To Report or Not Report

TrevorW · #1 19-04-2009, 06:45 PM

(Forenote: My wife has MS and can't stand stress or tension and would probably say it was my own fault because I didn't turn the other cheek and don't take crap from anyone)

Saturday morning walking the dog around 7am which I do most days of the week minding my own business when I notice a young lad with black jeans wearing a metallica T shirt walking down the same side of the footpath heading towards me.

I look at the dog and think he's probably been on the turps and just ignore him. As I walk past him he delibrately yells at my dog like a stupid fool, causing the dog to be panic.

I asked him what the XXX was he doing and stood up to him, he threatens me and when I don't back off he thinks twice especailly when I say go on tough guy throw a punch (he's half my age at least)

He looks around for a weapon proceeds to get a a fallen tree branch and starts swinging it at me. 20 Years of martial arts has shown me how too block stikes from a weapon with my free arm. Although I didn't strike back as I'm still trying to control the dog with my other.

Eventually as the branch dwindled in size from breaking across my arm and back he realises that he could be in the poo as I stood my ground so he runs down the road carrying what remained of the tree branch.

As I walk away up the road I notice two other similarly dressed youths (male and female) sitting of the footpath outside this house and another girl crying by the door

I ask the question if they new a guy (describing my attacker) and the girl gave me his name KH and said that he'd bashed his girlfriend and just left their house after breaking a bedroom door.

I explained what had happend and the male present apologised for his friends actions and would take care of him.

Suffice it to say this was an angry young man but obviously a coward.

I've got a few cuts and bruises across my arm and back but otherwise OK. I lied too my wife saying the dog had tripped me and I fell hitting the concrete footpath then a bush.

The delemia is do I let him get away with it to save my wife the trauma or go through the angst of reporting the incident to the police etc.

Kevnool (Kev) · #2 19-04-2009, 07:02 PM

Well theres a couple of storys there.
Bashed a girlfriend.
Broke a door ( someones gonna foot that bill).
Assaulted you causeing grief.
Of course report the mongrel if you dont this clown will think he can do it and get away with it all the time.
Let the cops have him then make him shiver.

Cheers Kev.

Shaun · #3 19-04-2009, 07:07 PM

I personaly think it is a waste of time reporting anything less than a hospital case these days, maybe at the time if you had given him a bit more to remember, you might have felt better for it.

You delt with it the best way you could at the time, but i bet you wish you didn't have the dog with you, he might have learned that he is not the toughest on the block.

PCH (Paul) · #4 19-04-2009, 07:18 PM

A tough one Trevor.

Regarding the bashing of the girlfriend, - how many times have you heard of these types kissing and making up, and you end up being treated like the interfering busybody. Sometimes you can't win with these situations, and the police/CPS (criminal protection service) won't be much help.

Just ignoring the pillock when he called after the dog would probably have avoided all this unpleasantness though Trevor - to be honest. But since that wasn't the path you chose, a good pasting would probably have done him the world of good.

If your missus doesn't need the grief, then I'd be inclined to forget it. Just my humble two bobs worth.

Chippy (Nick) · #5 19-04-2009, 10:59 PM

You could make an anonymous report of the 2 incidents and give his name & description. I wouldn't go through an official reporting process. You'd be more likely to regret it IMHO.

marki · #6 20-04-2009, 12:46 AM

G'day Trev

I think unless the girl is willing to file a complaint the police won't really follow it up especially if the Kid is is not 18 as the juvi courts are a waste of time. It will only cause you and your wife greif. May I suggest you purchase a cuddley pit bull terrior and see if he wants to yell at that

.

Mark

Glenhuon (Bill) · #7 20-04-2009, 01:33 AM

Personally, I'd have let the dog go, beat the living daylights out of the little so and so and then retrieved the dog, it would'nt go far anyway. But thats me. Unless we stand up to these guys, they will never learn. Anyone who hits his girlfriend needs a good belt around the ears.

Bill

TrevorW · #8 20-04-2009, 10:08 AM

Its a toughy and yes if my dog wasn't such a whimp it may have been a different story but it is a female labrador so she has a good nature.

I've got his name and it won't be forgotten !!!!

BerrieK · #9 20-04-2009, 10:51 AM

Trevor, here's my 2 cents worth (perhaps a girly point of view, I dont know..)

It may be worth reporting this incident so that there is record of if, in case something like it occurs again. If, for example, this youth tries it on with you again and you are unable to restrain yourself, it may be worth having the initial incident on record. Likewise if he has a history of (domestic) violence, a record of this incident may be of use to the police at a later time. Likewise, the next person he attacks with a branch may not be as able to defend themselves as you. This chap may also have pshych issues that need dealing with. Angry young men can be very dangerous even if they are cowards.

The police have a phone number that you can ring to make an incident report (NOT 000) where you get to speak to a real person with the details and are given an incident number for your record. (not sure what it is but your local police station will be able to give it to you) .It is not anonymous. The police are likely to find this chap and speak to him. It may well be that the phone call is your only involvement - just reporting the incident. This may save your wife any trauma. Also, think how she might feel if she finds out about it later, or you are involved in another incident with this chap and she finds that you let it lie.

Whatever you do, don't lower yourself to his standard and 'give him a good pasting' or 'beat the living dalights out of him' if there is another incident as it will be you that ends up in trouble. And you dont want you dog to be hurt.

