imported post
Can't say you did anything wrong and actually handled it well. When looking at things like this, I usually try to put myself in the position of both parties as it helps to keep things in perspective.
You asked him to tell you who he worked for. Nothing wrong there, and actually a good idea. When the people posing as alternative gas company sales ripped off residents, the press said that company employee should identify themselves, and if you have any questions to call the company to verify who they were. He claimed to be working for someone, nothing wrong with verifying his story, especially since he was taking pics of your truck, and MIL's house. Nothing wrong with the guy taking the pics he was taking, but his response wasn't up to par.
What follow's is based on quotes by others, but I am addressing the Orriginal Poster.
HankT wrote:
That's where the beef started. With your demand for ID (company). I have to wonder, of course, just how polite you were in asking for that ID (company). What exactly and how exactly did you ask?
Wrong. The man refused to identify the company he worked for. Without knowing who he worked for, the you cannot call the company to verify his story. Nothing wrong with confronting someone who is casing houses in the neighborhood. Of course, "What and How" it is asked is important however, with some people even the nicest of words have little effect.
Furthermore,
you were walking away. That in no way constitutes "escalation". Following after someone (who is obviously suspicious) onto their private property, and then not leaving when asked, is "escalating".
freightman360 wrote:
...so i walked back to my truck to get my cell herd footsteps coming up behind me turned around to find this guy right behind me about 10 ft. i told him to stop and not come on the property he continued to come at me i backed up and put my truck hood between him and i grabbed my gun and had it half way out told him that i would defend myself and the cops are on the way ( saw the neighbor on the phone) then came the stare down...
So, I just get yelled at by a LEO, and as he is walking away I start to follow him effectively chasing him down. Am I the only person who knows to not chase after a retreating person immediately after a conflict between him and myself? Me thinks some people have control issues.
When the inspector began following you, he then became the aggressor.
HankT wrote:
You're a little unclear in your description of the event as to what the camera guy did in following you. Did he attack you? Did he say anything threatening? Did he go on your MIL's property?
Unless I read some new details, I think you caused most of the intensity of the situation. I think you over-reacted. Clearly so.
It really doesn't matter why the person was following. What matters is that, once he was told to stay off the MIL's property, he didn't.
What's chilling is that he didn't immediately back away after you told him you would defend yourself. That supplies a hint of aggression. On private property after being asked to leave. Not leaving after being told you would defend yourself. Even without the "staredown", it sounds like he was trying to intimidate you.
HankT wrote:
You had your "hand on your gun" and"had it half way out"--- because of a camera guy who was obviously not a threat.
I've always told people, "If someone is attacking you, and you are pointing a gun at them, and they continue to advance toward you, then it's probably a safe bet that they are a danger to you."
If someone chases me down onto my property after me telling him I'm calling the police, then he doesn't get the benefit of the doubt. If that same person remains on that same property after being told to remove himself, and being told I will defend myself, then he's been given a lot of grace. What that inspector did was exercise poor judgment. If someone tells you to leave their private property, YOU LEAVE WITHOUT ARGUMENT OR FAN FAIR! Most of the people on this board who are pro-OC understand this concept.
HankT wrote:
In answer to your question, I would have asked the guy why he was taking pics of my MIL's house. If he answered, I would've said, "OK." If he didn't, I would have gotten his car info and tag. I would not have done anything to create a physical confrontation, especially not with a gun.
I agree with HankT on this one. It would have been good to ask why the inspector thought it necessary to take pics of the MIL's house, and your truck. However, a call to the company to verify the guys story is still in order. Most companies should be aware of this concept by now as there have been enough neighborhood scams to educate them on this matter.
HankT wrote:
Guns are for threats. Not guys with cameras.
Anyone who chases me onto my property, and refuses to leave even after being told I will defend myself is going to be treated as a threat, and righteously so. Some people just don't like to respect other people's boundaries. Every once in a while, one of those people learns the hard way.
freightman360 wrote:
because of a camera guy who was obviously not a threat. how am i to know that he is not a threat. he fallowed me onto privet property to continue confronting me after asking several times for him to leave and him not that makes him a threat to my well being i didnt know if he had a wepon and the way he was acting and not wanting the cops involved that raised my suspisions evenmore...... and last i knew is you have to have permision to take pictures if you are going to make money from them and he didnt have mine or my mil's permision to take them.
You did nothing wrong. Asking why he was taking those pics may have helped, but is really unnecessary as you could have just as easily asked the company when you called them. While I'm sure a lot of companies don't want residents calling them every time they send out an inspector, well.. that's just part of the business.
jeremy05 wrote:
sounds like YOU were way out of line at the start, meaning you caused the reactions to your actions. Seems like you could have initiated the conversation in another matter, maybe I wasn't there. Almost everyone seems to give the police a hard time when they REQUEST id from you, but when you ask a total stranger for ID and they refuse and you get all bent out of shape. Well how did it feel? The guy was breaking NO laws and was not doing anything ILLEGAL.
Wow! Some people have some serious control issues. If I see someone taking pictures of my personal property, it isn't "out of line" to ask them what they are up to. For them to say that it's part of their job, but not tell me the company they work for is suspicious.
You did the right thing by calling the cops to let them sort it out. You also were well advised to treat him as a threat and to communicate to him that you would defend yourself. It sounds like he has some "issues". You may even seek charges against him for trespassing. For a simple misunderstanding, I wouldn't bother, but he demonstrated clear tendencies of agression, and open hostility in trying to intimidate you. Had he vacated your MIL's property upon request (or even just backed off of you personally), then I wouldn't say so, but what he did should be addressed.