Calling the sheriff on a violent neighbor

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WhatMeWorry

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I have a sad situation in my neighborhood. I live in a mobile home park. My next door neighbor is a young woman with a son who has started living with a guy and his daughter (both kids under 6). I’m not very well acquainted with them, barely know their names. The guy has either some extreme anger management issues and/or else he’s on drugs. He has a real Jekill-and-Hyde personality - one minute seems to be decent and then next he’s in this violent, out of control rage. I’ve never seen a human being act this way, it’s that extreme. I can hear him screaming and ranting at her even when they’re inside their house and I’m inside mine with the TV on, etc. (I never hear hear yell back - sure, she’s scared to death of him. But like all abused women, she’s not going to throw him out.) Other times he comes outside and we all can observe him carrying on like a complete madman. This is going on in front of these little kids and the entire neighborhood. I’ve had my hand on the phone to call 911 more times than I can count. I haven’t seen him actually hit her, but he is so completely out of control, I’m afraid he’s going to kill her. I’ve notified the park management about what’s going on, but I don’t know if they’re going to do anything about it. But in the future, at what point should I actually call the sheriff? Do I have to see him hit her, or should I call the minute I hear him start to scream, swear, and go beserk, even if they’re inside their house? Do they need to be outside “in public?” I live in a rural area and it takes the county sheriff about 30 minutes to get out here. I guess that’s why I’ve hesitated to call, because by the time they get here, it’ll all be long over. I’ve been talking with the other neighbors here on my street. We’re all older residents here and we don’t want to confront this bozo ourselves. There are rumors that he has a gun. We’re all worried he’s going to cause a horrible tragedy.
 
If in doubt call. I have no problem doing it -and I have. Even if he’s not physically abusive you don’t need to be subject to listening to a screaming madman. If people can’t act civally than that’s there problem not mine. I had a friend whose neighbor may have saved her life because they heard the screaming and called the police.
 
Call the sheriff and advise them of the situation. Ask if they can be closer than 30 min. away. And call right away when he starts. This could be a very bad outcome.
 
TheRealJuliane said:
Call the sheriff and advise them of the situation. Ask if they can be closer than 30 min. away. And call right away when he starts. This could be a very bad outcome.
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This.

There is no need to wait until you first-hand witness physical violence. At the very least, the noise level from the yelling could be construed as “disturbing the peace,” which would justify a call by itself. Make the phone call and let the sheriff sort out the difference.
 
Definitely call the sheriff. We did so with a neighbor and they started to police the area and heard it themselves; it was not a good situation and in this case SHE was hauled off to jail for threatening him with a knife.

Mention it’s possible he has a gun if someone has seen it or that it’s your concern given his volatile nature.

These things tend to escalate.
 
WhatMeWorry said:
I’ve notified the park management about what’s going on, but I don’t know if they’re going to do anything about it.
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I recommend notifying park management every time this occurs. I would also tell park management that a record (time and what happened) is being keep of each complaint, and this record will be provided to law enforcement should any crime occur in the future.

If possible, I recommend recording these events in in any way possible (audio, video, etc.).
But in the future, at what point should I actually call the sheriff?
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The next time it occurs, and every time after that. Nobody is doing anything about this man’s behavior, thus this behavior will continue until he is either put in his place or someone gets severely harmed.
 
Call in a neighborhood watch program and bring in a policeman to help prepare for the event of any emergency. Find a way to let the potential offender know that the neighborhood has been singled out for security issues, not in a threat
ening way but in a general way. Most offenders back off when they know they are being watched, unless they are really sick dogs.

If you have a good system in place, you all will feel more secure: carry cell phones or lifelines, speed dial 911, practice giving 911 the address, take turns watching suspicious areas and persons, staying informed on laws and procedures.

And remember: Prayer is the most effective security device.
 
TheWarriorMonk said:
I recommend notifying park management every time this occurs. I would also tell park management that a record (time and what happened) is being keep of each complaint, and this record will be provided to law enforcement should any crime occur in the future.If possible, I recommend recording these events in in any way possible (audio, video, etc.).
The next time it occurs, and every time after that. Nobody is doing anything about this man’s behavior, thus this behavior will continue until he is either put in his place or someone gets severely harmed.
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this and this
Auntie_A said:
And remember: Prayer is the most effective security device.
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and this
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TheRealJuliane:
There usually aren’t any neighborhood watches in rural areas. I would advise against letting this man know that ANY of the neighbors have reported him or are watching him. Since he is unstable, this would not be a good idea.
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Auntie_A said:
Call in a neighborhood watch program and bring in a policeman to help prepare for the event of any emergency. Find a way to let the potential offender know that the neighborhood has been singled out for security issues, not in a threat
ening way but in a general way. Most offenders back off when they know they are being watched, unless they are really sick dogs.

