Running into Neighborhood Watch

Originally posted ??? This was my original log for "First Snow". I eventually changed it, but I wanted the cache owner to see what his neighbors were doing.

Near the end of my Muck-A-Thon I went to these two last caches. I was trying to find a way in and I drove down Grove(?)St. I realized it was a dead end and I didn't feel like bushwhacking as it was getting dark. So I turned around and pulled off to the side of the road to check my navigation system to see if there was an easier way. I had passed by a car when I was coming in and the guy in the car looked at me funny and I guess he turned around and followed me because as I was sitting there looking at my Maggie, he pulled up alongside of me REAL close and asked me what I was doing. He looked like an off-duty officer but he had this little yippy dog next to him, so I rethought that. The conversation went like this (verbatim, almost):

"What are you doing on this street?"
"I got a little turned around and think I took the wrong road."
"Well, what address are you looking for?"
"No address, sir, I was trying to find a location."
"Well we have had a lot of problems with people on this street and I figured I would talk to you before I sent a squad car."(At this point I took him for a neighborhood watch wannabe and decided to have some fun)
"Oh, not me, sir. I am just playing a game and went down the wrong street. I do not want to cause any trouble are you a police officer? Maybe you can help me."
"Yes, I can help you. What are you looking for?"
"Are you a police officer?"
"Where are you going?"
"Are you a police officer?"
"Well, no, but I can help you find what you are looking for."
"Are you neighborhood watch?"
"Well, yes. We have had a lot of trouble with kids playing around down here."
"And is this a public street?"
"Well, yes."
"Is it illegal to be here?"
"Well, no..."
"And the end of this road, is it private property?"
"Well...I....uh....I am not sure."
"Then why are you stopping me like you are a police officer and in charge of this neighborhood?"
"I, uh, am worried, uh, about all the, uh, kids hanging down here."
"Are they your kids?"
"No."
"Are they on your property?"
"No but they are suspicious."
"Suspicious, how?"
"They park here and walk in past the dead end."(I love when an interrogation turns tables, don't you?)
And then he gets a little smart.
"Why are YOU asking me questions? Who do you think you are?"
"Nobody, sir. I am just playing a game. Looking for an area. I turned into what obviously is the wrong road and I pull over to get directions from my navigation system and get pinned in by you and interrogated like I am doing something wrong. Please, sir, call a squad car. First thing I will do is show him the same thing I am going to show you and then I will tell him how much you frightened me by blocking me in and asking me all kinds of questions. I thought I was in danger. (at this point I picked up my cell phone) You know what, never mind. Maybe I will call a patrol car instead. By the way, only people who watch too much TV actually call them squad cars out here."
"No, I mean, you don't have to, what do you mean, danger, frightened, SHOW HIM WHAT?"
So I showed him my badge.
"Oh, I am sorry. I mean I wasn't...oh, never mind."
And off he went.Know this is long, but the point I am trying to make is that I don't think this is the right way in. So don't attempt. I drove around and thought maybe I could get in from the WMA but it was after dark and I didn't think you could be there after dark. I didn't want to break any rules, ya know. After all, I haven't been a cop for 10 years.(plus the rental might not have made it down those roads!)