Medic624 wrote:Just posted this as a response in the thread... "That feeling you get..."
Just curious if (given the info in the post) u would've handled the situation differently...
The other night (about 2330) I got called in to work ... And had a weird experience as I was pulling up to a red light near the Medical Center in downtown Houston. (the area is notorious for many homeless and substance abusing upstanding individuals) Approaching the red light I noted a disheveled man and a very skinny woman on the sidewalk to my left. She was nervously looking around and he was standing there intently watching me pull up in my wife's Saab convertible. As I slowed and came to a stop at the light I realized (at this point) I was the only car stopped at that intersection. I then watched him in my side mirror look around multiple times and then step out into the street at my 7 o'clock. He then continued to act erratic (looking around and walking back and forth in the street about 25yds behind my car) as he looked around he then quickly started to close the distance to the rear of the car. He then took a few more steps toward me then walked away back toward the woman... they talked about something and then he then turned back toward me and walked straight toward my car. By this time I had already unbuckled my seatbelt and pulled up my shirt to allow easier access to my weapon should his erratic behavior not be just that erratic... As he neared my 8 o'clock and about 50' to the left I rolled the window down about 3" and yelled "Get the heck away from my car!" This stopped him in his tracks and startled him enough that by this time the light had turned green and I went on my merry way.
I don't think he had any idea how close he came to having a very bad day if he had chose to make a very bad decision. The only bonus was he was within walking distance the Ben Taub ER should he decide to approach another driver who was also armed.
As someone who lived in that exact area for the last 14 months, I can say without pause that there are ALOT of shady characters wandering those streets...at ALL times of day and night. Second, I would also say you handled the situation perfectly: you were aware, you were ready, and you even gave a verbal command to avoid any unecessary issues. If there's anything I would add is that I might have considered just bugging out (and eat the $75 fine for the red-light ticket
). That whole area, up and down Main, Kirby, OST, etc, and even right down the street by the Rice running track I always see the same characters, and although they never have presented a threat or a problem to me personally, I always make it a point to watch out for them. I always say, you never know how despearte people are going to act. Again, good job on handling the situation!