Crazy, strange incident today at lunch.

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

I just had one of the wierdest things ever happen to me at lunch today. I left my office for lunch, I drove through a residential area to get to a main road. There was an ice cream van parked at the curb with the little bus style "Stop" sign out. I slowed down, and read on the back a sign that said something along the lines of stop when arm is out according to state law. So I stopped, looked around and didn't see anyone anywhere near the van at all, only the driver standing up in the back. So after I saw that there were no kids around, I continued around the van and went the rest of the way to the stop sign, maybe 20 yards or so. The street I was going to turn onto is a fairly busy one, so I was at the stop sign for a fair amount of time. While waiting, something hit the back window of my truck. I looked around and saw the ice cream man by his van screaming and waving his arms at me. I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on! As I was looking in my rearview mirror, he threw something else at my truck. This time it landed just in the bed and I could see he was throwing ICE CREAM at me!!! He wasn't advancing or anything, just standing by his truck, screaming and throwing ice cream. I still couldn't pull away because traffic was too heavy, so I rolled my window down to hear what he was yelling. He was screaming that I couldn't read and I was supposed to stay stopped until he left, and I could have run over a kid, and someone should take my license, all with a dash of profanity thrown in for good measure. I didn't say anything back, heck, I didn't even acknowledge the guy. I just watched him carefully in my rearview mirror. I had originally intended to turn left across traffic, but I took the first chance and just turned right instead and took the long way to get out of there!

I wasn't concerned and I didn't feel threatened, it was pretty funny and wierd, so I never once even thought about my gun. I just thought the guy was nuts!! But now that I actually think about it after the fact. I wonder if he might have been schizophrenic or something and off his meds. Heck, someone having a psychotic break can be a very dangerous thing. But this event has prompted me to get some OC spray of some kind. I don't have any options in between talking a situation down, physically wrestling or fighting (which I think ends most opportunities to bring a gun into play because it becomes too easy to lose control of it so it's not a viable option), or going to deadly force by drawing my gun. Any OC suggestions? I've heard Fox is really good stuff.

[JasonH]

I'd have asked if he had any drumsticks. The price seems to have been right.

[aardwolf]

While waiting, something hit the back window of my truck. I looked around and saw the ice cream man by his van screaming and waving his arms at me. I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on! As I was looking in my rearview mirror, he threw something else at my truck. This time it landed just in the bed and I could see he was throwing ICE CREAM at me!!!

If he vandalized my vehicle I would call the cops to report him when I got back to the office.

[dukesean]

pretty bizarre...I remember once seeing a school bus driver go absolutely nuts after someone went around it while stopped. I understand that the driver had just broken a law and that the bus driver had every right to be upset, but screaming and honking at the driver while there were still plenty of kids in the bus is probably not a tactful way to address the issue.

i hope the ice cream driver wasn't throwing those drumstick cones....those are delicious.

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

I thought about it, but there's not even a mark on my truck. But there were 2 ice cream sandwiches in the bed! I called a friend of mine who's on patrol. He was in the area and drove by, but the guy was gone. He did say there were a few ice creams in the road though. He asked if I was OK after being "ICE-aulted". I think I'd have drawn on him if they were Astro Pops. Those things are shaped like missiles! It was just very wierd. I think people are mostly crazy these days.

BTW? I know it's a state law not to go around buses when the sign is out or the red lights are flashing. Does the law mention ice cream vans or trucks ANYWHERE? In any law?

[jimlongley]

I once saw a school bus driver swerve his bus in front of a car that was passing him WHILE KIDS WERE STILL ON THE STEPS OF THE BUS. I reported him to his school district.

What you needed to do with the ice cream man was get out and start putting the ice cream in your cooler, and yell "Thanks!"

You do have a cooler in the back of your pickup, don't you? All true Texans have coolers in the back of their cowboy caddilacs, just in case they come across really fresh road kill and stuff.

I don't know of any state law against passing stopped vendors.

[Keith B]

There is no law I am aware of that prohibits you from passing an ice cream truck even if they have a sign out (unlike a school bus.) I seriously wonder about an ice cream vendor that has that kind of temper; i wouldn't want that around my kid.

I personnaly would call the city licensing office, advise what had happened and ask about his merchant license. There is a possibility he has had other run-ins with motorists and they may need to know about his temper tantrum.

[DoubleJ]

sign? shewt, I thought it was a target!

[AFJailor]

Theres is really just one question that matters here...












Did you eat the ice cream?




I would of got out of my car and eaten it right there, then thanked him for his service.

[DoubleJ]

"Pull!!!!"

*guy throws ice cream sammich*

BLAM!!

"Pull!!!!"

*guy throws drumstick*

BLAM!!!



could be a new Shotgun stage!

[M9FAN]

"Pull!!!!"

*guy throws ice cream sammich*

BLAM!!

"Pull!!!!"

*guy throws drumstick*

BLAM!!!



could be a new Shotgun stage!

That right there is funny... I don't care who you are!

[gregthehand]

Agreed. I would have gotten out and picked at least one up to eat it.

[Keith B]

"Pull!!!!"

*guy throws ice cream sammich*

BLAM!!

"Pull!!!!"

*guy throws drumstick*

BLAM!!!

could be a new Shotgun stage!

No no no!! I don't care how much prcatical practice it provides, that is just a waste of good ice cream!!

[WarHawk-AVG]

Agreed. I would have gotten out and picked at least one up to eat it.

Getting out of your vehicle could have been construed as escalating the situation

all haha funny aside

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

OK guys. Just a few criticisms here about your responses.

1. You don't waste ice cream.

2. You don't waste ice cream.

You're right, Molon, it's only funny because it didn't turn out to be anything bad, I just left because I didn't want to be around with the crazy dude. But you never know, he could have been right on the edge of a shooting spree and I could have set him off. I really do want to get some OC spray.

Back to funny, darn, I didn't even consider eating one of them, you guys are right, that WOULD have been hilarious!