Johnmelissa said:
1. The DA concluded this matter with all parties in attendance shaking hands and my attorney said, after meeting with the DA then and there, that this was a "done deal." You're saying the DA is going to charge me. Please be clear.
It's done ... apparently. However, that does not mean he cannot revive it if you ratchet things back up.
2. I'm not sure if this is a legal or comedic forum. I assure you that the law, police and DA were serious and that I now have an arrest record.
You can move to have an arrest record expunged. go to
www.courtinfo.ca.gov for more info.
3. I apologize to you if you think my natural reaction to defend myself was inane or, better yet, repulsive "retaliation." What is the difference between self defense and retaliation?
Motive and necessity. Self defense is when you strike back to cease the assault or prevent further injury to yourself ... retaliation is when act out due to anger and a desire to get even.
If your neighbor DRENCHED you with water and was whooping it up with his son and laughing and enjoying himself, what would you do?
Assume he was an idiot. Then, maybe, call the police to make a citizen's arrest for battery. I might then consider video cameras if I couldn't reason with the guy.
Maybe some of you don't have the natural trigger of a set of balls.
Most of us don't allow ourselves to be ruled by our baser emotions. That's what drunks in bars do, that's what animals in the forest do, and that's what uncivilized brutes do.
Maybe some of you have your current status solely by way of affirmative action having never been required to juxtapose your physical self against the natural world or prosecuted actual combat to the death, for example.
Oh yeah ... that's it.
Shot at, spat on, bit, punched, kicked, and insulted ... yeah, no idea.
You exist in the realm of the academic as the alligator chomps your arm off.
The realm of the Academic?!? Uh ... yeah. Not me, brother ... not me. I get my hands dirty every day for people other than those I know ... how about you?
I see not the female form littering the field at Gettysburg.
You didn't look hard enough ... there WERE female causalties at Gettysburg as there were in Vietnam.
You all indicate that I should have simply stood there being drenched until he tired and was done.
I don't know about you, but if it was a hot day, I'd have appreciated it. if not, then I could have easily stepped out of the way and called the cops.
I've called the cops 10 times before and they consistently refuse to do anything about his deliberate harassment, even assault against my wife. Calling the cops was not a viable option. Calling the cops would have been an exercise in futility.
Sounds like you needed to go up the food chain if the grunts weren't interested in doing anything.
4. I don't know the collective foundation here, but above all else, this neighbor/cop should unequivocally NOT BE A "SWORN POLICE OFFICER."
I do not think anyone here has said that what the neighbor is doing is right. I'm sure not. But as the saying goes, "Two wrongs don't make a right."
Maybe he shouldn't be a cop ... I don't know. But I venture to guess that his account of events will be opposite of yours.
Are you all "sworn police officers" here; or the spouses thereof? Do you mock the law, such as it is, before the court?
I'm one of only two regular posters that is currently sworn. There are a couple of others that used to be, and several who have loved ones who are sworn officers. Many others are attorneys and thus KNOW officers.
Suggestion: Consult an attorney and see about a civil suit against the neighbor.
- Carl