A true story

[GimmeTheBall!]

I took a nap and awakened to go to the master bathroom.
The door was open and I saw the back of a kid, a stranger, near the medicine cabinet, rifling through it.
Cool as a cucumber I retreated to the bedroom to put on some shoes in case a chase ensued.
Soonest, I heard running noises down the stairs, the kid making his exit through the back door.
I ran out the front door to intercept him and did.
He stopped didn't resist and handed over his backpack, telling me he didn't want to go to jail.
The contents: two large packs or gum, a portable Bluetooth tooth speaker, two prescription bottles, a bottle or coigh syrup. That's it. Not a professional burglar though he seemed to be a burgeoning druggie.
I took him by the arm next door. Asked the neighbor to call the cops while I held on to him.
Since burglary is a felony, I slipped the two bottles into my pockets, not wanting to further place him in court supervision hell.
Meanwhile a neighbor walked up to ask what was going on.
I told him and he just walks up to the kid and smacks him. What tha?
So the cops pull up with sirens blaring and tell me they recognize him and handcuff him.
The kid is sick in the head. 15. Been in juvie.
I am not pressing charges for the felony of burglary, thinking he needs a shrink, instead.
What would you have done? My neighbor said he would have killed him.

 

[Sarek]

I have a hard time believing the story because i don't believe anyone would go get their shoes first.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I have a hard time believing the story because i don't believe anyone would go get their shoes first.

Yes, but I figured a chase was in the offing, if I could not take him down inside the domicile.

 

[Sarek]

Yes, but I figured a chase was in the offing, if I could not take him down inside the domicile.

He had his back turned you could of took him down pretty easily im thinking, or instead of the shoes why not a weapon or the phone to call the police?

The shoes is a hard pill to swallow.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

He had his back turned you could of took him down pretty easily im thinking, or instead of the shoes why not a weapon or the phone to call the police?

The shoes is a hard pill to swallow.

Well, one does not always think perfectly in such times. Too, I did not know if he packed heat. Slipped on those puppies in 5 seconds.
And while you would do a Schwarzenegger on him, I did what I thought best: be ready to juke and jive if he
made a break for it.

 

[Sarek]

Well, one does not always think perfectly in such times. Too, I did not know if he packed heat. Slipped on this puppies in 5 seconds.
And while you would do a Schwarzenegger on him, I did what I thought best: be ready to juke and jive if he
made a break for it.

Schwarzenegger? Come on, most people would go call the police, why didn't you grab your cellphone right after you put the shoes on? Your story has many holes, if i was working for the police/prosecutor in your neighborhood i would think you have some affiliation to the kid and that's why he had enough guts to go into your house to begin with.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Schwarzenegger? Come on, most people would go call the police, why didn't you grab your cellphone right after you put the shoes on? Your story has many holes, if i was working for the police/prosecutor in your neighborhood i would think you have some affiliation to the kid and that's why he had enough guts to go into your house to begin with.

Yes, now where did I put that cellphone? Let me look for it while a prowler is in the house ... too much TV matey!

Lol

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Were those "assault shoes" you put on?

 

[nobody]

I took a nap and awakened to go to the master bathroom.
The door was open and I saw the back of a kid, a stranger, near the medicine cabinet, rifling through it.
Cool as a cucumber I retreated to the bedroom to put on some shoes in case a chase ensued.
Soonest, I heard running noises down the stairs, the kid making his exit through the back door.
I ran out the front door to intercept him and did.
He stopped didn't resist and handed over his backpack, telling me he didn't want to go to jail.
The contents: two large packs or gum, a portable Bluetooth tooth speaker, two prescription bottles, a bottle or coigh syrup. That's it. Not a professional burglar though he seemed to be a burgeoning druggie.
I took him by the arm next door. Asked the neighbor to call the cops while I held on to him.
Since burglary is a felony, I slipped the two bottles into my pockets, not wanting to further place him in court supervision hell.
Meanwhile a neighbor walked up to ask what was going on.
I told him and he just walks up to the kid and smacks him. What tha?
So the cops pull up with sirens blaring and tell me they recognize him and handcuff him.
The kid is sick in the head. 15. Been in juvie.
I am not pressing charges for the felony of burglary, thinking he needs a shrink, instead.
What would you have done? My neighbor said he would have killed him.

If it's true, then I think you did a good thing for that kid and I hope that he gets the help he needs. Too often, the mentally ill slip through the cracks and end up in prison, still untreated.
Too bad you can't work out some deal that ensures that the court orders treatment for the kid. You did what you could, now it's up to him and the people around him.

