I went outside today and rode my bike, for the first time since Holloween. I'm very proud of myself. :)

For those who don't remember/know, on Holloween last year I was waiting outside at the school bus stop for the kids' to show up (my friend was riding the bus to my house that day). While I was sitting there, a man (he seemed to be in his mid-20's or so) pulled up in a red truck. He asked me why I was sitting there, so I told him. When a few police cars on the main highway passed by he drove off, only to come back a few minutes later to continue asking me questions. At first I answered so I wouldn't be rude (some pervert would NEVER talk to me; this must be just some normal guy), but then I started to get scared.
"What's your name?"
"How old are you?"
"Do you live here?"
"Do you have a boyfriend?"

None of these were normal questions, and I was panicking, but the last one is what set me off. I said in what I had hoped was a firm voice (I realized later that I couldn't of sounded very thretening, since I was holding back sobs) that I was uncomfortable talking to him and that I was calling my mom who could drive up to get me in nothing flat. He murmured something about "Sorry," and sped off.

Ever since then I've been afraid to go outside. He lives really close, and I see his truck drive by a lot. Even today, after nearly three months, I was constantly looking over my shoulder to make sure a car wasn't there.
Twice I almost went home. At one point, a white truck parked at the bottom of the hill I was riding up and down. I simply waited at the top of the hill (for almost five minutes) until he drove away. Then, another car almost ran me over (I heard the car, but I thought it was going too fast to be behind me, but turned around anyway--I almost fell off my bike trying to get out of the way in time), and then stopped a few feet away. I panicked then, too, but after about 30 seconds it started going down the road again.

I was still really scared (I thought I was going to be sick or start crying during both of the incidents today), but it's a baby step. Atleast I can go outside, even though I can only be by myself for a short time before wanting to get inside away from everything.

Do you think you might want to talk to a counselor at school to maybe get some tips on how to get over this most effectively?

btw, good job trying again, just be cautious and aware of your surroundings and try not to let fear overrun you.

Good for you, Spaz.

Definitely agree on the kudos to you for your efforts to venture outside.

I would strongly encourage you to speak to a counselor for both your sake and to inquire how to get a report filed on this individual with the police. As he lives near you it is important for the safety of yourself and your neighbors.

She's homeschooled. Her only option, really, is to file a report directly with the police. She could look online for material. That might help, but if she does that, she'll have to do that herself, which means that her parents will be notified, I think, since she is a minor. I'm not sure, though, since she's just filing a report and not filing anything with criminal charges.

She's homeschooled.
:werd: Total homie here, since 1rst grade.

(Around this part of NC, all the homeschoolers are called "homies" and public/private school kids are "schoolies". :D :D :D :D )


Her only option, really, is to file a report directly with the police. She could look online for material. That might help, but if she does that, she'll have to do that herself, which means that her parents will be notified, I think, since she is a minor. I'm not sure, though, since she's just filing a report and not filing anything with criminal charges.
I don't plan on talking to the police, unless he says something to me again (or someone else). A girl who lives around here goes to my friend Jess's school, and told Jess that a guy in a red truck stopped and asked her if she wanted to buy drugs. Apparently, she said "No, leave me alone you ****ing drug head!", and he said that if she talked back to him like that again he'd find her and shoot her. :hmm:

She said it again anyway. :p

Of course, I have no way of knowing if it was the same truck, but there are only two or three in the park.

yay! Good job!!! :)

You and Jess' friend should find a way to coordinate efforts. Since there are only two or three of those vehicles, it's a simple process of elimination to get the right one. Working with parents/police to match up registrations with driver's license pics can be done, especially in such a potentially dangerous situation as this. Please give this major consideration.

As for your "baby steps" so far, well done! :cool:

...and he said that if she talked back to him like that again he'd find her and shoot her. ....

This statement alone escalates things to the point where I'm convinced he will. Maybe not that time, but he will, whether it's her or someone else.

This absolutely must be reported before this nutjob ends up going on a rampage. It's truly a disaster lurking for an opportunity.

yay! Good job!!! :)
Thankies. :D *hugs*

You and Jess' friend should find a way to coordinate efforts. Since there are only two or three of those vehicles, it's a simple process of elimination to get the right one. Working with parents/police to match up registrations with driver's license pics can be done, especially in such a potentially dangerous situation as this. Please give this major consideration.
People selling drugs around here isn't really that big a deal--it's pretty common. But I told Jess to talk to Destiney (the girl I mentioned before) at school, and ask her about what the truck looked like. Mostly we're just worried about looking out for it, rather than reporting him.

