On my way home from work today I was exiting from US 20 onto County Road 17 in Elkhart. I started to make the turn, but had to go from a rolling stop to a complete stop because another car came out of no where. No big deal, there wasnt anyone following to close behind me. About 2 seconds later, BAM! My car was rear-ended. He never attempted to stop, and I had been completely stopped for a couple seconds.
We get out to look at the damage. The guy gets a nervous look in his eye when I step out of my car OCing. His car was pretty much untouched. He approaches (I watched him cautiously) and looks at it and states that mine isnt that bad. He then says "I wanna be up front witch-you, I dont got insurance right now". I replied "Well, sorry, but you are F*****. I have to report this".
He begs, offers me cash (he had none, but insisted that someone could bring me cash, lots of it, in 5 minutes). I continue to look at the damage. Its still not bad, so I am trying to figure out just how much he intends to pay me, and if that would cover the damage, deflation, and his "idiot tax". I realize the frame is bent a little, so its no dice. I tell him I am reporting it. He insists he can hammer that right now. No way!
When I got out of my phone to call the police, he went from begging to anger. He was smacking his car, swearing, etc. I stepped back behind my car (not in it, it was hot, the battery is in the trunk and got jarred and wouldnt start). I kept a firing grip on it the entire time, he was that upset. I was especially worried when he started digging in his car and came back with a small knife and a screw driver. Turns out he was just fiddling with his damage. I call dispatch, explain what happened, and I note "Please advice the responding officer that I am legally carrying a firearm". Dispatcher said she would.
Twenty minutes later, Officer Ahlersmeyer with the Elkhart Sheriff's Department shows up. He takes no notice to me or my OC and talks with the other guy first. When he comes to talk to me, I hold out my drivers license, and my LTCH. He replied "Thanks, dont need this" and hands my LTCH back. He said nothing about my pistol, so I fetched my registration.
The story pretty much ends here. He handled it as if it was any other accident, and it made no difference that I was carrying. He didnt attempt to verify my LTCH, run numbers on my pistol, ask me to put it in my car, unload it, sweep a school bus with the barrel, nothing. It sat in my holster where it belonged. Very professional, and a great encounter. I will be writing a letter praising him, and if anyone else feels this was a good turn out, send one mentioning you heard about this and you thought he did a good job. Good officers need praise just as much as bad officers need to be reported.
Well, I am off. If something doesnt seem quite right, let me know and I will correct errors next time I am in. I am posting on Ambian right now, so.... Oh, keep it civil. I want this not to be locked by the time I read it. Mods, can you help this happen? Thanks all!
We get out to look at the damage. The guy gets a nervous look in his eye when I step out of my car OCing. His car was pretty much untouched. He approaches (I watched him cautiously) and looks at it and states that mine isnt that bad. He then says "I wanna be up front witch-you, I dont got insurance right now". I replied "Well, sorry, but you are F*****. I have to report this".
He begs, offers me cash (he had none, but insisted that someone could bring me cash, lots of it, in 5 minutes). I continue to look at the damage. Its still not bad, so I am trying to figure out just how much he intends to pay me, and if that would cover the damage, deflation, and his "idiot tax". I realize the frame is bent a little, so its no dice. I tell him I am reporting it. He insists he can hammer that right now. No way!
When I got out of my phone to call the police, he went from begging to anger. He was smacking his car, swearing, etc. I stepped back behind my car (not in it, it was hot, the battery is in the trunk and got jarred and wouldnt start). I kept a firing grip on it the entire time, he was that upset. I was especially worried when he started digging in his car and came back with a small knife and a screw driver. Turns out he was just fiddling with his damage. I call dispatch, explain what happened, and I note "Please advice the responding officer that I am legally carrying a firearm". Dispatcher said she would.
Twenty minutes later, Officer Ahlersmeyer with the Elkhart Sheriff's Department shows up. He takes no notice to me or my OC and talks with the other guy first. When he comes to talk to me, I hold out my drivers license, and my LTCH. He replied "Thanks, dont need this" and hands my LTCH back. He said nothing about my pistol, so I fetched my registration.
The story pretty much ends here. He handled it as if it was any other accident, and it made no difference that I was carrying. He didnt attempt to verify my LTCH, run numbers on my pistol, ask me to put it in my car, unload it, sweep a school bus with the barrel, nothing. It sat in my holster where it belonged. Very professional, and a great encounter. I will be writing a letter praising him, and if anyone else feels this was a good turn out, send one mentioning you heard about this and you thought he did a good job. Good officers need praise just as much as bad officers need to be reported.
Well, I am off. If something doesnt seem quite right, let me know and I will correct errors next time I am in. I am posting on Ambian right now, so.... Oh, keep it civil. I want this not to be locked by the time I read it. Mods, can you help this happen? Thanks all!
just kidding. Glad to hear the deputy acted so well.
