We live in a nice, quiet crescent. We don't tend to get too much happening on our block...in fact, I think the last time there was any sort of emergency vehicle on my block was when I broke my ankle and and we had to call an ambulance. That caused all the neighbours to be abuzz for days.
Yesterday around 5pm, I had picked Em up from daycare and had pulled into my driveway as usual. I went to the backseat to unbuckle Emmy from the car seat and she started talking about a man. I didn't understand what she was saying, but unbeknownst to me, a man had walked up behind me as I was unbuckling her. When I stood up, I saw him, which gave me a fright as I didn't see him walk up or hear him for that matter. He was probably around 40-50, stocky build, 6' or so, with close shaved graying brown hair.
He had leaned over and was talking about my tires as he was touching them, referring to them as "heavy". It was quickly obvious that this guy was not all there...either off his meds or needs some new ones in a hurry. He was talking gibberish as I quickly ushered Emmy to the front door. I just knew that this guy was trouble and my first instinct was to protect my daughter and get her away from this guy.
He walked behind our carport as I was desperately praying that I could get the door open without dropping my keys for once. I kept telling him to go home and that my husband would be home in a few minutes (Keith was due home in about an hour). As I was opening the door, he reached into the carport and started touching Keith's spare tires that are in the corner, wrapped in plastic. Side note: Buddy?? What's with the fascination with the tires????
At this point, he started swearing and getting angry. I thankfully managed to open the door and get inside and lock it again.
I grabbed the cordless phone as I could still hear him ranting outside the door. I turned a movie on for Em as I called 911. I just lost it when the dispatcher answered and started crying. They took a description and dispatched police. I looked outside and he was pacing in the carport at this point. I looked again a few moments later and he was gone, or at least out of sight.
The cops found him still hanging around the house. Apparently, he is new to town and that was the third time he was picked up today. The cops kept taking him to the hospital, and they kept releasing him. (WTF???Buddy obviously needs help!) He also is known to be violent so the cops told me I did the right thing by calling.
So long story short (too late, I know!) he was on his way to talk to a mental heath social worker. Probably released 10 minutes later, but hopefully they dealt with him.
The good news? With all the stress I have had with Emmy not listening to me lately...she did exactly what I told her instantly as I tried to get her in the house. No back talk, no delaying. I asked, she did. Must have been my tone? Whatever it was, it worked.