I did tell my parents about Destiney's incident, though (and of course they know about mine, as I was bawling uncontrolably right after :p ).

As for your "baby steps" so far, well done! :cool:
Thanks. :D :D :D

I won't be able to go back outside anytime soon, though. Verizon overtook the company my cell phone is from, and it's going to stop working soon. So we're taking it back to the store and getting a new one (since it's only been a month, they're gonna let us), but I'm not going out there until I have the new one. I can't do it without immediate contact with my mom.

This is so far beyond any attempt to sell drugs - the predator potential has been kicked up notches unknown to man, not to mention the threat of imminent violence.

Take it from somebody who lives in the 'hood, please. :(

I won't be able to go back outside anytime soon, though. Verizon overtook the company my cell phone is from, and it's going to stop working soon. So we're taking it back to the store and getting a new one (since it's only been a month, they're gonna let us), but I'm not going out there until I have the new one. I can't do it without immediate contact with my mom.

That means you're getting better service, too. Remember, you can always dial 911, even if you have no service bars. If there's a cell tower in the area from any company, it'll make the connection. That is a policy that I like about cell phones.

True about the cell phone thing, Chris.

I meant to say something about that too.

This is so far beyond any attempt to sell drugs - the predator potential has been kicked up notches unknown to man, not to mention the threat of imminent violence.

Take it from somebody who lives in the 'hood, please. :(

I know, I know-- I told my mom and she mentioned talking to the police.

We still need to figure out if it's the same truck or not, though--if not, WE can't do anything about drug-I'm-gonna-shoot-you dude, only Destiney and her parents can.

Your mom might be able to convince her parents about at least working together to figure out if it's the same truck. Show your mom everything I've said, if need be.

That means you're getting better service, too.
What do you mean? It means I'm getting NO service, because Simple Freedom isn't going to exsist anymore.

Remember, you can always dial 911, even if you have no service bars. If there's a cell tower in the area from any company, it'll make the connection. That is a policy that I like about cell phones.
I didn't know that--that's cool, and good to know. :nice:

What do you mean? It means I'm getting NO service, because Simple Freedom isn't going to exsist anymore.

Aren't you getting a plan under Verizon? Verizon will have more complete coverage than Simple Freedom did.

I didn't know that--that's cool, and good to know. :nice:

Yeah. So long as something can pick up the signal, it'll be sent.

Aren't you getting a plan under Verizon? Verizon will have more complete coverage than Simple Freedom did.
No, no....Simple Freedom is a pay-as-you-go thing, where you buy phone cards when you run out of minutes. I have to get another pay-as-you-go thing, because we can't afford a monthly bill.


Yeah. So long as something can pick up the signal, it'll be sent.
Good. That makes me feel better. :)

Verizon is very good service-wise, but their prepay service may be pricey. Shop around. Virtually all of the major cell carriers offer prepaid service.

I use Cingular Go! Phone because that's the carrier I had from when my dad first got me this phone.

I'd like to get a good phone--I have $40.00 to go towards a phone, and already have a phone card to put minutes on whatever phone I get (it's a universal card, so it works for almost everything).

How much are Cingular Go! phones?

I don't plan on talking to the police, unless he says something to me again (or someone else). A girl who lives around here goes to my friend Jess's school, and told Jess that a guy in a red truck stopped and asked her if she wanted to buy drugs. Apparently, she said "No, leave me alone you ****ing drug head!", and he said that if she talked back to him like that again he'd find her and shoot her. :hmm:


Him just threatening to shoot someone is a crime. It's called assault. He can go to jail for it. Tell your friend to press charges.

Don't go thinking you can take of this yourself, unless you have a gun. (unlikely since you're 13 and all) Call the police and tell them about it. If/when he decides to really hurt someone, you just knowing what his truck looks like isn't going to stop him.

No, no....Simple Freedom is a pay-as-you-go thing, where you buy phone cards when you run out of minutes. I have to get another pay-as-you-go thing, because we can't afford a monthly bill.


Your cell phone will still work to dial 9-1-1. I had a cell phone in my glove compartment for five years after deactivating my plan, and it still worked to dial 9-1-1.

