Strange People Encounters

[jasonbigley]

I want to know is anyone has had any encounters with strange/dangerous people. For example:

* Several years ago, I was traveling with my family south. We were in the parking lot of a motel and one family member went in to check on prices. The rest of us were sitting out in the truck and this lady climbed into our vehicle. We didnt know who she was and she claimed she had the wrong vehicle by accident and left.

* On another trip to the south, we were stopped along Interstate 95 because we had stopped for a break ( I think) and this man comes charging towards us from out of no where. So we got in our vehicle and left quickly.

* Sometimes at our local gas station, a lot of kids will hang out in front of the store at night (usually Fridays) and they act strange.

I would like to hear if any others have examples also. Thank you.

[wiseguy182]

I don't know that this thread as a whole lot to do with UM, but I couldn't resist the temptation to respond: partially because I'm bored at work, and partially because, working 3rd shift at hotels, you meet all manner of, shall we say, interesting folk. I have all sorts of stories, this one being my particular favorite.

A cab driver drops off this really, really drunk young man. This guy was so drunk, he walked directly into the wall. At that point, I told myself "That's gotta hurt!" (obscure Seinfeld reference from the lost episode). I gave him his total, which was over $100. He pulled out a $20. I attempted to explain to him that that wasn't going to cover it. Miracalously, he managed to find his debit card. I figured I might have issues with him, so I put him in the room closest to the desk (guests have less tendency to create problems when they are so close to the desk, and if they do, I won't have to walk as far). I thought about walking him to his room since he was so drunk, but figured that, since it wasn't that far, that he could manage. Mistake.

Anyways, time passes, and I largely forgot about him, figuring he was sleeping very soundly. Then I went to the employee breakroom, which is next to his room. As I entered the restroom, I thought I saw somebody else in the room, but told myself I was just imagining things. When I came out, I'll be damned if he wasn't there, spread out across 3 chairs. Here was a man paying over $100 for a hotel room, and he was sleeping on chairs! I woke him up and tried explaining things to him, but he insisted that he was at his own house. At that point, he tried using his set of keys to open a closet door in the breakroom. By now, I had to bite on my hand to prevent from laughing hysterically. Basically, I had to coax him to his room the same way I coax my dog when I want her to follow me. I was like "come on, come on, this way, this way." He threatened to whip me with his belt, which he had taken off, but I wasn't too worried about it, because he probably would have fallen on his face if he were to try anything. End result, police drove him home. He ended up paying lots of money for a room that he hardly used.

[synthisislab]

I was leaving a club downtown one night last year and was walking to my car alone when a drunk bum tried to rob me with a small knife. I ended up knocking him on his ass and I stomped him until he passed out. The police came when someone called them as I was beating the robber down. They arrested both of us and I spent a few days in jail, but later they dropped the charges on me. Now I have to go to court in a couple weeks to find out what they sentenced the bum to for attempted armed robbery and aggravated assault.

There was another time a few years ago when I was at the McDonald's drive-thru very late one night (3 or 4 in the morning) and there was only me in my car and a couple in the car in front of me. The driver was this scuzzball hip-hop kid (white kid trying to act street) that was obviously wasted and arguing loudly with his girlfriend. He got out of the car to order and he was being combative and argumentative with his girl and the McDonald's employees through the intercom and was taking MUCH too long. I just sat there staring at this idiot and he then tried to turn his anger to me. He started walking towards my car and I backed up and he turned and walked back to his car and I drove back to the line. He turned back and started that same cycle of approaching my car again and I backed up, then drove back in line when he returned to his car. He then finally got back into his car and pulled up to pay and get his food. I told the lady at the drive-thru window what happened, gave her the vehicle description & tag #, and she called the cops, who probably pulled him over down the road (or when he got home) for a DUI. He's lucky that he didn't reach my car because I was about to shoot him or at least knock him out if he tried to approach me a third time.

No wonder I can't stand drunks.

[Titan826]

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

I don't know that this thread as a whole lot to do with UM, but I couldn't resist the temptation to respond: partially because I'm bored at work, and partially because, working 3rd shift at hotels, you meet all manner of, shall we say, interesting folk. I have all sorts of stories, this one being my particular favorite.

A cab driver drops off this really, really drunk young man. This guy was so drunk, he walked directly into the wall. At that point, I told myself "That's gotta hurt!" (obscure Seinfeld reference from the lost episode). I gave him his total, which was over $100. He pulled out a $20. I attempted to explain to him that that wasn't going to cover it. Miracalously, he managed to find his debit card. I figured I might have issues with him, so I put him in the room closest to the desk (guests have less tendency to create problems when they are so close to the desk, and if they do, I won't have to walk as far). I thought about walking him to his room since he was so drunk, but figured that, since it wasn't that far, that he could manage. Mistake.

