 6:08:35 PM PST by riri
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To: riri
Hey DB, where were you when this happened? City, suburbs, country?

Suburbs of LA, if they really exist. LA is a big old sprawl. I was in San Gabriel, probably about 15 miles from downtown LA. It put a damper on my morning, but what can ya do? God decides when it's our time to go, so we just have to keep on keeping on.

The only thing I won't be doing is flying United, but life goes on.

77 posted on 11/05/2001 6:14:24 PM PST by dogbyte12
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To: dogbyte12

You were absolutely right to report it to local police and the FBI. As to whether you'll find anyone with the gumption to follow up on it, who knows, but you will have done what you can. As someone else already suggested, I would definitely go get tested for anthrax. What you saw was highly suspicious so forget what ostriches think of you and take care of yourself prudently.

What's really mind-boggling is the fact that most people even now still have their hands planted so firmly in the sand, and I think this includes all too many law enforcement people who've been instructed to be on "highest alert" and yet are dismissive of whatever comes their way. What, pray tell, will it take for this country to wake up?

MM



78 posted on 11/05/2001 6:47:57 PM PST by MississippiMan
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To: dogbyte12
BTTT Can't be too careful these days. Thanks for the post. Let us know how it turns out.
79 posted on 11/05/2001 7:05:59 PM PST by WI_Conservative
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To: dogbyte12
In case no body has mentioned it, anthrax is not brown. It can be any color in the rainbow depending on what it is mixed with. As to the van.......blown head or overheating for some reason. White stuff probably steam from ruptured heater core in cab.
80 posted on 11/05/2001 7:14:18 PM PST by Cold Heat
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