What is odd about the story is 1) The shoes. 2) Not immediately calling the police, 3) the neighbor walking up and smacking him out of the blue. If he did, that's assault and the kid could sue him.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

If it's true, then I think you did a good thing for that kid and I hope that he gets the help he needs. Too often, the mentally ill slip through the cracks and end up in prison, still untreated.
Too bad you can't work out some deal that ensures that the court orders treatment for the kid. You did what you could, now it's up to him and the people around him.

What is odd about the story is 1) The shoes. 2) Not immediately calling the police, 3) the neighbor walking up and smacking him out of the blue. If he did, that's assault and the kid could sue him.

No one, even the kid mentioned the smack. I think he felt lucky to avoid the felony.
As far as immediately calling the police, even had I had found that phone, by the time dispatch would have taken in all details, he'd be a mile away. I was gonna dog him stride for stride. Thus the shoes.
Everyone is lucid and agile and heroic away from the emergency. I was there and did what seemed right at the moment in time. And it worked for me.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Were those "assault shoes" you put on?

No your mom's fluffy shoes I borrowed from her bedroom, lad.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

No your mom's fluffy shoes I borrowed from her bedroom, lad.

She passed on a few years ago, so they weren't her shoes. Feel stupid yet?

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

She passed on a few years ago, so they weren't her shoes. Feel stupid yet?

Ah... that explains a lot!!!!

 

[nobody]

No one, even the kid mentioned the smack. I think he felt lucky to avoid the felony.
As far as immediately calling the police, even had I had found that phone, by the time dispatch would have taken in all details, he'd be a mile away. I was gonna dog him stride for stride. Thus the shoes.
Everyone is lucid and agile and heroic away from the emergency. I was there and did what seemed right at the moment in time. And it worked for me.

Then I applaud you for your restraint in desiring to press charges when you felt that what he needed more was help. That's really cool, man.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

You're situation is the "million-dollar" question facing law enforcement and the court system today– how to handle non-violent drug offenders.

At one point in my life I would have said throw the book at 'em.

But today I would like a 3rd option between jail & scot-free... mandatory drug rehab in a semi-secure environment for 6 months.

 

[maxdogg]

I think I would have tackled him or grabbed my 357 cause I have young kids but yeah you really did right by that young kid.
Hopefully he learns from it.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Then I applaud you for your restraint in desiring to press charges when you felt that what he needed more was help. That's really cool, man.

One of the few who said cool. Many said they wanted the kid in jail.
Thx!

 

[kimrose]

To be honest, I think you were very intelligent to have that much thought process going on in a panic situation. I think I would have just panicked and then freaked out, gone primitive ballistic and probably ended up dead. Or maybe with this young kid, maybe just ended up with a bloodied up kid and a high five from the police. lol. But I think you did alright, Gimme, given the situation you were thrust into, it's a wonder you didn't kill the kid. It is good that you didn't though, especially knowing he is just a kid and has a chance to change his life. Props to ya, man! You are a hell of a guy! And hopefully he does learn from this and straightens the hell up, before he runs into someone who has a 45 or a 38 and aint afraid to use it on some punk kid breaking into their house to steal their hard-earned items, or lives. Kill or be killed is a great motto to live by these days. We now live in the old futuristic science fiction days of "every man for himself". So Sad.

But, I do know a lot of people where I live, who own very big guns, who would have just shot him without a second thought, and they would have been completely justified. At least where I come from. In Texas, you have a right to shoot and kill someone who breaks and enters your home. No need to ask questions. No need for the perpetrator's family to weep and cry and holler afoul all over the media, neither. Dude broke in my house in the middle of the night, and I shot him. Next?? lol

 

[Sarge]

I would have knocked the snot out of him with no shoes on, then I would have stolen his shoes. That's the NY way.

 

[Vtwin]

Tough one.

The kid appears to have a drug problem, most likely opiates. A potential problem with giving him a break is that if he is addicted to opiates he will need help to break that cycle. Going through some sort of court diversion program which includes some counseling probably isn't going to be enough to accomplish that. My experience has been that the majority of kids in that situation can't/won't see this as an break and an opportunity but more as a dodged bullet. Some will also come away with the unintended consequence of learning how to work the system a little better.

I usually lean towards compassion and a second chance but these addictions take over a person and it can take unavoidable repercussions to give them a chance. Of course that doesn't always work either so, tough one.

This same story can be read about every day in the local news here in hicksville Vt. Big, big problem.