I Didn't Know Police Departments Had Business Hours

[Michigan CG]

I was about five blocks away from a house I took a photo of tonight and a car is coming up behind me pretty fast flashing their lights. and I really thought he was going to hit me. A silver Lincoln pulled over because the guy was so driving so crazy.

I come to a stop sign and turn and he turns too, flashing lights and tailgating me so I figure it is a homeowner wanting to know why I took a photo. He appears to be a little angry or unstable so I drive for awhile until I can pull over in a public parking lot where there are people. A subway is on the left and I see a car pulling in so I pull in and ask the guy getting out of the car if he would wait outside as a witness.

Guy pulls up beside my truck and starts screaming. *(&^&^() you took a picture of my (*)&^)_(& house. I want to know who you are 7)^(*%(^(..........

(*&)(&)*&^ I am going to call the police.

I told him to call the police.

)(&*^(%)&_(*^ ()*&^)(&^__

He never got out of the car. Since he is a jerk I tell him I was on a public road and can take pictures of anything I want.

&^^(_)*^%%^&^ you can't take pictures of my house. You need to tell me who you are )&^(^%$(^)(&*.

&^%()&^ I am going to beat your a** you perverted )(*&^)(&%^)(&*)&*

I am calling the police &^%()&*^)

I tell him again to call the police.

(*&%^%)

I let him rant and tell I don't need to tell him who I am.

*&^(&%(^(

It is illegal (*&(&^%(( to take a picture of my house (&^%(^&%*$%.

I tell him to ask Barbara Streisand how that worked out.

)(*&^(^&()&^ you will tell me who you are.

)_(*&^)&^)&

I am going to beat your a** )*&^)&^*)_&)*&

I have now had enough. He is still in the car. The dude who was going into Subway is still standing there. The manager of Subway is looking at what is going on from inside.

_*()*)_*(&_&*(_*&

Tell me who you are &&^%%#@#@

I am going to beat your )&^^%&^$.

At this point I am done with him and he is still in his car. I ask him when the ***-beating is going to start because I have things to do.

He didn't like that.

^%$(%^@(_

I am going to call the police @%^(^@#&

He puts his 20 year-old POS in drive and floors it making the front tires spin. I was impressed. I didn't think that POS had the ability to spin the tires.

I go take the rest of my comp photos and decide to stop by the police station and ask them if they are looking for someone in a Ford F-150 taking photos. The police station was closed. There is no way to get in. I figured there would be someone there at night (8 PM). Hope, if you need to contact someone use the phone on the other side of the lobby.

Get in truck and head home. Police call my cell phone and I tell them my story. I told the police that it the guy had been reasonable I would have told him who I was and given him a business card. Police told me that the guy was ranting mad and still cussing.

Police told me they are going to go over to the guy's house and explain the situation to him and tell him he can't threaten someone. I guess it is a crime to threaten to beat someone's a**.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

Police call my cell phone and I tell them my story.

I guess they were on standby, even if the office was closed.
I suspect we have all had a looney like that.
Guess it turned out OK.

 

[Michigan CG]

I was told that threatening someone is illegal so I called the officer back. He said that this one incident was not enough but repeated contact with me involving more threats would constitute a crime. He said the guy was totally unhinged when he talked to him and wanted to know who I was. The officer said he told the guy that he would not tell him who I was and that I worked for a company that I owned but would not give the guy the name of my company.

The officer stated that the guy was told he had the right to do a FOIA request of the information and could find out the name of my company and my name. The guy told the officer that I had to have people I worked for and he would tell them I was taking pictures (lol). The officer was told that I was a complete a*****. I am guessing I was unreasonable for not telling him my name and what I was doing after being followed by a crazy guy and being cussed out and threatened.

 

[CindyR]

sometimes it's really great to be an old lady appraiser

 

[ucbruin]

Seems that I'm not the only person you "trigger"....


As an aside...
You're in the field working late in the day....

 

[J Grant]

Scary. You are lucky the guy did not have a gun. A lot of angry and unstable people around -I've had a few disturbing incidents driving comp photos, I was also followed once - driving comp photos can be dangerous. Even though we have every right to be on a public street and take a photo, I act all meek and apologize. I also offer to erase their home photo. Sometimes that shuts them up. Glad you got home safe.

 

[Red Flint]

May have escalated because of not stating your purpose, and then explaining that a street view picture is the same task that the local assessor does for the property, and that this picture is a requirement for your job. Good time to have a business card with only a P.O. Box on it.

 

[djd09]

"but for the most part none of us believe the "Danger! Danger!" crowd that comes on here about the dangers of taking a picture." michcg

isn't the bookmark feature amazing?

 

[glenn walker]

You could have simply told the guy what you do and why. This happens to me at least every few months and I have actually had guys say they had a gun- First remember most people don't know who or what we are doing - In Los Angeles we have a lot of home break-ins-robbery and people casing homes to see when people come and go. So people are naturally paranoid when someone shoots a photo of their house- Also drug users and dealers are often hyper sensitive with extreme paranoia.

Anyway sorry but you are lucky you live in Mayberry because a gang member or drug dealer out here may have taken you out. A few years ago I had two cars block me into a culdesac and these guys were not playing games. I could see from all the gang tattoos they were gang members so I explained what I was doing and even handed them my clip broad that had comps on it and--gave them a business card and told them I worked for bail bondsmen and if they ever need an-appraisal to give me a call.

As far as mentioning Barbra Streisand she lives in a community with armed guards. In Parts of Beverly Hills the armed guards will not even allow you to take photos period and a lot of paparazzi have cameras smashed.

 

[Renee Healion]

Streisand sued over aerial shots taken of her property which backfired since by suing she drew attention to the very thing she was objecting to. Streisand effect.