Anyways, time passes, and I largely forgot about him, figuring he was sleeping very soundly. Then I went to the employee breakroom, which is next to his room. As I entered the restroom, I thought I saw somebody else in the room, but told myself I was just imagining things. When I came out, I'll be damned if he wasn't there, spread out across 3 chairs. Here was a man paying over $100 for a hotel room, and he was sleeping on chairs! I woke him up and tried explaining things to him, but he insisted that he was at his own house. At that point, he tried using his set of keys to open a closet door in the breakroom. By now, I had to bite on my hand to prevent from laughing hysterically. Basically, I had to coax him to his room the same way I coax my dog when I want her to follow me. I was like "come on, come on, this way, this way." He threatened to whip me with his belt, which he had taken off, but I wasn't too worried about it, because he probably would have fallen on his face if he were to try anything. End result, police drove him home. He ended up paying lots of money for a room that he hardly used.

That is just too funny. I dont understand people who get wasted like that. That would be one hell of a funny experience, though.

[crystaldawn]

This isn't really like the other stories but I have met a murderer. I was working as a receptionist for a subcontractor on a jobsite. The safety man was Terry Dixon and he seemed like a nice guy. I had heard talk around the office his stepson (whom he had adopted and I believe was only around 14 at the time) was quite a handful and giving his dad some problems. One day at work the son (Sean) was there. I was expecting the worse but he seemed like a nice kid. My job was temp so soon after we all went our separate ways but I did take some pictures and even took one of Sean at the office that day with some other people. Several months later I happened to watch the tease on the news and to my surprise there on the television was a picture of Terry Dixon! I couldn't believe when they said that Sean and his friends had broken into Terry's apartment one night in Vegas with the intent to rob him and Sean had shot Terry in the head, killing him!! I felt so sorry for Terry as he did seem to really want to help Sean out and such a senseless crime. I also couldn't believe that I had met a murderer! I believe Sean was only 16 when he murdered his dad. I found his name on the NV Dept of Corrections and he was convicted of 1st Degree Murder and will serve a minimum of 20 years for the crime.

[synthisislab]

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

This isn't really like the other stories but I have met a murderer. I was working as a receptionist for a subcontractor on a jobsite. The safety man was Terry Dixon and he seemed like a nice guy. I had heard talk around the office his stepson (whom he had adopted and I believe was only around 12 at the time) was quite a handful and giving his dad some problems. One day at work the son (Sean) was there. I was expecting the worse but he seemed like a nice kid. My job was temp so soon after we all went our separate ways but I did take some pictures and even took one of Sean at the office that day with some other people. Months later I happened to watch the tease on the news and to my surprise there on the television was a picture of Terry Dixon! I couldn't believe when they said that Sean and his friends had broken into Terry's apartment one night in Vegas with the intent to rob him and Sean had shot Terry in the head, killing him!! I felt so sorry for Terry as he did seem to really want to help Sean out and such a senseless crime. I also couldn't believe that I had met a murderer! I believe Sean was only 16 when he murdered his dad. I found his name on the NV Dept of Corrections and he was convicted of 1st Degree Murder and will serve a minimum of 20 years for the crime.

Whoa, that sounds like it could have been a UM or AMW case. How did they catch him?

[crystaldawn]

Originally Posted by synthisislab

Whoa, that sounds like it could have been a UM or AMW case. How did they catch him?

I'm not sure but I think they caught him pretty much right away. Since he was murdered in his apartment maybe someone heard a gunshot and called police. I don't think Sean ever denied doing it once they had him in custody.

[synthisislab]

I have a friend that lives in Jacksonville Beach that lives in the same building where this girl Corey Parker was stabbed to death 80 times by a guy that lived in the building adjacent to her. That case was featured on Cold Case Files and my friend was interviewed on camera and they shot some footage off his balcony that was used in the segment.

I also used to know this guy I knew through a friend in high school that was on AMW a few times in the late 90s and is now on Death Row. His name is Jason "Psycho" Stephens.

[supersally1974]

When I was 14, my friend and I walked to the videostore to rent Edward Scissorhands. We almost ran into a tall lanky dude, wearing a hoodie and walking briskly. On our way back, a police car strolled by and flash its light towards us. We were stopped for questionning (scary as heck when you are 14!!!). Turns out we were face to face with the suspect who robbed at knifepoint the convenience store, next door to the videostore. I was called in the police station to look at picture to see if I could pick out a suspect. But that was 4 months later and my memory was foggy. I could not recall his features.

That was my brush (by proxy) with the law.

[synthisislab]

That couldn't be the RST Video and Quick Stop in Jersey, which is run by Randall Graves and Dante Hicks, could it?

[supersally1974]

Originally Posted by synthisislab

That couldn't be the RST Video and Quick Stop in Jersey, which is run by Randall Graves and Dante Hicks, could it?

No,
It was the one in my hometown of Gatineau, Quebec. There were two convenience stores on that street. One of them was, well according the local suburban legend, owned by someone with ties to a white supremacy group. My friends and I boycotted that one. The dude was really creepy, too.

Funny sidebar story, when I went to the police station to pick out the suspect from the batches of photos, I had recognized two guys that I went to elementary school with. Ah, small town lore.

[justins5256]

Wow, I've had a quite a few...

