Thursday, January 15, 2009

Problem with the Police

So I told you all I would tell you about the problem I had with the police while running. You can tell me if it's creepy or not.

I normally take the same route when running a 3-5 miler by my house. It's all on surface streets and it's a giant square if I'm running the 5 miles, and if I'm running the three miles, then I cut through the park. Christmas Eve was out for a five miler and saw a police car right when I came out of my neighborhood. My town is small so the police don't have too much to patrol, but still I thought it was odd that he was right outside my street. So I take off, and I see him driving towards me once I turn the corner. Then I see him again over by the high school, but give him the benefit of the doubt that he's patrolling the school.

I've now seen him three times in a matter of roughly 10 minutes. I think this is starting to be odd. I go for a while pondering what a police officer is doing at 7:30 am, that I've seen him this often. I turn another corner and there he is again. Now I'm counting the times I've seen him in my head and realize I've seen him four times, and that I'm running in a different city than I live in. He's outside his patrol area! I realize it's creepy and turn the straight away home. About half a mile away from my house I see a black and white car waiting at the stoplight that I will have to cross. HIM AGAIN!? What is the world coming too. He turned left before I ever got to the light, but still when I got home, I wondered why he was creeping around so much, and seemed to be on every route I took. Odd but I let it go and forgot about it by end of the day.

(the map below shows the locations I spotted him at along my route, hence the disguise is where I saw him and the red path was the path I was running)

Photobucket

New Years Eve rolls around. I'm back from Mr. R's house and decide to hit the streets for a five miler, same path. Well I start off and as soon as I cross the street there's a cop driving toward me. I immediately remember my encounter the week before. I see him almost twice in five minutes. Then I go about two miles and forget he was even creeping, until I see him again about half way through. Driving towards me AGAIN. Then I turn two corners, and he drives past me, and then, this is SUPER creepy, but does a really slow u-turn, and I feel like he's going to ask me a question he pulls so close to the sidewalk. The entire time I'm completely aware of what is going on, but also ignoring him and all these weird moves he's making. So I am about 800 meters away from my house and I see him pulled up at a light I'm running toward. He turns left, and I assume he's gone for good and I can finish my run in peace. What I didn't know was that after making a left he turned into the parking lot of the 7-11 and then was pulling out right as I ran past the driveway, almost hitting me. Yes, the COP wasn't paying attention and almost ran me over. Great. (the 7-11 is where the little bottle is on the map)

Photobucket

If this isn't creepy I don't know what is. What happened to protect and serve, not freak the community out. I'm just trying to get some exercise in! Sheesh people! Hope you don't have cops stalking you!

xoxo

PS. All you cold weather runners. I have a friend @ Wearing Mascara who is looking for a guest blogger to talk about running in the cold. I am not running in cold weather. To me it's cold, to the rest of the world it's not. If you'd like to help out please shoot me an email at danicakoo@gmail.com. Thanks!

40 comments:

No Longer Using said...

BIZARRE like omc style whooaa. it was the same guy both times? the only thing i can think of is that he is "watching out" for you, having nothing better to do, but then almost hitting you sort of spoils that theory. hmm.

Kim said...

Be careful. If this happens again, see if it's the same guy. If it is-you may want to do something about it. Doesn't seem quite right.

Kelly said...

He probably thinks you're hot. Try bending over to "tie your shoe" and see if he crashes into a tree.

Unknown said...

OMG that is totally creepy! Coincidental... maybe but probably not. Keep your eye on that guy! Not all cops are good!

With Love from New Orleans said...

Definitely weird!!! I would take down his plate number just in case.. I am sure you are fine.. but still very very odd...

Janice {Run Far} said...

way creepy. When I am out running, if I see someone more then once, I get all freaked out. I always carry pepper spray with me.

Shorty said...

I'm creeped out, too. Maybe he's one of those idiots who thinks you'll like the attention. It probably wouldn't hurt to call the precinct and just ask who patrols at those times. Maybe if you got his name YOU could stop HIM, call him by name, freak HIM out a bit, and ask him what's up with trying to scare you. Keep us posted!

audgepodge said...

I agree with the others - try to take note of the plates and see if it's the same guy. There are a lot of creepy people out there! I'm really glad you're moving to a new area. For now, you might want to change up the routine... either take a different route or run at different times or something.

Brooke said...

Trust your gut. If you think something's a little off about this, then you're right.

Marlene said...

Oh man, that is SUPER creepy. I have to say, though, I like your little maps.

Hopefully this guy won't find you at your new home!

Marcy said...

After I read this I thought of that movie with Ray Liotta and Kurt Russell. Was is Unlawful Entry? You know, the creepy cop (Ray) that stalks Kurt Russell's wife in the movie. CREEPY CREEPY CREEPY!! Be careful girly!! Seriously!

Glenn Jones said...

Are you sure he's a real cop and not a rent-a-cop? Was he from the city you were running in? You've moved now right?

Wow - scary....

Candice said...