Good thing you're here, Feenix! At last!! Seems I can't convince her by myself, but it's all good - the more the better on this one!

See if this helps, Spaz, regarding Cingular Go! Phone:

http://onlinestorez.cingular.com/cell-phone-service/gophone/index.jsp#1

Like I said, you'll want to compare the others too.

NB and Feenix are right, Spaz.

Also, just as an FYI, people are encouraged to donate their old cell phones to battered women's shelters because even after they have no plan on them, 911 is still supported. I don't think that it's ever not supported, except maybe in analog phones, since I don't think analog signal is supported anymore.

FL is now the third person I owe points to! I'd better get real creative real fast!!

Well done, Chris!! :cool:

I heartily agree with what No_Brakes has said. I'm glad your parents are aware of what happened to you.

Even if Destiney's mom doesn't want to go to the police your mom still should- she can tell what happened to you and mention what Destiney described. I don't know whether the police are under obligation to approach Destiney and/or her guardians for their input but at least something about Destiney's experience will go on file.

Him just threatening to shoot someone is a crime. It's called assault. He can go to jail for it. Tell your friend to press charges.

Don't go thinking you can take of this yourself, unless you have a gun. (unlikely since you're 13 and all) Call the police and tell them about it. If/when he decides to really hurt someone, you just knowing what his truck looks like isn't going to stop him.
I don't know Destiney that well, but I know about where she lives, so once I have my new phone and feel like I can go outside I'll try to track her down. But, like I said, I don't know what her guy looked like or what the truck looked like, so if it's not the same guy and she won't coperate, I can't do anything.



Your cell phone will still work to dial 9-1-1. I had a cell phone in my glove compartment for five years after deactivating my plan, and it still worked to dial 9-1-1.[/QUOTE]

Good thing you're here, Feenix! At last!! Seems I can't convince her by myself, but it's all good - the more the better on this one!

See if this helps, Spaz, regarding Cingular Go! Phone:

http://onlinestorez.cingular.com/cell-phone-service/gophone/index.jsp#1

Like I said, you'll want to compare the others too.
:w00t: Thanks. :)
I heartily agree with what No_Brakes has said. I'm glad your parents are aware of what happened to you.

Even if Destiney's mom doesn't want to go to the police your mom still should- she can tell what happened to you and mention what Destiney described. I don't know whether the police are under obligation to approach Destiney and/or her guardians for their input but at least something about Destiney's experience will go on file.
What happened to me was a while ago--I doubt the police can do anything now. Besides, I don't think he really DID anything to me that he could be charged for.

I don't believe there would be a time limit on charging him- it isn't so much about charging someone but alerting the police, so that if unfortunately down the line something happens to someone else they can have you help ID the guy.

I think it would really put your mind at ease to know you've done all you can to inform the police and create a record on this guy.

You could probably get him for harrassment, possibly even stalking depending on how stringent your state's law is in that regard.

....Also, just as an FYI, people are encouraged to donate their old cell phones to battered women's shelters because even after they have no plan on them, 911 is still supported. ...

****50 Garnet Points for FL for this****

:cool:

all girls should get some self defence classes or take karate classes or somting like that.
and yea take your phone or doggy or a friend. dont worry spaz, youll grow older and less scared and youre doin great overcoming your fears. just see what happened as a warning, of which you can learn.

Oki, I totally second that. Having some brief self-defense training classes did wonders for me confidence to be out at night by myself.

My old company actually sponsored a one hour seminar that was wonderful.

all girls should get some self defence classes or take karate classes or somting like that.
and yea take your phone or doggy or a friend. dont worry spaz, youll grow older and less scared and youre doin great overcoming your fears. just see what happened as a warning, of which you can learn.
Defense lessons seem like a good idea. I'd get the **** kicked out of me if I had to practice with someone, though. :hmm:

*hugs* Thanks Oki. :D :D :D
I don't believe there would be a time limit on charging him- it isn't so much about charging someone but alerting the police, so that if unfortunately down the line something happens to someone else they can have you help ID the guy.

I think it would really put your mind at ease to know you've done all you can to inform the police and create a record on this guy.
It's not so much that I think there's a time limit, but since it's been so long I can't be 100% sure that I'm right about what the guy looks like, or even the truck (though I'm pretty sure I know what truck it is, I can't be positive). I'd be answering with a bunch of "I think so"s and "Maybe"s, and that won't help the police much. :hmm: