Scary night while jogging

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ccsniper

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I started a thread a while back about my age and not being old enough to carry legally while I went jogging, you can read about that here http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=451731

Well tonight was pretty scary for me for about 2 full minutes. I was doing my usual cool down walk around the park along this one side that goes alongside the road for about 250 yards. As I was walking I was carrying my 2d cell maglite as advised in the other thread. Now it is late, about 1:30 am, and I am the only person on the track (work schedule only allows me to run this late, 3 jobs). Well this car pulls onto the road that passes this park and as soon as it gets up to where I am it slows down, kinda driving alongside me. Of course I get a little nervous and grab the handle of the maglite a little tighter. The car follows me like this for about 20 feet then drives off. I went ahead and made up my mind this would be my last time around. As I was walking towards the parking lot I noticed the same car parked in front of the bathrooms. I just simply stop and get ready to go the opposite direction when this guy about my height and weight pops out from behind it and says "hey stop!" I turn my light on right in his face and yell pretty loud "WHAT DO YOU WANT!". At this point he says "what are you doing out here this late?" I then realize he is wearing a uniform and turns out he is some kind of rent a cop. "Just running like I always do" (this is kind of a lie, I haven't had time to run in about 4 months). He asks "what is that maglite for?" I simply tell him it is to help me see the path and it gets pretty dark in some parts of the park and I would hate to run up on a skunk or rabid raccoon. He says have a good night and leaves. I got home as fast as possible. So go ahead and criticize me and let me know how bad I did. I honestly was scared to death when I saw that car in the parking lot. I wish Arkansas would allow me to carry a handgun at my age (20) although I think the moment he came out from behind the bathroom I would've drawn, I wouldn't have shot him but definitely would've had the gun in my hand. He scarred me ghost white right there.
 
I'm not sure what sort of criticism you're begging to have heaped on. Since the situation you described was never a danger to you, and despite this (or rather, because of it) everything turned out okay, there's really not much to add.

Honestly, there's been a rash of these threads in recent months, in which OPs talk about a "potentially dangerous" situation that was never a threat, and then ask for tips on surviving the impending threat that never was. Really, if you felt threatened/scared, you could have just gone ahead and called the cops when you returned to the parking lot to find the car there. But since there was no threat, that really wasn't a necessity. Get what I'm saying? No threat = no kinetic response required.

Bottom line - you did good.
 
I just figured I would ask what yall thought. I figure that a situation like this could have went somewhere bad no matter if I was carrying or not. It just freaked me out quita bit.
 
How about you listen to your instincts and gotten the heck out of there, instead of waiting until things got scary?

Also, I would not have drawn.
 
2D maglite? I like the 4D maglite in silver.
City parks in my state all close at dusk. Misdemeanor to jog at dark. I always assumed the rule had to do with car-less teenagers looking for a place to hang out. City employees chain and unchain the car gates (and empty the trash cans), I'd guess the 'rent a cop' was actually a city employee charged with running teens off.
 
How about you listen to your instincts and gotten the heck out of there, instead of waiting until things got scary?

Also, I would not have drawn.
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I was on my way of doing that, and did that right after I talked to the guy.
 
only thought i had when i read your story was that if you think something is up call 911 police are here to serve and protect and your local police i am sure wouldn't have a problem making sure everything is ok. It sounds like the securityguy while probably not trying to, was looking suspect.
 
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only thought i had when i read your story was that if you think something is up call 911 police are here to serve and protect and your local police i am sure wouldn't have a problem making sure everything is ok. It sounds like the securityguy while probably not trying to, was looking suspect.
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I would have if I thought they would've even shown up. My house has been broken into 3 different times, we called the cops to come look at it and make a report and 2 of the times didn't even show. I have a respect for law enforcement officers but some of them around here are just plain jerks. My neighbor has had his car broken into twice this month and the cops told him they were not even gonna come by because the damage had already been done and that he should come into the station to make a report.
 
I wish Arkansas would allow me to carry a handgun at my age (20) although I think the moment he came out from behind the bathroom I would've drawn, I wouldn't have shot him but definitely would've had the gun in my hand.
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Would have drawn? I think that's a really bad plan. A guy in the park late (same as you) doesn't make him an imminent threat. Especially in this situation, he's security, and if he's armed, it could turn disastrous for both of you.