(gawd this sounds like an agony aunt column in a girly magazine - maybe I shouldnt post it).

starlooker (Duc) · #10 20-04-2009, 11:20 AM

I think you should report it.

This guy bashed his girlfriend and attacked you.

There is a clear pattern here. Who will he attack next? And after that?

Edit: You're lucky the coward didn't run back into the house to get a weapon, and could have been in the house when you stood outside it.

wavelandscott (Scott) · #11 20-04-2009, 01:02 PM

I'd report...too many things happened to for the guy to claim that he was just having a "bad day"

Robh (Rob) · #12 20-04-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BerrieK

Whatever you do, don't lower yourself to his standard and 'give him a good pasting' or 'beat the living dalights out of him' if there is another incident as it will be you that ends up in trouble. And you dont want you dog to be hurt.

(gawd this sounds like an agony aunt column in a girly magazine - maybe I shouldnt post it).

I agree. Unless it was strictly life threatening, and as you are a martial art expert, they will argue you acted with undue force. Your training in self-discipline served you well.
BerrieK. You are very wise.
Regards, Rob.

starlooker (Duc) · #13 20-04-2009, 01:38 PM

I am a disturbed that some people here are advising not to report the incident.

The guy attacked the OP, and left bruises on his arm and back. That is assault. And the guy bashed his girlfriend. And how knows who else fell victim to this lunatic on that night.

Don't report the perpertrator of two assaults? If the guy assaulted a member of your family, would you just ignore the incident?

At the very least, the police will have a talk to him, and he will know that he is now on their radar(and named in their police report).

sheeny (Al) · #14 20-04-2009, 02:39 PM

Report the loser.

Al.

GrahamL · #15 20-04-2009, 05:11 PM

Yeah I' D report it and not mention your wife being present .. he could be on a bond for similar stuff or his girlfriend might of been convinced to report him ...If nothing else you have suggested to to right people they should consider having a look at him .

TrevorW · #16 20-04-2009, 05:28 PM

Sorry you may have misread my thread, my wife wasn't actually present and in fact I don't have any witnesses.

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #17 20-04-2009, 05:54 PM

I've been trying to correlate the responses to this thread with the aperture owned by the respondents. No pattern emerging yet, but I'll keep looking.

If it were me, then this thread would be entitled "To Run or Not to Run", only I would have already made up my mind. Don't you guy's read the papers? These idiot deadhead gutless losers are just as likely to be off their heads and armed to the teeth. I guess there are maybe some things I'd be prepared to stand up for, but having my pet verbally abused isn't one of them. I'd rather be an uninjured coward than shot or stabbed by one. The better part of valour, and all that. Besides, revenge is a dish best served cold.

80 mm refractor and 8 inch dob, in case you were wondering.

Regards,

Brian.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #18 20-04-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BerrieK

Trevor, here's my 2 cents worth (perhaps a girly point of view, I dont know..)

It may be worth reporting this incident so that there is record of if, in case something like it occurs again. If, for example, this youth tries it on with you again and you are unable to restrain yourself, it may be worth having the initial incident on record. Likewise if he has a history of (domestic) violence, a record of this incident may be of use to the police at a later time. Likewise, the next person he attacks with a branch may not be as able to defend themselves as you. This chap may also have pshych issues that need dealing with. Angry young men can be very dangerous even if they are cowards.

The police have a phone number that you can ring to make an incident report (NOT 000) where you get to speak to a real person with the details and are given an incident number for your record. (not sure what it is but your local police station will be able to give it to you). It is not anonymous. The police are likely to find this chap and speak to him. It may well be that the phone call is your only involvement - just reporting the incident. This may save your wife any trauma. Also, think how she might feel if she finds out about it later, or you are involved in another incident with this chap and she finds that you let it lie.

Whatever you do, don't lower yourself to his standard and 'give him a good pasting' or 'beat the living dalights out of him' if there is another incident as it will be you that ends up in trouble. And you dont want you dog to be hurt.

(gawd this sounds like an agony aunt column in a girly magazine - maybe I shouldnt post it).

Ok Kerrie, now, I am not picking on you (honestly) I'm just going to use your response as a classic example of what I was talking about in the "more women in Astronomy" thread the other day.

Isn't it amazing, now think honestly and carefully and in the context of what I said regarding society accepting violence toward men, compare your advice here, given to an (inocent) man who has been VERY seriously assulted and think about what you would have said if say..?..Jeanette had posted the same thing for example

It amazes me that anyone here would hestitate in giving the advice of immediately reporting the incident to Police to find that fuccer and get him in jail asap - SIMPLE!

I shake my head

well actually...I am not surprised

Mike

marki · #19 20-04-2009, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

It amazes me that anyone here would hestitate in giving the advice of immediately reporting the incident to Police to find that fuccer and get him in jail asap - SIMPLE!

Mike

Mike you only go to jail in WA if you steal money. Otherwise you are free to bash, beat and maim anybody you want. Its not that the police don't want to help, they are let down by the courts who keep releasing these $%&#& back into society without punishment. I hate to say it but the best form of retribution is to gather up the lads and pay the little turd a visit.

Mark

dugnsuz (Doug) · #20 20-04-2009, 06:48 PM

"Report" Trevor - this guy's violent path would have probably carried on after your encounter with him. Perhaps your account will tie him into a timeline if someone else has had a run-in? BerieK's suggestion might be the way to go without making a federal case out of it.

Sounds like a frightening encounter to me.
All the best
Doug