A few years ago, I was on my way home around 11:00pm on a weeknight. I was driving through a not-so-nice part of town when I noticed all this smoke coming up from under the hood of my car. I also noticed that the temperature gauge was increasing quite rapidly. I decided that I needed to pull over, even though, as I said, I wasn't in the best part of town. I pulled into a gas station. It was one of the first places I spotted, and the lighting outside was more than adequate so I figured it would be safer than the alternative of pulling off to the side of the road somewhere. This was is an area that was known for high crime. Drive around some night and you'll no doubt see prostitutes, drug dealers, pimps, the dregs of society. So, I pop the hood and realize that there is a leak in one of the radiator hoses. Meanwhile, these two “gangstas” with massive bling are standing outside the gas station watching me and talking amongst themselves and I'm basically envisioning myself becoming an "unsolved mystery" at any moment. Then I was approached by this skeezy looking blonde in high heels, a tube top, and a mini-skirt who asked if I could give her a ride someplace. No way I wanted her in or anywhere near my car so I exaggerated the extent of the problem saying that I had no idea if I would be able to fix it, and that I might have to get the car towed, and that she would be better off finding a ride with someone else. Fortunately, I was able to tape up the leak. Then I bought a couple gallon jugs of water from the gas station, topped off the radiator, and got the hell out of there.

I used to work for a criminal defense attorney and I met some interesting folks there. We had one client who was this rich old dude from Palm Beach. He had befriended this young teenage immigrant kid, and acted as a benefactor, lavishing the kid with gifts and cash. You can probably see where this is going. One day he kid came home and told his parents that the guy had been molesting him. It turns out that the guy would hire male prostitutes to have sex with the kid while he watched. The police raided his house and found videotapes of all of this. I had met and interacted with this guy in the office on several occasions.

We also represented pro ball player Jeff Reardon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Reardon for his arrest on robbery charges after he held up a jewelry store in the Palm Beach Gardens Mall. He was taking all sorts of mood stabilizers and antidepressants and was eventually acquitted of the charges.

One of our appellate attorneys also represented Vishnu Persad, a man who was serving a 43 year term for the shooting of a woman following a road rage incident. Persad was of Indian descent and was convicted shortly after 9/11. He always maintained his innocence, and claimed he was studying for an exam at the FAU of campus at the time of the shooting. Three other students confirmed Persad's alibi. He was a med student then. I met Persad and his family, and I can tell you that I definitely believed, without question, that he was innocent. The charges were dropped and he was released from prison last year, thank God.

I have a few more, but I think I’ll save those.

[synthisislab]

So you live in South Florida then, Justin? I heard about Jeff Reardon, but didn't realize that he got off on the armed robbery charge.

[supersally1974]

Another too close for comfort encounter and a cautionary tale for teenage girls.

Don't walk around in your neighborhood in the wee hours of the night. No matter how safe you think your suburban hood is.

When I was 15, my friend and her cousin came tapping at my basement window, where my bedroom was. It was three in the morning. Her cousin could not sleep since she was jetlagged. So to kill some time, we walked around our neighborhood. A few streets down from my parents' house, all of a sudden, this older man come out of the bushes towards us.

The kicker?
HE WAS COMPLETELY BUCK-NEKKID

We ran towards the fire station but it was closed. We screamed our heads off on our way there. It scared the creepy naked old man but NO ONE EVER came out of their house to come to our aid. On our way home, a truck full of older teenage guys went after us. We ducked into a yard waited until they were gone. They probably did this to get a kick out of scaring us (and it worked).

I came home and snuck back into my bedroom window. I did not sleep the rest of the night and spent the day on the phone calling my other friends about the ordeal.

I've been living in a big city for over a decade. When I go back home, friends and family always asked me if I'll move back and often cite "safety" reasons to live in a smaller city. I often tell them about that night, just to make them realize that our feelings of safety is just a matter of perception. They assume that I've witnessed drive-by shootings and ask me if I've ever found dirty seringues in my yard. This has never happened to me. The worst I've heard, were a few drunk dudes complimenting our recently landscaped backyard (our fence was not up yet) at 3 in the morning. All we heard was "wooah, check out the yaaaaaaaaaaaard." We kept an eye out for them from our bedroom window (please don't puke on my peonies, you drunken idiots!). A part from the occasional encounter with the compulsive masturbator or flasher in the subway (ewww, not fun) things are pretty low key.

Ironically, my childhood home town had a higher crime rate (statistically, anyways) per person then here.

There is a constant possibility to be a crime victim, but this could happen anywhere. We should never take our safety for granted, whether we live in the city, or in the burbs.

[justins5256]

Originally Posted by synthisislab

So you live in South Florida then, Justin? I heard about Jeff Reardon, but didn't realize that he got off on the armed robbery charge.

I lived in South Florida for most of my life. I just relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina last fall.

Yes, the Reardon case was a big thing. To be honest, it all started towards the end of my time at the firm. He was acquitted, but that was quite some time after I left. As I said, he was taking a myriad of antidepressant medications. His son had died very recently too and he was still coping with that. The crux of defense was that Reardon was mentally incompetent at the time he committed the robbery due to the combination of medications he was on. I believe some experts were called in to testify at his trial to that affect. In the end, he may have had to perform community service type restitution or something minor, I don't really remember. But yeah, he got off.