parking lot arguement

[nyguy10]

Sorry if this is not the right place to ask this question but I was hoping to get a good answer. I was in a parking lot and a guy honked at me because he felt I was going to slow. I waved at him as to say what is the problem. We both parked and he approached me saying "if you ever wave at me like that again I'll kill you" He then kept saying stupid stuff like I have more money than you will ever know and other garbage and then he knocked my hat off my head and acted like he wanted to hit me. I knew he was angry but wasn't really sure why. I felt that he was going to swing at any moment and he was much bigger than I. We eventually went seperate ways after i tried to get his license plate and said I would call police. He actually took out a piece of paper and put it over the plate so i couldn't see it while his wife drove away and hefollowed behind covering it. Could he be charged with anything? I know you can talk smack to someone and get away with it but physically knocking someones hat off? That seemed a little too overboard. My fiance said he pushed me and I thought he nudged me too but had so much adrenaline in me that I can't quite remember everything. All I know is that he definatley knocked my hat off and acted like he wanted to hit me. He didn't make a full motion to but he steped up closer to me with out raising the fist as if he was about. Well, I just was hoping to get an answer as to if he could have been charged with anything like harassment or anything.

Doesn't it come down to if he actually touched me or any part of me including knocking my hat to the ground which came close to hitting me in the face when he did it? Even if he did think I was making a gesture.

Thx for any help.

[Cat_Doc]

It takes two to tango, but only one to stop. Next time just ignore the impatient honkers out there and go about your business. He may have well interpreted the wave as something else and you are real lucky you did not get hurt.

I am not saying at all that you were in the wrong, but discretion is the better part of valor.

Consider it a dead issue...I don't think a law enforcement agency would take any action on it after the fact. Happy to hear you did not get hurt.

[pac201]

It takes two to tango, but only one to stop. Next time just ignore the impatient honkers out there and go about your business. He may have well interpreted the wave as something else and you are real lucky you did not get hurt.

I am not saying at all that you were in the wrong, but discretion is the better part of valor.

Consider it a dead issue...I don't think a law enforcement agency would take any action on it after the fact. Happy to hear you did not get hurt.

THIS...

[GoDirectly2Jail]

I agree as well.

In life, there are always going to be jerks that make it their mission to see what kind of a rise they get out of people. Ignoring them (or better yet, being EXTRA polite to them) shuts them down before they can get started. Trying to "prove yourself" only plays into their hand.

[patchcop]

It takes two to tango, but only one to stop. Next time just ignore the impatient honkers out there and go about your business. He may have well interpreted the wave as something else and you are real lucky you did not get hurt.

I am not saying at all that you were in the wrong, but discretion is the better part of valor.

Consider it a dead issue...I don't think a law enforcement agency would take any action on it after the fact. Happy to hear you did not get hurt.

100%

There are allways two persons in any dispute. Turn around and walk away if you don't look for trouble.

[PapaBear]

The funny thing is I interpreted your statement, "...I waved at him as to say what is the problem..." to mean you probably flipped him off!

Just ignore idiots like him. It does no-one any good to get all tensed up and bullish over insignificant actions.

[vengeance05]

Sorry if this is not the right place to ask this question but I was hoping to get a good answer. I was in a parking lot and a guy honked at me because he felt I was going to slow. I waved at him as to say what is the problem. We both parked and he approached me saying "if you ever wave at me like that again I'll kill you" He then kept saying stupid stuff like I have more money than you will ever know and other garbage and then he knocked my hat off my head and acted like he wanted to hit me. I knew he was angry but wasn't really sure why. I felt that he was going to swing at any moment and he was much bigger than I. We eventually went seperate ways after i tried to get his license plate and said I would call police. He actually took out a piece of paper and put it over the plate so i couldn't see it while his wife drove away and hefollowed behind covering it. Could he be charged with anything? I know you can talk smack to someone and get away with it but physically knocking someones hat off? That seemed a little too overboard. My fiance said he pushed me and I thought he nudged me too but had so much adrenaline in me that I can't quite remember everything. All I know is that he definatley knocked my hat off and acted like he wanted to hit me. He didn't make a full motion to but he steped up closer to me with out raising the fist as if he was about. Well, I just was hoping to get an answer as to if he could have been charged with anything like harassment or anything.

Doesn't it come down to if he actually touched me or any part of me including knocking my hat to the ground which came close to hitting me in the face when he did it? Even if he did think I was making a gesture.

Thx for any help.

The incident you described is Harassment 2nd. It is a violation that did not occur in the presence of an officer, so no arrest would be made and it is highly unlikely that any police action would be taken.

The best advice I can give you is not to make hand motions at other motorists and not to engage yourself in a confrontation in a parking lot. Simply ignore them and walk away.

[nyguy10]

He didn't just honk but also turned down the aisle behind me, then tried to cut through the spots in front of me and almost hit me. He stopped before hitting me and as I passed him, I raised both hands in a "what is the problem sign". He then followed me around the corner to next aisle before parking.

Truth is, cops make their own interpretations and no I didn't flip him off (which the guy even admitted I didn't, at least one cop here has accused me of lying, interesting) but even if I did, gives no one the right to touch anyone. The guy admitted to knocking off my hat to the police who I DID call because the guy came back into the store after he left and taunted me again.

He was charged and the only reason I did it was because he went to far. Most cops like yourselves seem to blame the party not at fault instead of the bully.

It is harassment and that is the law. Please follow it. I did not taunt nor approach this guy. Simply lifting your hand in a motion to hit someone is harassment but it is funny how many cops do not follow the law.

The cop even had the nerve to say "are u sure u want to file this, this guy will have a charge on his record" LOL are u kidding me? Maybe he should of thought of that before approaching someone threatening to kill him and touching them for no reason.

BTW my brother who is a sargeant in the state police agreed he went to far.

Oh I am sure I am the idiot now for these words but protecting the community is job one, not pushing it aside because it seems insignificant to the officer. It was significant to me when he approached me. Should I have ignored him? yes but nothing I did deserved his actions. This is why people continue to act like they can attack other people or push their weight around with no consequences. I wonder what would have happened if I would have clocked him in the nose after he knocked my hat off. I can imagine I would have been the one charged!

[Switchback]

...
It is harassment and that is the law. Please follow it. I did not taunt nor approach this guy. Simply lifting your hand in a motion to hit someone is harassment but it is funny how many cops do not follow the law.

Ok, let me get this straight... you come on here to ask our opinion and then have the audacity to talk about how most cops don't follow the law. Apparently, you haven't a clue.

By your apparent immaturity, I presume you are not old enough to have children. Am I wrong? Before you star t"raising your hands" to me, let me explain. I have 2 kids. When they have fights or spats, I usually start by having them explain to me what happened. Each tells their own story, with completely different spins than the other. Even when they don't intend to lie, the see things AND explain them in a light that is best for them. It is human nature and dealing with people in LE is no different. There is a reason, for such minor offenses, many states require an LEO to witness it, as the truth would not be known otherwise.

Oh I am sure I am the idiot now for these words but protecting the community is job one, not pushing it aside because it seems insignificant to the officer. It was significant to me when he approached me. Should I have ignored him? yes but nothing I did deserved his actions. This is why people continue to act like they can attack other people or push their weight around with no consequences. I wonder what would have happened if I would have clocked him in the nose after he knocked my hat off. I can imagine I would have been the one charged!

You're right, you are being an idiot. I hate to let you in on a secret: the world does not revolve around you. You are right that protecting the community is job one, but you are being foolish to think that there are not far more productive ways to do it than follow around some kid who instigates a bully in a parking lot. It is THESE types of incidents that prevent us from giving our attention to more pressing matters that have a far more beneficial effect on the community's safety.

...and yes, you wold have been charged. Unless, of course, your victim had the presence of mind to realize that he brought it on himself and and that you may not deserve the permanent blemish on your record for responding to such an instigation.

[CCBlueMan]

Truth is, cops make their own interpretations and no I didn't flip him off (which the guy even admitted I didn't, at least one cop here has accused me of lying, interesting) but even if I did, gives no one the right to touch anyone. The guy admitted to knocking off my hat to the police who I DID call because the guy came back into the store after he left and taunted me again.

