I goofed... dealing with a trespasser.

[NavyLCDR]

My next door neighbor lives on the edge of the same property parcel as I do. Their driveway runs to the front of the property, then across the edge of my front yard, joins my driveway and then out to the road.

This morning at 5:50 am I head to work, and just beyond where their driveway joins mine was a gray Nissan Pathfinder parked off the side of the driveway on the edge of the woods. This would have made it on the completely far edge of the property away from the next door neighbors. The SUV was dark, not running, no lights and appeared unoccupied. So, I went out to the road, texted my wife in the house that there was a strange SUV in the driveway, turned around and came back and lit it up with my high beams, I was going to take a picture with my cell phone.

When I lit it up, I noticed a dog in the SUV, so I texted the wife that there was a dog in the SUV and I was coming back to the house. I returned to the house, turned on all the exterior lights of the house, grabbed my gun from the bedroom, and called 911. While one the phone, I went back out, and lit up the rear of the SUV with my high beams again. As I was giving 911 the license number, a rear door opens on the SUV and a scraggly women's head appears sideways, looking like she just woke up and I immediately smelled alcohol.

My hand immediately went to my holstered gun, safety is never on, but I checked it anyway with my thumb, and I continued to make reports to 911. She said she was friends with my next door neighbors, and I said, "Well that doesn't explain what you are doing way over here on the far edge of my property, and the sheriff is on the way." She said she would move.

I returned to my house, leaving her vehicle lit up with my headlights (no keys were in my car) and she moved to the front seat and moved her vehicle over to my neighbors yard. I went out and turned off my headlights. And waited in the house. Between 15 and 20 minutes after I called 911, the sheriff showed up. He went over and talked to the neighbors and confirmed that they knew the woman.

My goof, though was initially checking out the SUV unarmed. I won't make that mistake again. If something is out of place, there is no reason to check it out without a firearm present.

[Rich_S]

No reason to not just call 911 form inside the house and not go out at all either....

[KCD1974]

No reason to not just call 911 form inside the house and not go out at all either....

Completely and totally agree! I would not have approached the vehicle period...unless you see someone injured. You found out with this experience that you made a mistake, you discovered it AFTER the fact, you got lucky, the next lesson you learn, may be your last....

[KCD1974]

Sorry I should clarify my above post, I'm not trying to be mean or disrespectful. Our "job" as forum members is to help each other prepare for the unexpected. Sometimes that means calling 911 and letting the police handle things and sometimes it's using your own weapon, the most important thing is knowing the difference.

Brining a gun along for the investigation does not in anyway guarantee that you will leave safely. If it didn't police officers would never get hurt. Be safe, ensure your family is safe....

[Wyldekard]

You goofed, Navy. You know you did as soon as you did it. This time luck was on your side. You know if you do it again it's not a goof, it's a mistake and mistakes get people dead. I know you won't make a mistake. You've been trained better than that. I'm glad you're still around and had the courage to tell your story to help someone else recognize what could easily become a lethal situation.

[Tucker's Mom]

He just admitted that he goofed...not hide it. What is wrong with that? It is a lesson that we all need to learn from too.

[BIGJOHN621]

He just admitted that he goofed...not hide it. What is wrong with that? It is a lesson that we all need to learn from to.

I think this is right on target. We sometimes feel we can do anything. Not because we are armed, but because one bad move hasn't cost us the way that it could. This is truly a mistake I could see myself making as well. Yes, it was a goof. No, he didn't hide it. Yes, I will remember this if I have a similar situation in my life so, thanks for sharing Navy. You may have helped someone else, maybe even me, stay safe by sharing your mistake as it gives us reason to think.

[NavyLCDR]

I guess I am old school. I believe, both legally and morally, that the first person responsible for safety and protection on private property is the property owner/agent. I don't expect police to do what the law says is my responsibility. In the case of the vehicle beside my driveway, no laws were being broken until the person received notice that they were trespassing. My property, nor any of my neighbors' properties are posted with no trespassing signs. If I have a party that is too loud, I would appreciate the neighbors calling me/visiting me first before calling the cops. I would give them the same courtesy.

I feel that a huge part of what is wrong with America today is that the citizen relies upon the government to do the duty of what the citizen should be doing for themselves.

The phone call to the sheriff was to make a record of the actions taken so it would be there should a future incident occur - thus establishing a pattern.

Now, if there is evidence of a law being broken, such as someone breaking into your home, then asking the police to stop a crime in progress is appropriate.

[Rich_S]

I guess I am old school. I believe, both legally and morally, that the first person responsible for safety and protection on private property is the property owner/agent. I don't expect police to do what the law says is my responsibility. In the case of the vehicle beside my driveway, no laws were being broken until the person received notice that they were trespassing. My property, nor any of my neighbors' properties are posted with no trespassing signs. If I have a party that is too loud, I would appreciate the neighbors calling me/visiting me first before calling the cops. I would give them the same courtesy.

I feel that a huge part of what is wrong with America today is that the citizen relies upon the government to do the duty of what the citizen should be doing for themselves.

The phone call to the sheriff was to make a record of the actions taken so it would be there should a future incident occur - thus establishing a pattern.

Now, if there is evidence of a law being broken, such as someone breaking into your home, then asking the police to stop a crime in progress is appropriate.

So when you dialed 911 and the dispatcher answered with "911 dispatch, what is your emergency" did you say I'm calling to make a record of the actions taken so it will be there should a future incident occur - thus establishing a pattern? When you put your hand on your gun and continued to make reports to 911 did the dispatcher state they would be sure that it will be there thus establishing a pattern? How did that go exactly?

[NavyLCDR]

So when you dialed 911 and the dispatcher answered with "911 dispatch, what is your emergency" did you say I'm calling to make a record of the actions taken so it will be there should a future incident occur - thus establishing a pattern? When you put your hand on your gun and continued to make reports to 911 did the dispatcher state they would be sure that it will be there thus establishing a pattern? How did that go exactly?

I reported that there was a vehicle that I did not recognize parked on my property on the edge of my driveway with a dog inside and that I would have the license plate number for them momentarily. After I gave them the license number, I then reported that there was a woman sticking her head out of the vehicle. Then I reported that she claimed to be friends with the neighbor, but was not on the neighbor's land. Then I reported that she said she would move to their land. Then the operator said they would send someone out to check out the situation.

It was the fact that I initially observed a dog in the vehicle that prompted the 911 call. That changed the situation, in my opinion, to a bit more emergent need for LEO response than just a vehicle parked on my property.

Rich_S, you are obviously going to have a problem with anyone who does anything other than lock themselves in a closet or hide under a table and wait for the police to show up, or give the criminal what they ask for and hope they leave.