How would you handle it off duty?

[AccessDenied]

I'm a LEO from out of state here in California temporarily on military orders with the NG for training. In this situation where I'm from, there's not a lot you can do on a legal side. Could anything in the incident below be worth reporting or would I have wasted some officers time had I called afterwards? How would you have handled it being off duty with your spouse with you, anything different if they weren't with you?

There were no actual threats made, just the attitude, gestures, etc. He was trying to provoke me in to a fight, however trash like that isn't worth either of my jobs, or my wife getting hurt. In Louisiana it could potentially fall under assault, but it would be extremely hard to convey the way he was acting was threatening, and no specific words were used.

My wife is here with me as well and we decided to go to Jamba Juice for lunch, the parking lot of the shopping center was crowded as normal so I'm driving nice and slow, etc. Two guys are crossing in front of my car, one of them comes to a complete stop in front of my car and just stares at me, then starts walking with the slowest walk possible... I'm annoyed, but whatever, it's a parking lot, people walk through it.

I park the car, me and my wife start walking towards Jamba juice when I notice one of the two guys is back on the parking lot side standing between two cars at the end of the road, the other is standing on the store side staring at us. At that point I told my wife we should go back, but she's stubborn and while i recognized a bad situation I didn't think these two guys (in their work vehicle, and work clothes) would do anything. Heck at this point I have no reason to think they even notice me. When I cross the driveway the guy that was waiting on that side starts yelling at me, asking if I have a problem with how he walks in the parking lot... First, I'm trying not to laugh because out of all the dumb things I've seen, that's a stupid reason to try and start a fight with anyone, but then I remember my wife is with me. I simply tell him that he's an idiot for trying to start a fight and not worth my time as I walk past him to go in to the store, his buddy runs up behind us and they both try to go in to Jamba Juice with us. At that point I grab the wifes arm and we just walk out, the guy gets in my face and starts telling me that I wont do anything but talk... I tell him he wont either, and that he's not worth my time and go back to the care, and we go eat somewhere else.

I know the best thing to do is to always just get out of a situation before it escalates, however it just burns me up that I had to leave somewhere that my wife wanted to eat because someone else was doing something stupid and I didn't want to see it escalate.

[ptusa]

So no Jamba Juice?

That sucks man.

[CSACANNONEER]

It sounds like you handled it the best way possible. There's an old Korean saying that goes something like: If you kick scat, you just end up with scat on your shoe. It sure sounds like they weren't worth the trouble of having to clean your shoes.

[sealocan]

okay no Jamba Juice = first world problem, no big deal...

some very likely possible alternatives...


you hurt them, they end up taking you to court = $$$, you get arrested,you get hurt, your wife gets hurt, all of you get hurt, you all get arrested...I could keep going for days but you get what I'm saying, if you're alive and she's alive and you can get your juice someplace else.

..you made the right call.

if it makes you feel better it could have been a case of mistaken identity,someone that hurt him as a little boy,(and he still hasn't grown up to be a man yet.)

I've had that mistaken identity thing happen in my life and even have been almost attacked over it.

I know it doesn't feel great but sometimes making the right call gives you no joy.

[AccessDenied]

Yeah, I know walking away is always the right call when possible, I just hate letting trash walk on me like that. Just wish there was more that could be done.

Well, I did get the company name, phone, and truck number off of their truck. Then noticed they're doing road construction about two block away from the store, so I suppose I talk to a supervisor on Monday when the office opens up. Of course I've been in other businesses too, I'm sure the sup will say whatever on the phone, then never think about it again.

[Off the Roster]

in CA the drive to breed stupidity is enforced by the fact that pedestrians are protected to the point that they wander everywhere as though they are in their livingrooms. the fact that one actually paid attention to your not stopping is actually an improvement, normally attention is so focused on their smartphone they are oblivious to everything.

if you ever drive in burbank keep in mind that the pedestrian must clear the ENTIRE street before you drive through the crosswalk. even if they are 2 steps away from the far curb, you are not clear to drive. i am guessing there have been enough instances of pedestrians "going squirrel" and randomly darting back to your side of the road that this rule came to be.

in normal places pedestrians look before heading into traffic, and put a little hustle in their pace. watch here and you will see those on foot actually slow down after they step off the curb.

[AccessDenied]

That's part of what annoyed me about it. I was stopped, and waited while he crossed. It seemed like he was just out looking for a fight for the day.

Good to know about the pedestrians clearing the crosswalk and the illegals. I'll try to avoid running them over too.

[Off the Roster]

That's part of what annoyed me about it. I was stopped, and waited while he crossed. It seemed like he was just out looking for a fight for the day.

i guess you "threatened" his territory..

[boukca]

OP- Look at it this way, the incident is now stale, you're not hurt and/or in jail, safe, not being sued and still have your career. You'll never see those jack clowns again and it's all ancient history now. You did the right thing and still in the green. It's all good brother.

[CSACANNONEER]

Yeah, I know walking away is always the right call when possible, I just hate letting trash walk on me like that. Just wish there was more that could be done.

Well, I did get the company name, phone, and truck number off of their truck. Then noticed they're doing road construction about two block away from the store, so I suppose I talk to a supervisor on Monday when the office opens up. Of course I've been in other businesses too, I'm sure the sup will say whatever on the phone, then never think about it again.

No, "they didn't walk on you". You just choice not to step in a pile of scat. If you had allowed them to provoke you into any type of confrontation, then they would have got what they were after which would have been "walking on you". I'm not talking about who would have won a physical confrontation. I'm talking about the mere fact that they were trying to provoke you into escalating the situation and you showed that were too strong for them by walking away instead. Now, I would have probably blown them kisses as they flipped me off but, sometimes I like mind Fing idiots.

[CSACANNONEER]

BTW, if you were carrying under HR218, you really had no choice but to calmly walk away.

[AccessDenied]

Now, I would have probably blown them kisses as they flipped me off but, sometimes I like mind Fing idiots.

Now I know what I'm doing next time.

[CSACANNONEER]

Now I know what I'm doing next time.

It works great in road rage incidents too.

[55chevypost]

It's strictly pride still lingering why it's not a distant memory. Trust you made the right call and let it go. Been there my friend.

[Rango]

You always have a choice
Escalate or De-escalate a situation.

We get trained to do the latter, sounds like you did as you were trained. And it worked out perfect FOR YOU. You go on with Family, two jobs and a position of trust.... Take some satisfaction in the fact that they have to go on being THEM.