skribs
Grandmaster
I had a strange encounter today. Wanted to get it out. Figured this is as good a place as any. Anonymous enough, especially from the folks in my neighborhood (where this occurred).
Today I had someone spamming my doorbell. I have a speakeasy door, so I'm comfortable answering strange calls. It's usually door-to-door salesmen that I can shoo away. This time it was a neighbor. "You need to call the police. Three strangers are in my house and they won't leave." I immediately got out my phone, dialed 911, and put it on speaker. I figured whatever this was (legitimate home invasion, trespass, domestic dispute, or whatever) the police can sort it out. But if it was truly a home invasion, I didn't want to be the guy that didn't call.
During the call, some things seemed off. 911 asked if we needed police, fire, medical, or mental health. He said, "Hang up and call the police, that's not the police." I wasn't sure if he had some sort of disability, was just confused, or just if it was a mistranslation. I decided I was going to take over the 911 call and tell them what he's telling me. During the conversation, he said that there were three people in his house, strangers, and they won't leave. Said they were suspicious, maybe gangsters. Then he said "the man in the truck is suspicious too". It was a work truck parked in another neighbor's driveway. At this point, I started to think nothing was going on, and the guy was paranoid.
I made up an excuse to go inside for a minute. Said my stove was on and I needed to turn it off. Told the 911 operator I think he's just paranoid, but in case I'm wrong they should still send someone. I walk back out. He's dinging on other doors, then he goes up to the truck (that two minutes ago was "suspicious") and was asking him for help.
Cops came, talked with him for a while. They already knew him. I don't think this was the first time he's done this. I feel bad for the guy, he clearly needs help. I feel bad for his family, it's gotta be tough. I feel bad for the cops that had to deal with this. I hope he's okay. Thanks for reading, if you did.
Today I had someone spamming my doorbell. I have a speakeasy door, so I'm comfortable answering strange calls. It's usually door-to-door salesmen that I can shoo away. This time it was a neighbor. "You need to call the police. Three strangers are in my house and they won't leave." I immediately got out my phone, dialed 911, and put it on speaker. I figured whatever this was (legitimate home invasion, trespass, domestic dispute, or whatever) the police can sort it out. But if it was truly a home invasion, I didn't want to be the guy that didn't call.
During the call, some things seemed off. 911 asked if we needed police, fire, medical, or mental health. He said, "Hang up and call the police, that's not the police." I wasn't sure if he had some sort of disability, was just confused, or just if it was a mistranslation. I decided I was going to take over the 911 call and tell them what he's telling me. During the conversation, he said that there were three people in his house, strangers, and they won't leave. Said they were suspicious, maybe gangsters. Then he said "the man in the truck is suspicious too". It was a work truck parked in another neighbor's driveway. At this point, I started to think nothing was going on, and the guy was paranoid.
I made up an excuse to go inside for a minute. Said my stove was on and I needed to turn it off. Told the 911 operator I think he's just paranoid, but in case I'm wrong they should still send someone. I walk back out. He's dinging on other doors, then he goes up to the truck (that two minutes ago was "suspicious") and was asking him for help.
Cops came, talked with him for a while. They already knew him. I don't think this was the first time he's done this. I feel bad for the guy, he clearly needs help. I feel bad for his family, it's gotta be tough. I feel bad for the cops that had to deal with this. I hope he's okay. Thanks for reading, if you did.
