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if the punk by the road wants a parking spot, let him have it...

Today's life lesson, and a hint for the locals:

So I'm sleep-deprived and crabby from work as I drive into Davis Square to go to the post office, about 4pm today.  As I pull into a handy metered spot, a street tough in blue jeans and jean jacket and square gold earring accosts me and claims he's saving the spot for his girlfriend "who's going around the block".  I get rather annoyed at the Somerville habit of thinking public streets can be reserved, so I get out of the car anyway.  He's upset by this and clearly wants to get rather physical about it, but I ignore him, feed the meter, and go off to the post office.  Bad judgment call, sigh.  He still wants to make a fight out of it, but I stay away from him and keep walking. 

I come out minutes later, and this fellow is gone...but the guy nearby taking his cigarette break is looking at me rather intently.  I don't see anything wrong with the car before I drive off, but the flat tire is evident before I get to Porter Square.  My tire got knifed, and now I need a new one.  Actually, more likely four, because my particular car is picky about matching tires.

So I walk back over to the business where our Potential Witness is from.  I think they know what happened, but this fellow doesn't even come up front.  They say he didn't see anything, so I have nothing useful to take to the cops.  *sigh*  I can understand his/their response, though.

So this is just by way of warning that if this fellow wants his space in Davis Square, let him have it.  The parking spot, I mean.  It isn't worth it.  He's not hard to identify as Trouble, fortunately.  You won't have any question in your mind if you see him.  Has anyone else?

I'm taking this almost sanguinely; the tires weren't expensive and they're half used up.  I'd have been more upset if he keyed my car.

Aside: I've been around here 15 years, and I've never had trouble like this before-- I expect many more quiet years, especially if I act slightly smarter.  I still think it's generally a pretty safe area.

[identity profile] sonofabish.livejournal.com 2009-06-01 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
That blows. I'd call the cops and tell them what happened. Who knows- maybe either cops are already familiar with this douchbag or a security camera caught him. Not surprising the witness wasn't helpful- he was probably threatened with the same knife he used to slash your tire.

[identity profile] perich.livejournal.com 2009-06-02 12:13 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I'd call the cops anyway. At the very least, a complaint in the system might put paperwork on this guy that'll help get him arrested in a later case.

[identity profile] eeyorecol.livejournal.com 2009-06-02 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
That stinks, but I agree that you should call the cops anyway. Perhaps if it happens (or has happened) to someone else, they would have a record.

Also, if I'm going to the Post Office in Davis, I usually park in the 5 minute parking right in front of the post office - there are usually spaces (and hopefully no punks)

[identity profile] thetathx1138.livejournal.com 2009-06-02 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
Always, always, ALWAYS call the police. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, if nothing else.

And always park in the space. Always. Never, ever, ever let people like this intimidate you. They are bullies and cowards, and if they are not allowed their way often enough, eventually they might learn the lesson. Probably not, but it never hurts to try.

What cops?!

[identity profile] nvidia99999.livejournal.com 2009-06-02 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
You should have engaged him in a duel. Like a real man! :) :)

Maybe he had to get to Gold's Gym in a hurry?

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/ 2009-06-02 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
Don't let anybody like that intimidate you. That person sounds just disgusting. I'm very sorry this happened.

1. Parking isn't that hard to find in the square.
2. There's no saving spots.

In the future, and for anybody else reading along, whenever engaged in a confrontation like that about your car (or bike), stay with your vehicle/bike until the thug walks away. Never leave your property unattended. If he doesn't leave on his own, call the cops and say that there is someone threatening you or making you feel uncomfortable and if they could send someone over you would most appreciate it.

[identity profile] darxus.livejournal.com 2009-06-02 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"It isn't worth it."

I disagree. I would be very uncomfortable with encouraging that kind of behavior.

A couple options that come to mind - take a picture of him before you walk away from the car, or call the cops before you walk away from the car.

And I agree that you should tell the cops what happened now.

[identity profile] darxus.livejournal.com 2009-06-02 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Also, get pepper spray. You need to get a form from your local police for a permit, which pisses me off. But if you felt like you were in physical danger from this guy, you would have been justified in using it. And then you wouldn't get harmed, and he would still be there when the police arrived.

[identity profile] tt02144.livejournal.com 2009-06-02 02:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd say that calling the cops, if you feel in danger, before you leave the car, however, it won't be a priority call, and would be a 'he said'/'he said' situation. The most they would do would be to tell the guy to move along, since nothing can be proven. If anyone thinks that someone is going to pull security camera tapes for this, I'd like to be there when they do! Unfortunately, you live in a 'diverse' city and things happen!
And by the way, I've actually had the same problem.....a McKinnon's emplyee stood in a spot and wouldn't let me use it, saying it was for one of their customers who was 'buying a lot'. Whatever.

[identity profile] soft-shoulder.livejournal.com 2009-06-02 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I had a lady flip out on me one day. I drove around for half an hour to find a parking space and edged my tiny car into a snow bank. After I got out and walked away a crazed lady in a giant suv almost ran me over and was screaming about how I had better get my *beep beep* car out of her *beep beep* parking space that she'd drove around the block for. She threatened to kill me. Needless to say I moved out of fear.

Seriously, guys...

[identity profile] nvidia99999.livejournal.com 2009-06-02 06:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I actually think that these days it is not worth risking it. With all the guns in circulation and the unstable folks without a job, I would not feel comfortable starting a fight over a parking spot. This guy will run into someone else like him and they'll fight it out.