Spit! What should I do? File a report or not?

[PungoteagueDave]

What Philadelphia criminal law has she violated, counselor?

vandalism & tampering with a vehicle, both crimes. Possibly also assault, given intent of action.

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[PungoteagueDave]

LOL.

Then,
"Pardon me, spitter, I found these near your car."

that would be an ACTUAL crime. And likely documented by ubiquitous cameras.

 

[dalton108]

vandalism & tampering with a vehicle, both crimes. Possibly also assault, given intent of action.

Your legal analysis needs work. And by that I mean it needs actual analysis and maybe some competence sprinkled on top. If you had even a cursory understanding of the legal meaning of the word “assault,” you would know how ridiculous this post is. Stop.

 

[CyberGus]

You seem to think the perpetrator is a reasonable person.

Even reasonable people make mistakes. I’ve had great success at conversing with (not confronting) my neighbors over disputes.

I can’t remember the last time I called the cops to come and fix my problems.

I feel ridiculous even imagining this conversation:

ME: “Neighbor did [thing I don’t like]”
COP: “What did they say when you spoke to them?”
ME: “Speak to them??? That’s your job”
COP: “FFS”

 

[PungoteagueDave]

Your legal analysis needs work. And by that I mean it needs actual analysis and maybe some competence sprinkled on top. If you had even a cursory understanding of the meaning of the word “assault,” you would know how ridiculous this post is. Stop.

I do know the legal meaning and it can be considered assault in many places - the implied threat. Look it up counselor. Your demeaning attitude shows you out.

"Because saliva can carry disease and is inherently degrading, this is universally classified as battery or simple assault. Furthermore, intentionally threatening to spit on someone, or spitting on their property, or even causing them to fear it may happen, can constitute an "intent-to-frighten" assault."

 

[dalton108]

Even reasonable people make mistakes. I’ve had great success at conversing with (not confronting) my neighbors over disputes.

I can’t remember the last time I called the cops to come and fix my problems.

I feel ridiculous even imagining this conversation:

ME: “Neighbor did [thing I don’t like]”
COP: “What did they say when you spoke to them?”
ME: “Speak to them??? That’s your job”
COP: “FFS”

I have no idea why all of these “tough guys” can’t comprehend this. Setting aside the basic principle of actually asserting yourself directly and forcefully without crossing the line is a basic core competency that any fucking man worth his salt should have. Period! Use your words, ya babies!!!

If you can’t manage that, because you’re emotionally disabled and incapable of controlling yourself. Leave a note or one of the other self-help options folks have proposed here. Too many fucking phony ass Christians here who don’t know how to follow Christ and turn the other cheek for my liking. Less thumping, more reading and living it!

In my circle, of actual real men, you would get annihilated for being this big of a pussy as to be unable to cope with somebody spitting on your pweshus twuk (not even in your presence, where there’s colorably some vague argument of a threat to you personally) without involving the law or committing a violent act of vigilantism. Annihilated!

 

[CallsignVega]

"Because saliva can carry disease and is inherently degrading, this is universally classified as battery or simple assault.

Well said.

 

[mrcyber]

Forcing her to apologize under threat of filing a report sounds like a power trip to me. And it's exactly what her original action represented, a power trip. It's a petty response. This shouldn't be about making you, the victim, "feel better", it should be about holding the person accountable (which an insecure apology doesn't do), it just makes her more likely to escalate. Filing a police report, with the videos attached, is the best way to protect yourself. It's a very basic thing to do. Even if they decide not to press charges, you will have documented the harassment in case her irrational behavior escalates.

Forcing her to apologize under threat of filing a report sounds like a power trip to me. And it's exactly what her original action represented, a power trip. It's a petty response. This shouldn't be about making you, the victim, "feel better", it should be about holding the person accountable (which an insecure apology doesn't do), it just makes her more likely to escalate. Filing a police report, with the videos attached, is the best way to protect yourself. It's a very basic thing to do. Even if they decide not to press charges, you will have documented the harassment in case her irrational behavior escalates.

Nah, she needs to come clean for the sake of both parties and if she needs an incentive, so be it.

 

[HaulingAss]

Even reasonable people make mistakes. I’ve had great success at conversing with (not confronting) my neighbors over disputes.

I guess I don't view this as a dispute, it's harassment.

I can’t remember the last time I called the cops to come and fix my problems.

I don't view harassment as my problem, it's the perpetrators problem.

I feel ridiculous even imagining this conversation:

ME: “Neighbor did [thing I don’t like]”
COP: “What did they say when you spoke to them?”
ME: “Speak to them??? That’s your job”
COP: “FFS”

I don't call the cops simply because a neighbor does something I don't like, I only call them to report a crime. In this case it's a minor crime but, because it's been repeated on three separate occasions I recommend reporting it before it escalates into something more.

Here's a perfect example of why the best course of action is to file an online police report with the evidence attached:

18 years ago we moved into a house in a small city next to a neighbor that had a chainlink fence to contain their dog. Their mixed breed bulldog would stand behind that fence and bark incessantly at our house, even though we were inside and there was no reason why a dog would be barking. As summer came around the dog would be barking incessantly after 10 pm. My wife goes to bed at 10 pm. and the window was open to maintain a comfortable temperature (our house didn't need air conditioning).

My wife couldn't sleep with all the racket so I went to their front door to politely ask the neigbors (who we hadn't yet met) if they could put their dog inside. I pushed the doorbell and heard another smaller dog inside start barking in a shill manner. When she finally came to the door I was shocked to see a fat unkempt 45-year-old woman holding a yapping dog and looking perturbed that anyone had dared to bother her. Thinking I could turn this around, I introduced myself politely, explained my wife was having trouble sleeping, and asking if she could bring the dog inside or get it to stop barking. She was very defensive and non-friendly. I remained polite and she reluctantly agreed to "take care of it". I thanked her and went back home.

The next morning a cop rung our doorbell. He said he had been called to the neighbors house who had reported a scary, large tall man had intimidated and threatened her on her front porch. I explained the situation and that I had remained polite and neighborly with no threats. He immediately relaxed and said he suspected as much but was required to investigate. He said her dog barking at all hours violated the City noise ordinance and that he had recommended she buy a bark collar for her dog or face fines. I didn't ask if he was going to press charges for filing a false police report because there was no evidence, it was her word against mine. He was very personable, understanding and respectful, we had a pleasant conversation before he left, instructing me to call if I had any further problems.

The reason I went to my neighbors house first, was because I thought this problem could be easily resolved simply by politely conversing with my neighbor. Instead, it resulting in her filing a false police report against me in a case with zero evidence either way. Fortunately, the cops were already suspecting her story was fake before they spoke with me.

But the case at hand is different, it's not about neglecting to take care of your dog that keeps your neighbors awake at night, it's about willful and repeated harassment by spitting on your vehicle on multiple occasions. That mentally ill woman is going to hate you no matter what you say and how politely you say it. The best thing to do is file a police report.

 

[HaulingAss]

that would be an ACTUAL crime. And likely documented by ubiquitous cameras.

I agree, it's confounding to me why people keep recommending such unwise responses to this behavior, responses that can only serve to escalate the situation into something more serious. It's almost like they are still in 1st grade.

 

[CyberGus]

asserting yourself directly and forcefully without crossing the line is a basic core competency that any fucking man worth his salt should have

Agreed, but… couldn’t you have made your point without resorting to vulgarity?

 

[JIMMYFABULOUS]

File the report and let her know you did it. Let her know it will be more than a report next time.
Firm de-escalation.
Psychos!

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