# The Court may finally force my neighbor to eat his own shit. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 28, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191 "2003-02-28T18:22:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/221 "2003-03-07T02:10:13Z")
:slap: …my ho **m** … Dratted typos. & dratted reading glasses! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/222 "2003-03-07T02:12:02Z")
:slap: :slap: They’re everywhere! …my ho **m** _e_… Not hope, not hom, but home! At least I got some practice in the coding. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/223 "2003-03-07T02:33:02Z")
Yes he did have a reason. He had lieu’s own admission of prior violence for no good reason. He had lieu’s admission that he walked onto the Bill’s property to “let him apologize”. He had lieu’s admission that Bill was in fact changing a tire, and had good reason to have a tire iron in his hand. He had the general knowledge that violent people almost always claim that it was the other guy’s fault, that they were somehow “forced” to become violent. And something I just noticed from his first post that seems outright bizarre as I reread it: > [@](#): > > Well, Bill wouldn’t let me leave him alone. He installed 5 additional lights in his backyard, giving him 6 times as many as us with our one. He placed them high enough that they’re over the fence and illuminate our yard quite well. And then he fucked up. Bill installing lights in his own back yard is some kind of deliberate harassment of lieu? Bullshit. Then Bill fucked up, by giving lieu a justification to go and have it out with Bill, IMHO. Here’s my interpretation of what might have happened. Bill’s daughter and nanny walked down the street and across Bill’s driveway just as Bill was pulling out or in. Maybe Bill was going a little fast, maybe it was kind of a close call. lieu’s wife was frightened, as would most any mom who saw a close call. Lieu never suggested that this was a deliberate attempt to run anybody down, do all I can assume is that Bill may have driven a bit negligently. Maybe Bill told him to fuck off, that was enough the previous time. Given a lack of facts, and a certain degree of untrustworthiness on the part of the narrator, you must use your own judgement as to what is most likely to have happened. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/224 "2003-03-07T14:34:51Z")
Well, either **lieu** spent all Thursday night partying and is now recovering, or… ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/225 "2003-03-07T14:39:31Z")
Anybody know if the court records would’ve hit the Texas newspapers by now? I mean, it’s just possible that once lieu got to court he realized that taking this to a jury might not be in his best interests and decided to “throw himself on the mercy of the court.” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/226 "2003-03-07T14:55:12Z")
No **lieu**. This ain’t good… ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/227 "2003-03-07T15:14:45Z")
Since this thread’s gone through the normal SDMBBBQP cycle (pitting-griping-pitting-acrimony-pitting-touchy~feely-GQ/GD questions), I feel safe in asking this: If the previous victim of lieu’s violent actions actually had called the state police (or whatever the term for that entity is in Texas is), wouldn’t that show up when the prosecution does a search of their records? Would the prosecution do that, anyway? I’ve no idea and it’s now sparked my curiosity as I think it would be beneficial to the state’s case for the prosecution to interview some folks to determine lieu’s proclivity for punching people out, or lack of that proclivity. ---
**Author:** ![B\_Williams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@B\_Williams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B_Williams)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/228 "2003-03-07T15:23:16Z")
I had a neighbor worse than this if anyone can belive it.He came charging at me with a stick for riding my moped too fast down our road.He threw nails on the road to slow drivers down (beyond his home of course) He would back into his drive way to pull out in front of the propane truck for speeding he also shot many of our cats for coming into his yard…He was a horrible person and my theory was if you give a person enough rope they will hang themselves.He died of a brain tumor which I suppose was his problem all along or at least I hope that’s where the anger stemed from. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/229 "2003-03-07T15:23:41Z")
If it had been reported, it might show up in a daily “event log” with the police. However, as far as we know, the police involved at the time didn’t take any further action (assuming that it was reported), so it’s completely irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/230 "2003-03-07T15:43:21Z")
**Monty** I hadn’t noticed the SDMBBBQP cycle (pitting-griping-pitting-acrimony-pitting-touchy~feely-GQ/GD questions) but now you mention it, I see the truth in it. Fingers still crossed for **lieu** but they are shure starting to ache. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/231 "2003-03-07T16:08:03Z")
I’m wondering if this thread’s not seen another “porkie” today. If someone were out killing “many of my cats,” I’d darn sure have the local cop shop on the horn! ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/232 "2003-03-07T16:18:03Z")