Les
 
As a fellow runner (I run in good neighborhood). I get chased by dogs constantly since people are irresponsible and my first instinct is always run away. Why would you stop and investigate a threat when ur jogging alone and you can most likely eayily outrun them (not like your in ur home protecting your family, self, and livelihood)
If its that bad dnt run there, I kno its ur right but that's life. You could always buy a treadmill it saves loads of time because you can run whenver you want for any length of time. I see that as your best option, especially due to time constraints.
 
Why would you stop and investigate a threat when ur jogging alone and you can most likely eayily outrun them
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not sure what you mean, I didn't stop and investigate anything I was on my last lap walking as my cool down.
 
scare

Last cooldown lap? You could'va modified your protocol and sprinted away - that certainly would've been a prudent option. Having not done that indicates a trining/judgement deficiency.
You were aware the park was deserted at that hour, that you were defenseless, had some predisposition to panic, and no plan.
It's fortunate you were unarmed. You' were not, and from the sound of it, still are not, ready to carry a gun.
 
I don't see where you did anything wrong. Only your level of anxiety was "wrong," as some have said, it's good you didn't have a gun. Treat this as a learning experience and I'm sure you'll do better next time. It's good to know security makes patrols of the park.
 
the corner stone of personal safety....

The corner stone of personal safety is, imho, making heads up decisions about risk management.

Some examples...

If you want to drastically increase your odds of getting hit by a drunk driver, make sure you're out late on New Years Eve.

If you want to drastically increase your odds of getting into a fight with a group of drunk men, hang out in biker bars late at night all by yourself wearing a "rice burners rule" T-shirt.

If you want to drastically increase your odds of falling off a mountain to you death below, take up solo rock climbing with no safety lines.

Understanding, respecting and avoiding situations that drastically increase you risk of having a problem, will go a lot further than any self defense training, weapon or light.
 
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When I still exercised, I tried to avoid places like that, I mainly ran in the neighborhood or on the sidewalk of lighted streets I knew. I didn't like the park because when I ran either a bunch of teenies were hanging out or the bums would show up, nice guys, depending how (or not) drunk they were, otherwise they would be belligerent or begging for more money. If I ran after dark I stayed to the neighborhood with reflective gear, lots of nice slow roads.
 
OP: You should look up the case of a guy named Harold Fish.

What we know is that he was out in the sticks hiking and killed another man.

Fish says he was out hiking, and this other guy was down the road, and sicked his dogs on him, then went running towards fish screaming, unarmed. Fish said he feared for his life, shot at the dogs, then shot at him. He killed the guy.

The victim's family says he was out with his dogs, they went running to see the stranger coming. They say he went chasing after his dogs to keep them from bothering the guy.

If you ask me, I think a paranoid guy got trigger happy and killed someone who was trying to catch up with his runaway dogs. I know my dog got off the leash once and went running after someone down the sidewalk. Fortunately I lived to tell the tale, and my dog just wanted to say hi to the person anyway.

But, regardless of what happened, what we do know is that Mr. Fish is sitting in prison, and probably will be for a very long time. I'm sure he's also mulling over the possibility that he will be living with the guilt of possibly killing someone for no reason.
 
ccsniper,

Hello from a fellow Arkansan Go HOGS!!

The good thing is you won't have to wait much longer to get your CHL here. :cool:

I think you did fine and that would have freaked me out as well. I would try to pick a better time to go jogging or just work your cardio indoors if that's the only option. Not much good happens that time of night around here and you know that.

The guy asked you what the flashlight was for when you were out that late?? WTH??? Was he challenged or something? :D
 
The time change messes with a lot of people who exercise in parks, me included.

I bought a jump rope so I don't have to be out running in the neighborhood at night or worry about being in a closed park at dusk when "observe and report" decides I need to be rousted from the park pursuant to local regs.

Try a rope in your driveway. I've been doing double unders and all sorts of stuff. Good core and leg workouts for sure. No one will roust you from your own space and you'll be safe.
 
Don't know what that neighborhood is like but if you'd been where I live, I would think you were paranoid. Headlights was a prudent move once he called out to you :)
 
paranoia.

if you can´t handle this without a gun - a gun won´t help.
 
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