Get cameras for your home and cars. They are too cheap and easy to use now so there's no excuse not to have them. They make a much better witness than a human in most cases.
Teach you family members better situational awareness.
I don't really blame the cops for not taking this event as described and running with it. Due to the way laws are written and world application of those laws, lack of a real threat and any injury, this would be a hard one to prosecute.
Yes, the perp is probably a scumbag, I'm sure it was a wake call to both you and your son and maybe that's the best that will happen from this.

Exterior cameras through the security system are on the list. Dash cams are something to consider. He's learned a lot from this, so yes that's a good thing.

quote:

I told my son that the first rule is never to engage.

I might amend this rule on how to engage.
Sometimes total pacification does not always end well.
Just a thought.

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:

You have to be pretty stupid to follow a kid home in Hendricks County and case the house when a parent is present after trying to enter an attached garage. We have some of the highest volume of gun dealers in the state within a few miles of my house, most people have a firearm of some kind, and many have carry permits, all elections are decided in the Republican primaries.

The crazy people from Indy are clueless.

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
Forceable entry into an occupied home is grounds for deadly force in Indiana. Strong arming a closing garage door so it reverses and reopens is not exactly "breaking and entering" but it is using force. Of course a garage is not the same as inside the house so that's another question.

Oddly, the last time I had to call police was 11 or 12 years ago on Good Friday when rich kids from a nearby subdivision vandalized my garage door, a neighbor's mailbox and some other stuff. They got caught too.

Sounds like you need a new garage door as this one is defective. It keeps inviting trouble!

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
I had 18 rounds of Sig at my side when I went outside with the Surefire.

Oh, come on man. What model Sig? Extra mags? Type and brand of holster?
We need the details... don't leave us hanging!

I use to live in Avon, IN- 6519 Oak Ridge Drive.

We moved around the time the government housing was going up behind the Home Depot. Shockingly the most of the banks needed to add security guards and the one quality liquor store on Rockville road was robbed.

I’m not surprised about the first encounter- theft; however the perp must have been on something or out there to come to a home in Hendricks County as the OP said. Great way to get your dance card punched.

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
Somewhere along the way he stopped and the suspect approached my son's car and told him to give him the fuzzy dice hanging from his rear view mirror and then $40, which my son only had $26 that he gave up, not wanting any trouble.

What was his reason for stopping in the first place

quote:

the perp must have been on something or out there to come to a home in Hendricks County as the OP said. Great way to get your dance card punched.

Emboldened jackals. They are led to believe that if they act 'as if', boldness will be rewarded. In many cases, this has effectively been correct and their criminal 'assertiveness' has been rewarded. I wonder how many instances of this BS have gone completely unreported?

Para is absolutely right. Airborne, high speed, copper and lead are the answer.

One of the craziest, hardcore scumbags I ever went after was from.... Indy!

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:
Oh, come on man. What model Sig? Extra mags? Type and brand of holster?
We need the details... don't leave us hanging!

M17 Bravo with Delta Point Pro, Dawson Sights, TLR-7, and Wilson Carry grip module. HD gun I keep in the MBR in an electronic safe.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

quote:

I told my son that the first rule is never to engage.

I might amend this rule on how to engage.
Sometimes total pacification does not always end well.
Just a thought.

Point taken. I mean in a vehicle situation, do not stop, do not exit car, do not roll down window. Just keep driving to safety and call for help. If blocked by the other car, wait in car with doors locked until perp does something to justify self defense. If he tries to break into car, then drive, run him over, hit his car, whatever.

quote:

Originally posted by 9mmepiphany:
What was his reason for stopping in the first place

Just a 17 year old kid that has never seen any real trouble asking the other guy what's the deal, more or less after it's clear he was being followed into the subdivision from the main road. The other guy I think pulled up alongside. Yes, not the best thing to do, and that's my point above about not stopping to engage a follower or ask anything. Just drive to safety. As it is the guy almost got into my house by triggering the garage door reversal so it seems he was intent on something and only backed down when he knew I was there. Or just drugged out crazy stupid.

