Off to Jackson later this morning to visit my favorite red head and pick up our favorite granddaughter. It will be a flying trip, and we will be back late Saturday.
I don't usually go into things that really disturb me - personally, politically, or otherwise. Today, however, I want to relate a disturbing incident that occurred on Wed. at our Tai Chi in the park session. A woman walking a dog approached us and said she was from out of town and didn't know what to do about what she had just seen - a man molesting a child. I started to the car to get my cell when Thomas handed me his after dialing 911. They connected me to the Shreveport police, and I related a disjointed account, asking the woman questions, and then as we walked up the hill, reporting what everyone was saying about his movements. There were 3 cars searching for them in no time. Today, Beth sent a link to a KTBS news article reporting on the man's arrest. They are investigating him in connection to other incidents.
Oh Jen, this IS upsetting, but at least they got him. Good for you for taking quick action. Jen
ReplyDeleteyesterday a man was arrested from our apartment complex...he was wanted in another state. he had 20 computers with over 200,000 child pornography images on them. it is so disturbing and unsettling. hangeth in and enjoy Mila to pieces.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness you did something. So often we pass by on the other side of the street.
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness Jen ... thank goodness the lady did have the sense to report it and action was taken right away ... whatever is wrong with people!
ReplyDeleteSandy
Jen, I just noticed the quote under your blog title...I've never noticed it before. Has it always been there or is this a recent tribute to the beloved Friedan?
ReplyDeleteMary, I think the woman was somewhat stunned. The man was immediately straightening clothes and then TRIED TO ENGAGE HER IN CONVERSATION. I'm not sure what I would have done and have thought about it quite a bit. At the time, she didn't know we were right over the hill. Could she have gone up and tried to take the child away? I never saw the man except from a distance and have no idea how he might have reacted to a physical response. She did stop what was going on.
ReplyDeleteAll of us were a bit stunned as well, and although we reacted as quickly as possible, we weren't confronted with the situation as she was. The entire event from the time she saw him, approached us, and the call was made to the police... was probably less than 3-4 minutes.
Still, I've seriously tried to imagine what I would have done had I been alone and can truthfully say that one of the first things I thought was "I'm glad I wasn't the one who actually saw it." I am glad we were there to help. Reading about things like this or seeing it in the paper just don't carry the "slap in the face" impact we all felt, and we didn't face it personally.
If I made it seem as if she wasn't concerned and just mentioned it in passing, that was my failing. She was most upset and seemed threatened by his attempt to approach her. We never found out all of the details because we were immediately involved with the call to the police and trying to keep track of his escape. We didn't join her when the police came because we weren't actual witnesses. Beth told them she had seen the man in the area before, but we were then left to hear about his capture in the news.
What a horrible disturbing experience Jenclair. It's such a base gut churning event that I wouldn't be surprised if it knocked the wind out of your sails. Thankfully you were actually able to do something positive. Warmest hugs for a recharge of batteries.
ReplyDeleteOhmigoodness! How horrible! I'm glad you were able to help do something to catch him!
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