So I was followed home by a maniac. Time to buy a dash cam.

"TheBaron2112" (TheBaron2112)
04/13/2014 at 15:17 • Filed to: None

So I'm on my way back home from church/lunch and I turn on to the road my apartment is on. It's a well-traveled road and has a good bit of traffic. Speed limit is 40. People routinely go faster.

I leave the light to turn on to my road and am behind a green Nissan Sentra. The guy is obviously in no hurry, as he's doing about 35 mph. As I am accustomed to these situations, I get closer to him. There's about a car length between us. Then I see his lights flickering. He's tapping his brakes. At this point, we're down to about 32. We're crossing a dam and there's no one in front of him. He speeds back up to around 37 and I follow suit. Then he gives me the finger.

I smile and wave.

Speed continues to float between 35 and 37 with moments of brake tapping on his end. Whatever. I'm almost to my apartment complex. We pass the speed limit sign. "40" it says. He points wildly, indicating to me what I already know. I point at the sign also, meaning to say "you are going too slow. Be a Nashvillian and drive 5 over like everyone else. You have 3-5 mph more that you could be traveling."

I turn on my blinker and begin my merge into the turn lane to my apartment.

He brakes and swings over into the turn lane without signalling. He turns into the drive and sort of half blocks it and slams on his brakes. I have to do a little maneuver to get around him and I notice that he's rolled his window down. Obviously, he wishes to chat.

Fuck that. I drive through the open gate to go home.

And he pulls in behind me.

At this point, I begin to worry. I haven't ever noticed his car before and he didn't enter the turn lane or complex in such a way that everyone else does. I don't think he lives here at this point. So I drive to my apartment and half think about parking. But there's not really anyone around, so I drive around my complex, which is a big loop. And he follows me. I keep making the loop and half think about flooring it and getting the hell out of there trying to lose him. But I make the loop and stop at a stop sign. I decided to park, get out, and if he confronts me, then fine. I'll see what happens.

So I turn from the stop sign and park in a spot near my building. The intersection and his car is roughly 25 feet from where I park. I shut off my car and look over at him, expecting him to get out of the car or pull in behind me and block me. I don't know. I was ready for a confrontation.

But he pulls away and exits my complex.

He did not live here.

So now I'm high on adrenaline and really think I need to buy a dash cam to document this insanity. I'm hoping that the facts of what he was doing—following a man into his home, expecting something—hit him and he realized it wasn't a good idea. I'm VERY MUCH hoping he isn't planning to come back and do something now that he knows roughly where I live.

In my haste, I was unable to get his plate number. But he was driving a teal Nissan Sentra on Davidson County plates.

DISCUSSION (18)

CPT Speedbump > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 15:21

Maybe call the cops non-emergency number and let them know about it? just in case?

wkiernan > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 15:23

Be glad you don't live in Florida; they've legalized murder down here.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 15:24

I smile and wave.

I point at the sign also,

This is where you fucked up.

TheBaron2112 > CPT Speedbump
04/13/2014 at 15:26

The cops won't do anything. They've got bigger problems than slow pokes that get mad at people wanting to drive the speed limit.

CAcoalminer > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 15:26

"At this point, we're down to about 42."

I'm not trying to be rude but I think you mean 32 here.

TheBaron2112 > vdub_nut: scooter snob
04/13/2014 at 15:27

You did get to the part where he followed me into the gated complex where I live and essentially chased me as I drove around it, right?

If my sarcasm warrants that, I question the direction of your moral compass.

Singhjr96 > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 15:27

Well you shouldn't have parked right in front of your own house. That way if he does come back, you're waiting across the lot with a gun for him to break into that house. lol. But yeah that is pretty fucking crazy. If he comes back, I would call the cops, if he tries coming in, I would shoot him. That's exactly why you should keep a gun in your glove, or a safe box under the seat.

TheBaron2112 > CAcoalminer
04/13/2014 at 15:28

I did, thank you.

AthomSfere > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 15:30

I don't think he was going at moral compass. What better way to flip a switch in a nutjob than sarcastically call them out on where they are wrong.

CPT Speedbump > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 15:34

I mean if something happens to your car in parking lot, they'd already know of a possible suspect then

TheBaron2112 > CPT Speedbump
04/13/2014 at 15:36

True. I regret not getting his license.

There's a police man in the complex here. I may let him know.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 15:36

I...? Yes..? I read and understood the whole thing, but imitating someone who is trying to tell you something is often seen as mocking, and escalates the situation. People have no idea what your intentions are when you start waving your hands around, unless you've just done them a favor and they are waving "thank you". Nearly every other hand gesture on the road is akin to "I will fuck you up so bad your unborn children will feel it. You are a disgrace to the gene pool."

CAcoalminer > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 15:36

You're welcome.

jkm7680 > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 15:38

Glad you got out of it unscathed.

There are some really mentally unstable people roaming around the streets, unpredictable too.

George McNally > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 15:54

I have a dashcam....not too sure that woulda helped other then to get his license plate later on playback.

I also carry a large canister of bear spray gel in my center console....I would have backed into a space, got the spray and waited at the front of my car (in view of the dashcam) and waited for the guy to do something.

You can't really provoke him or even say anything to him, but if he advances toward you in a threatening manner.....hose that bad boy down with bear spray and then run like hell.

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 16:13

when ever I get a bad feeling about a car, in front or behind me, I always turn down the street after mine then double back. Also what helps is I have really good aftermarket brakes (332mm stoptechs) so I can duck into a side street faster then other cars can react.

Aaron James > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 16:44

Simply for the sake of argument, 40 is the maximum speed permitted by law, not the minimum. I used to get all worked up about it too but I'm an adult now and simply have better things to get worked up about than someone wanting to actually obey the law.

dr861 > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 21:05

Sorry man, that sounds scary as shit. If it makes you feel any better, most sentra drivers are generally VERY unstable people.