This is definitely super creepy! And if you need affirmation that it doesn't seem right then here it is. If you weren't moving this weekend I would say you should def. do something about it. Since you're moving, though, I guess the problem will take care of itself! If I were you I don't know if I'd run that path by myself again...but I am usually pretty paranoid!

BTW....love the maps!:)

J said...

wow that is super creepy!! Get the license plate number or number on his car if you see him again while running and call the police station or something!!

wearingmascara said...

Hey girlie! Thank you for posting about my guest blogger need haha... I think I have some good options now (thanks to your post). Xoxo!

j

Jodi said...

bahahahaha I LOVE the maps! He was for sure checking you out! What else do cops in LP have to do? It was a sheriff, right? Your city can't have its own PD, it's too small.
Oh and if you're going to hunt him down, get his UNIT number, not his license plate. C'mon people.

The Laminator said...

Sheesh, that is super creepy. If it happens again, I think you need to snap a photo and do some investigative work of your own.

I like your pictures and diagrams...totally made the story a little more mysterious!

Mollie said...

Oh my goodness! I hope this problem doesn't persist. That's scary! I definitely need some advice about running in the cold... right now there's a wind chill of -3 outside!

Sara said...

very creepy ... i would take a different route if i were you! (and write down the car's plate #s.) it sounds totally sketch!

Aron said...

yikes that is creepy :( i would like to say he is just making sure you are safe running by yourself but EEK.

~Mrs. Guru~ said...

Hmm that is beyond freaky!You are nicer then me. I would have called the cops and told them what was going on.

Unknown said...

It's so cheap how could he refuse! LOL

rinusrunning said...

Thats not normal and in the Netherlands(dutch) the police have a problem when a policeman do that!.
Better to see his nummerplate off his car and tell that to a higer police cop.
This things never happens in the Netherlands becouse the policaman have ni job any more.
Rinus.
www.rinusrunning.punt.nl

Denise said...

Ok, while I love the maps, that is really creepy! Just because someone is a police officer doesn't mean they aren't insane...

geesh. Sorry, didn't want to freak you out more, but it's true!

Anonymous said...

That is really weird. Make sure you run with a cell phone and make sure someone knows the route you are running on.

Run Mommy said...

It doesnt seem right to me either...I would maybe call someone on it.

Stuart said...

Very odd, get his car # and try and note the times you spot him, hopefully not, the next time.

Thinking about your toes, well not really but you know what I mean, try Injinji socks, they might help?

BeachRunner said...

It's creepy, fo sho. What a loser. But the world is filled with oddballs and creeps. Most likely he is just one super creepy and bored dude who would rather watch a pretty girl run than do his boring patrol. Be safe and remain alert, but I dont think you have to worry about him too much.

Vava said...

That is at the very least bizarre, and quite creepy indeed. I don't know what I would do if it kept happening. Stop and call the cop out ("Excuse me, but your patrolling is freaking me out!") or take note of the car's number and call the station with an anonymous complaint about this patrol car.

Anyway, hope it resolves. Maybe this cop is really just looking out for the community, not realizing that he is creepy.

X-Country2 said...

Yeah, you need to get the plates or something and give the local precinct a call. He really should have better stuff to do.

Fantastic visual aids! The glasses cracked me up. :o)

Anonymous said...

that is a weiiirdd story! WHAT A CREEPER! glad youre moving!

Jess said...

Wow that is definitely creepy. I'm glad you're moving. If not I'd totally tell you to file a complaint or something.

ilovesteaks said...

I have a weird cop story as well. I used to run 5 miles (2 laps around a park) at around 6:30pm when it's already dark. Then one night a cop decides to follow me for those 2 laps. I first saw him (don't know for sure if it was a guy cop) in the parking lot. Then I saw him taking the black and white through the park all the while within an earshot of me. Who knows maybe he was just keeping an eye on me. All I know was that it did make me run a tad faster... I guess it's a natural instinct to run from the police! haha

Tara Gibson said...

oh my goodness! I would so be freaked out! Be careful out there!!!!

Laurel said...

What kind of weird movements was he making? That is so weird!

Please be careful. I have heard some weird stories and some of them have involved cops. just sayin...

Mrs. Classic said...

Haha so funny! I got "pulled over" one night in high school for running at about 11pm. The cop asked "are you sure you weren't at a party?" my response was "yeah these are my party clothes!" silly cops!!
If you see him again I would get his attention and talk to him and see what he is up to.

Julianne said...

Omg, are you serious?? I'm so creeped out for you. Yikes! Running with a cell phone or with a buddy sounds like a good idea...

The Boring Runner said...

wow. That is your tax dollars at work!

Julie {Angry Julie Monday} said...

Very odd.....I actually work in law enforcement in Orange County.

I would note the Unit Number on the vehicle, not the plate. Cops take a different car every time.

You can always call his Watch Commander and complain....

Eric said...

Sounds like someone has a crush.....a very creep, inappropriate crush!!!