Even though the responding Patrolman was pretty useless, your lucky it’s Indiana, in the enlightened liberal utopias like Boston, Cambridge and New York City, had the disenfranchised gentleman from a different racial, socioeconomic and cultural background feel you called the police on him and he didn’t commit a crime or break the law, you could be facing hate crime charges. Accusing a dindu or likewise of a criminal activity and it not reaching the level of police action could bring criminal charges, civil rights charges and civil suits. They’re embolden beyond the protection afforded during the Krimson Kenyan’s reign of power. Today if the victim is Caucasian or looks Caucasian it’s ghetto lottery and out of jail free. The Police doesn’t matter what race it’s presumed all are racist even if of the same race. Teach your kid don’t stop, don’t talk, keep driving and don’t look back.

ask your son if the guy touched him in any way,

why?

years ago I was going after a shoplifter (I was store managment at the time) and he dropped his phone,

older white dude, but he spun around and grabbed the phone out of my hand,,,

grabbed the phone, barely touched me,

but the police successfully charged him with assault,
he did time for it

Glad to hear your son is ok but this is just pathetic in the officer's statement/demeanor. So your son had to be assaulted or threatened in order for something to happen? Having someone tell you to give them money or something from your vehicle is somehow ok? This world is getting worse and some people do seem emboldened to do what they want without repercussions from the "law". Then the audacity to come onto your property and do, who knows what he was going to do. Glad to hear you are all ok.

I believe I would contact my state legislators and tell them your story. It may or may not get something moving to correct the law.

"I was in fear for my life and I was forced to defend myself. I have nothing further to say until I am represented by an attorney."

Would I do that over fuzzy dice and $26? No.

Would I do that over violations of my property rights and right to come and go as I please? Possible.

At my age life imprisonment provides much less deterrence than it used to, and I have lost nearly all of my tolerance for other peoples' behaviors.

Some years ago we were down in Myrtle Beach at the end of summer. It was the first time we had been down there in a while, and it had changed significantly. There were panhandlers in front of convenience and gas stations and even drug and beach stores. Many were hanging out around store entrances and would step in front of people (usually women) and ask for money as they exited.
I had our two young sons in our 4-door truck and my wife wanted to go into this well-lit CVS pharmacy to pick up something before we went back to the hotel. It looked safe.
After she went inside two scruffy characters oozed from around the darker side of the store and began eyeing the cars parked in front- looking at the car door locks and contents. I had locked the truck doors as usual habit after the wife exited and one of the characters made a beeline for my driver’s door.

He began with “gimme some money, man” and as he kept repeating similar lines he raised his voice. I was watching the store door to make sure my wife did not approach while he was there and did not make eye contact. Next thing I know he is beating on the truck door yelling he wants money, and grabbing at the door handle.

It just so happened I did not have my usual carry on me- it was in my bag in the back floorboard. So I did the next best thing. I turned to look at him, unbuckled my seat belt and with exaggerated motions reached inside my coat to where my holster would normally be. As soon as he saw that movement- he immediately pivoted and moved away quickly back to the side of the building. He wasn’t some far-gone druggie, that was completely an act.

The security guard in the store escorted my wife back out to us and we got out of there.
Store security fellow said that these chaps had become more numerous and were occasionally quite aggressive, intimidating tourists and quite often scaring women. I asked a few people about it while there and they said quite often calling the police didn’t result in an arrest because of the “intimidation wasn’t robbery” scenario-

Sounds like a good use for pepper spray rinehart.

From the facts stated, a defense attorney could claim the guy was simply panhandling, and the items were given voluntarily. We know he was using intimidation but from the interaction the prosecutor would never be able to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt absent outright threats or application of force. The prosecutor should not ethically file a charge of robbery that he does not believe he can prove beyond a reasonable doubt and the officer knew that. A lesson learned.

He apparently marked him as an easy mark and followed him home, and that is what most concerns me. Good the officer made the trespass charge. If the thug comes back and you do need to use force that report and charge will go a long way in your favor. I would instruct your son to be vigilant and avoid the area. Recommendations for security cameras is a darn good idea.

Give him some pepper spray. If followed by another car tell him to roll his window down and let loose some pepper spray. It will get into the following car's ventilation system and cause the driver some problems. Then it's time to get to safety.

quote:

Originally posted by Krazeehorse:
Sounds like a good use for pepper spray rinehart.

You are right and it's a sad thing, innit?
It's just it's freakin Myrtle Beach...
I reckon these changes are everywhere-