Wow! Your first post seemed pretty decent, now I'm sensing attitude here!
I did't see anyone call you a liar. reread this post:

The funny thing is I interpreted your statement, "...I waved at him as to say what is the problem..." to mean you probably flipped him off!

He didn't say, "You liar! You didn't wave! You flipped this guy off!" No, he just said how he interpreted your statement. As a matter of fact, I interpreted it the same way.

The cop even had the nerve to say "are u sure u want to file this, this guy will have a charge on his record" LOL are u kidding me? Maybe he should of thought of that before approaching someone threatening to kill him and touching them for no reason.

When I get called to an incident like this I'm going to ask the same thing. Not because I'm lazy or I feel sorry for the other guy, but because I want to make sure you know that if charges are filed, you have to take a day off of work to go to court and testify.

BTW my brother who is a sargeant in the state police agreed he went to far.

Then why not ask him your question?

Oh I am sure I am the idiot now for these words but protecting the community is job one, not pushing it aside because it seems insignificant to the officer. It was significant to me when he approached me. Should I have ignored him? yes but nothing I did deserved his actions. This is why people continue to act like they can attack other people or push their weight around with no consequences. I wonder what would have happened if I would have clocked him in the nose after he knocked my hat off. I can imagine I would have been the one charged!

Yes, I would have then charged both of you! In Maryland, what he did was 2nd degree assault.

[Cat_Doc]

Outlandish and unacceptable forum behavior, nyguy.

You come in here, post a question, intentionally leaving out details and giving the distinct impression there was no further contact after the initial confrontation in the parking lot. You deliberately leave out that you did call the police and you leave out that the subject was interviewed and charged.

Then, based upon the responses to an intentional lack of detail and misleading post; you attempt to discredit and challenge the integrity of the law enforcement officers who did not respond to your liking.

This is intentional baiting and troll-like conduct.

It cannot and will not be tolerated on this forum.

You have received your warning to cease and desist from this type of pugnacious behavior or you WILL be shown the door.

[RoadKingTrooper]

LOL, after your second post I can see why he was upset.

Sorry you didn't get the answer you feel you so deserved but.................you.............LOL

Adam Henry, you get what you pay for!

[ParadeRest]

Parking lot fights are kind of like drunken bar fights. Neither the police nor courts take them seriously.

[CCBlueMan]

You have received your warning to cease and desist from this type of pugnacious behavior or you WILL be shown the door.

Pugnacious . . . that there is what I call a "fertalizer word." Fertalizer is a fancy word for sh** and just makes sentences grow!!

[PapaBear]

Truth is, cops make their own interpretations and no I didn't flip him off (which the guy even admitted I didn't, at least one cop here has accused me of lying, interesting) but even if I did, gives no one the right to touch anyone. The guy admitted to knocking off my hat to the police who I DID call because the guy came back into the store after he left and taunted me again.

You, sir, are but a fleeting moment in my lifetime. I will repost my statement for you to re-read:

The funny thing is I interpreted your statement, "...I waved at him as to say what is the problem..." to mean you probably flipped him off!

Just ignore idiots like him. It does no-one any good to get all tensed up and bullish over insignificant actions.

Now, read it over again! Where does it say I called you a liar? It does not! However, I will now say that you are a liar because you choose to bloviate and misinterpret the words of another.

I would venture to say that you were about to wet your pants when the guy accosted you. You were not calm, you were not level headed and you probably allowed your mouth to overcome your Twinkie self!

In CA you would have been justified to overcome his aggression through a reasonable amount of retort! He knocked your hat off and you have the right to defend yourself if you fear further aggression is immediate and forthcoming. However, once the two of you separated and went on your way, it was over! No further action could be taken. Without a positive identification, no officer in CA would bother to take a report for the incident without making the conclusion that it was a mutually initiated action.

Now, re-read my quote above and pay particular attention to the final statement. That sums up my recommendations to you concerning that incident.

To address your attitude in here, I find it totally unacceptable. If you are not succinct in your description of an incident, you leave yourself open to criticism, correction or demeaning comments.

I suggest you take leave of these sacred forums while you still have some semblance of humility.

Bye, bye!

p.s. Argument is spelled without the 'e' and there are a number of additional spelling errors in your posts. Try proof reading!