If you have a good system in place, you all will feel more secure: carry cell phones or lifelines, speed dial 911, practice giving 911 the address, take turns watching suspicious areas and persons, staying informed on laws and procedures.

And remember: Prayer is the most effective security device.
Click to expand...
There usually aren’t any neighborhood watches in rural areas. I would advise against letting this man know that ANY of the neighbors have reported him or are watching him. Since he is unstable, this would not be a good idea.
 
When a young woman of about 28, I had a house share on the Jersey shore with a few other people. The next door neighbor appeared to be a lunatic. She routinely verbally abused her child(ren), it could be plainly heard. I called social services and reported her.

I think we have a moral obligation to help those who cannot, or will not, help themselves and, especially, if there are innocent children involved. You MUST insist on anonymity (tell the police NOT to respond to YOUR location due to fear of reprisal). Tell them this man is rumored to have a weapon. Chances are, he’s already on their radar, If all else fails, call child protective services. Protect your identity, you don’t want to draw his attention. This guy is dangerous. BUT…if the worst were to happen, if he were to murder the children and/or woman, you would live with the guilt and self blame for not having acted.
 
Absolutely call the police. I’ve called the police three times for various things and I’ve never regretted it, even when two of them turned out to be false alarms.

Consider also, you may not see him physically hitting her, but he may be doing so inside the home. In some states, if the sheriff responds to your complaint and finds a battered woman the state can press charges even if the victim doesn’t. Child protective services is a good idea as well. You can report anonymously that the child is living in an abusive situation. Mom will get a real wakeup call if she has to choose to between keeping her child and keeping her boyfriend.
 
I had to call the police once in a similar situation many years ago. We lived in a mobile home park, and our neighbors had two little kids. The dad started ranting and raving one night, we could hear him pretty plainly over in our trailer. When he yelled at his wife that he was going to kill her, I called the police. A few minutes later the wife and two little kids were knocking on my door, and we had them in our living room (and praying that the crazy dad didn’t come over).

We were in a rural area too, but the police were there in about 15 minutes. They didn’t take the guy in, but stayed quite awhile until things had cooled off. I remember how scary it was, but don’t regret calling at all…you do what you have to.

In the instance you described, be anonymous…you don’t want repercussions.
 
Thanks to everyone for your responses.

I talked to the park manager yesterday. I have a pretty good long-term relationship with the family that owns this place and when I tell them something’s going on, they’re inclined to take it seriously. The manager is definitely concerned and will be looking into this. She didn’t even know Boyfriend lived there since the girl never registered him or his little girl as residents, which she is required to do. Once manager finds out Boyfriend’s name, then the ball can really get rolling. I’ve heard he has a criminal record- and if he really does have a gun, then that’s another felony -so that will help with getting a park-issued restriction order - if anyone sees Boyfriend come around again, we neighbors can call the sheriff and Boyfriend will be removed.

The girl talked to me and another neighbor across the street and told us Boyfriend and daughter were moving out. We’re not holding our breath, though. Supposedly he was supposed to be gone last night, but his car was still there this morning.

In any case, I’m going to keep my ears open, and if I hear Boyfriend starting in on another of his out-of-control episodes, I’m calling. Getting a police report on file will be another nail in his coffin.
 
Thanks for the update. Whew; certainly seems like the “wheels are in motion now” for
action. Hopefully he will just leave and be gone. If not, everything is in place for swift action from the management or the sherriff. Nice goin’
Mary.
 
As soon as the sound waves of someone’s rageful screaming infiltrate your home, you have every reason to call the police. I’ve lived in many apartments and I’ve called the police many times on fighting people. You shouldn’t have to listen to it and you might just save the woman and/or the children’s lives.
 
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Years ago during a loud row one evening (through the 20 year Marriage, the Children’s Father was angry and lost his temper for half an hour); someone called the house phone and hung up. He started again and the phone rang again. Lol; it was obviously one of my Neighbours concerned! I told him that it would be one of the neighbours concerned and if he didn’t keep quiet; the Police would be around. He kept quiet, went to the bedroom, closed the door quietly and put the television on; not a peep out of him for the remainder of the evening.

Similarly occurred once when my Daughter during her teens was yelling. The phone rang and they had hung up!

“Love Thy Neighbours”

God has chosen your Neighbours obviously however you must be careful not to become involved for your own safety.

I would be informing the Sherriff face to face at the Station and inform him to put your Neighbour’s mobile home on red alert. That way when he receives calls;he will know exactly where its located in an emergency.
 
I wouldn’t bother with the sherif.I would call 911 the minute you hear him screaming and just tell them that there is an extreme domestic dispute going on and then they can dispatch law enforcement in minutes. You mentioned that you saw him hit her. I wonder if he has ever hit the children too? I think I’d also get in touch with child services and have them come do an inspection and take the kids away if need be. If she wants to put him with that nonsense so be it but no child should have to be subject to that kind of behavior.
 
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