If lieu is sentenced to time in the slammer (which seems highly unlikely IMHO), I don’t think they would just haul him off from the courtroom. That only happens in movies or when people have been in jail the whole time awaiting the trial anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Robb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Robb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robb)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/233 "2003-03-07T16:23:39Z")
**Monty** , Texas law enforcement does have a [database](http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/tcic/) available to it. I don’t think that mere complaints are added, but it does include arrests and final dispositions. Its pretty standard to run it twice, first when the police are looking to arrest someone and second before a trial to see if anything changed. As far as state police, Texas has the Rangers and State Troopers, but the vast majority of law enforcement is at the city or county level. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/234 "2003-03-07T16:27:15Z")
Robb: Isn’t law enforcement on the highways the purview of the State Troopers? If lieu’s previous victim had actually called the police, they would’ve been it is my guess. ---
**Author:** ![Robb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Robb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robb)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/235 "2003-03-07T16:56:04Z")
Outside of a city, a State Trooper would be a good first guess, but I’d not be surprised if a county sheriff or deputy responded. Texas doesn’t do much to confine law enforcement with exclusive jurisdictions. For the most part, a peace officer can investigate a crime within the jurisdiction that licenses him. The work of State Troopers tends to be confined in location (e.g, highways and tollways) or by type of work (e.g., inspecting trucks). But, this is really just a good place to start looking for a Trooper. They do just about everything you’d expect a police officer to do. I’ve seen them make arrests for DWI, and I’ve met ones who work on drug cases. They even bust people for selling illegally copied CDs. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/236 "2003-03-07T17:03:53Z")
Shit, I only just saw this thread. I’ll see if I can raise lieu on my battransmitter. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/237 "2003-03-07T17:04:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > **If the previous victim of lieu’s violent actions actually had called the state police (or whatever the term for that entity is in Texas is), wouldn’t that show up when the prosecution does a search of their records? Would the prosecution do that, anyway?** Unless the prior event had resulted in an arrest, I highly doubt the prosecution would’ve known about it. Generally they run only a defendant’s arrest record, and they don’t usually go so far as to check all the police logs of all the different jurisdictions in the State. It’s basically too much work to find out information that the State probably couldn’t use anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Robb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Robb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robb)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/238 "2003-03-07T17:13:41Z")
**Monty** , I just went back and read the other thread. The setting was described as “a major metropolitan.” I’d expect local law enforcement would get the call, if one was made. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/239 "2003-03-07T19:04:20Z")
Let me just make a couple of comments and then I must go. I’ve got some work to catch up on. First, I’ve not read anything posted here since about an hour before my last post several days ago. I see there’s been many others made however. Please understand if I don’t go back and read them now. This whole issue has weighed very heavy on me for the last 8 months. The last 3 days have been unbelivably stressful. For those of you that came in with support, thank you. For those that didn’t, I honestly understand your concerns. Much of the stress I’ve been under is because like you, I have some problems with the way everything was handled as well. I’ll not be back in this thread for quite awhile… weeks or months. I’ll try and read your comments later but frankly, I’m just too exhausted right now. Was I guilty of assault? Yes. I honestly feel horrible about it. Was I justified in my response? A jury of my peers, 3 men and 3 women came back with a unaminous decision after hearing all the evidence. Not guilty. No parties are planned. I’m sending Bill a letter via my attorney to tell him I’m truly sorry about any physical discomfort he may have endured and that we hope a mutual respect for each other’s rights and expectations of safety can be embraced by both sides. Bye, lieu ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191/240 "2003-03-07T19:08:33Z")
Glad to read the results. At first I feared I’d have to compose a thread railing at governmental waste granting posting privileges from the stir. Letter sounds like a good plan. Hope he doesn’t file a civil suit. Lieu, now 2-0, and looking for his next opponent! 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-court-may-finally-force-my-neighbor-to-eat-his-own-shit/158191.md?page=13)