Joe: Last night I went out around 11 pm to walk our dog. As I walked down Russell Ave. toward Druid Hill, I walked through a gang of about 10 young men who clearly were not college students, smelled like marijuana, and were unfriendly. They drifted around the block and headed down Taney toward Loblolly (I sort of followed them.) looking for something or someone. Possibly they were searching for a party to crash; I called SPD at the point where I saw them head back around toward Russell. Someone else had called a few minutes earlier and reported a gang of about 30 (!). So two police cruisers showed up on Taney within a minute of my call, and they had a police dog with them in at least one of the cars. One cruiser tore up Druid Hill toward the gang on Russell, and that was the last I saw of the gang. They had parked their cars, some with DE tags, on our permitted block of Russell. I don't know if they were looking to sell drugs, or just have some "fun" but they were very edgy. So people should keep their eyes open if out in our fair city past the hour of 10 pm and don't be afraid to request a cruiser to come and patrol the streets.
Get a BB gun and the next time they park and case out the hood shoot out their windows.
ReplyDeleteDoubt it was a gang. They would have robbed you, or worse.
ReplyDeleteI live in Rustic Acres on Olde Fruitland Road. My son's car has been the target of eggs for the past 2 Friday nights. Not enough of an emergency for the police, but it sure looks like some bored kids out are running (or driving) around looking for trouble.
ReplyDeleteGet a BB gun and the next time they park and case out the hood shoot out their windows.
ReplyDeleteFebruary 19, 2012 2:56 PM
That's real mature.
5:14
ReplyDeleteIt's a deterrent, If they intrude on a neighborhood looking to bring the ghetto with them there's nothing wrong with making them pay a price. The idea is making them feel as uncomfortable as they make you feel.
Shoot a car with a BB gun and you'll be the one under arrest ... that's beyond dumb
ReplyDeleteIt's a deterrent6:21 PM
ReplyDeleteIt's an action that screams for an elevated re-action. But whatever.
The writer did the right thing, except follow them. Could have been dangerous.
ReplyDeleteIf you see something suspicious, call the police. Seriously. Don't say, "Oh, they won't come," or "I hate to bother them," or "It's nothing."
Vigilant "nosy" neighbors led to the capture and arrest of the pair that terrorized that neighborhood a few years ago.
You owe it to your family and neighbors to report suspicious activity as it happens. Better to be embarrassed if it turns out to be nothing than you/someone robbed, raped or dead because you didn't call.
For reasons that I don't fully understand,people are hanging out in larger groups (especially young people).I agree with reporting suspicious activities and not letting one's guard down,but these groups don't always have malicious intent.The whole gang issue may have been overblown to heighten public awareness,but a constant state of panic and fear has already given any truly legit gang the victory.
ReplyDelete