Another Whiskey Tango Foxtrot post.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Yesterday I visited a local Fred Meyer store to get my wife something for Mother’s Day. I was pushing a shopping cart up an aisle when a teenage boy (14-16) came around the corner, stopped, and just as I passed, stepped back into the cross aisle he had just come from. At the same time, another teen about the same age purposely ran into the first teen knocking him into me then me into a wooden disply rack. The rack contained various souvenir items, some were knocked on the floor but nothing broke. I ended up on the floor on my butt. That is when I notice teen #1 had on a camoflage t-shirt with “Do you see me now?” printed on it. Apparently the horseplay revolved around the t-shirt.

I used the cart to pull my self up and asked the kids what the hell were they doing. I also commented that someone could have been seriously injured and to take the horseplay outside. One of them offered a weak apology and started to walk away when a store employee showed up. I told her what happened and she said she was going to call for a manager. Teen 1 grabbed teen 2 and said they should get out of there and both of them took off. A manager came, I told him what happened and he took some info to file a report. He apologized profusely and told me if I have any problems to call the store immediately. I wasn’t hurt so I went to finish my shopping.

Not 40 minutes ago I received a call from the Auburn Police Department. A report had been filed that I had threatened a minor with physical harm during an altercation that I started. The officer got my name and phone number from the Fred Meyer store. I told him what happened and he agreed it was the same as the Freddies incident report. He told me the mother of one of the teens filed the report this morning. The teen did not come home last night and when he returned home this morning, said he stayed with his friend to avoid being found by me. The officer told me he is going to close the case, gave me a case number and told me I could get a copy of the report from the police department if I wanted to consider some type of civil action.

Right now I am pissed off. I get knocked on my butt and some kid is now using me as a scapegoat to get out of trouble. I am definitely going to get a copy of the report. I just don’t know if I’m going to do anything about it yet.

2

If that happened to me, I’d be high on a horse called Righteous Indignation. The kid accused you of a crime. I say you should deliver a Legal Smackdown of some sort. Maybe contact the Prosecutor’s Office and suggest that s/he charge the kid with filing a false police report? Maybe sue them for libel?

Maybe that’s overkill, but the kid should be taught that some actions have consequences.

3

There we have it, friends-the new American way. When you’re wrong, lie your ass off! If a stupid parent won’t buy it, certainly a lawyer and 12 bubbleheads will.

Hopefully the store has surveillance footage to vindicate you and nail the little buggers.

4

If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say that their bullshit claim of your supposed threat is based on your remark that “someone could have been seriously injured.”

5

I’d get a copy of the report. If the little dickweed claimed you actually made a threat, I’d get all legal on his ass.

6

Get the report, then call the mother. Tell her you understand she’s been played by her son, and you wanted to let her know, personally, what happened. Tell her that you do not believe that the police will pursue her or her son for this false claim that she filed, and that you understand how difficult it can be to be the parent of a rebellious child. Tell her that at this point, you do not plan to sue her or her son for libel, but you are naturally concerned any time the police come knocking on your door. Offer to come have a talk with the kid about the consequences of lying.

I’m not your lawyer; you’re not my client. I’m probably not even licensed in your jurisdiction. But the prosecutor is unlikely to be interested in something like this, and, really, you’re looking at very minimal damages (compared to the attorneys fees) if you decide to sue civilly. You’re better off just calling the mom and seeing if she’ll punish her child.

7

You must be kidding. This HAS to be a joke.

Here is how that conversation would go:

racer72: Hello, is this Mrs. Smith?

Mrs. Smith: Yes.

racer72: Mrs. Smith, your son and his friend knocked me down at the grocery store, and it’s my understanding that…

Mrs. Smith: You’re the BASTARD who hurt my child?

racer72: Well, no, I didn’t…

Mrs. Smith: Are you calling my child a liar? You motherfucking bastard! I’ll sue you! How dare you hurt a child? My poor child!

racer72: Now, Mrs. Smith, I understand…

Mrs. Smith: Fuck you you fucking fucker! (Phone slammed down.)

(Eight minutes pass)

Ring!

racer72: Hello?

Cop: Mr. Racer, this is the sheriff’s department. A complaint has been filed that you’re stalking a local woman.

, and that you understand how difficult it can be to be the parent of a rebellious child. Tell her that at this point, you do not plan to sue her or her son for libel, but you are naturally concerned any time the police come knocking on your door. Offer to come have a talk with the kid about the consequences of lying.

I’m not your lawyer; you’re not my client. I’m probably not even licensed in your jurisdiction. But the prosecutor is unlikely to be interested in something like this, and, really, you’re looking at very minimal damages (compared to the attorneys fees) if you decide to sue civilly. You’re better off just calling the mom and seeing if she’ll punish her child.
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8

See post #3. Rinse and repeat.

9

Look – suing does no good in a situation like this, nor does threatening suit. Why not talk to our neighbors? Why not try to resolve things outside court? Sometimes people can surprise you.

10

I have to say I think RickJay is way off the mark on this one. Granted, it COULD happen, but I think it’s unlikely. After all, there are store employees who can back up Racer72’s story, not to mention the report that was filed at the store.

My first thought on reading this closely parallels Campion. If I were the parent, I would sure as hell want to know that my kid stayed out all night, then falsely accused someone else to cover himself.

One thing I tried VERY hard to imress on my children, that regardless of the offense, trying to lie your way out would quadruple the punishment.

I’d say someone has earned themselves a serious ass-whuppin’ (or a loooong timeout, depending on your sensibilities).

11

Her teenage boy came home with a story about being threatened by some guy in a store, and staying away from home all night to keep from being found and hurt? And she bought it! This is not a mother who can be reasoned with. If nothing else, she will just be embarrassed enough to get mad at the person who makes her face her own gullibility. She knows the kid is lying, even if she doesn’t know the real story. The police have decided to close the case, so there’s no trouble pending there. Get the report, keep it for future reference, get a copy of the incident report from the store, and let it go. You won’t accomplish anything by pursuing it. You can’t teach the kid a lesson he isn’t inclined to learn.