I think January is "take your local LEO out to breakfast month". I might befriend an officer with some rank and experience, explain the situation and get some off the record and out of the office advice on how to proceed over coffee and an omlette. Some of my friends are cops and they can be very informative when things are on a personal and unofficial level.

My parents lived on an airpark in NorCal for 10 years and they had a similar guy. He was a FO with United and hated everybody except my parents. Lot's of yelling and threats went on along with a few low passes in his airplane to scare people. At some point he gave his Twin Beech a dirt bath but managed to walk away and moved off the hill shortly after.

Cash, If you do decide to give your crazy neighbor to Rick V, can I have the RV-7? :D

What a prick!

I agree - to threaten your dog - is to threaten your family. That is illegal and should never be tolerated - do what you have to - the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

I would meet with law enforcement (detective level) and present them with all the facts and copy of video.

Networking with all other neighbors might be a good idea as well. Give them the same info you provided law enforcement (maybe a link to that video uploaded to You Tube).

The only thing is......with dolts like this......you have to be careful because they are likely to become unhinged enough to try and poison your dog - burn your house down - shoot someone - who knows what else?!?

So in your documentation maybe you should include a statement such as "I don't want to antagonize/agitate this deranged individual anymore than necessary due to a possibility he would cause physical harm to myself, my family (including my dogs and cats), and or my property." A somewhat subtle way to convey your level of concern.

Please keep us posted!

What airline is he working for? PM me if you want. I got a lot of friends/coworkers in aviation..

I've got a neighbour like this guy. Well, not as bad as this guy but still an arsehole. His house, with his new extention, over looks my place. As a friendly gesture I painted an eighteen feet by eighteen feet smiley on the roof facing him.

Do it. Also keep the dog inside unless you are at home. At least for awhile.

Do you know the wife ? is she rational enough to be able to reign in her husband ?

Also, consider a fence.

Document, document, document. Remember, it's not what you know, it's what you can prove.

The gloves should be off. He's threatened your family. He made threats to your dog to gauge your response. If you do nothing, he thinks you're weak and he'll escalate his next move. I would levy an offensive that would be sufficient to end this ( not necessarily in violent manner ).

He's crossed the line.

Agree w/dog poisoning possibility.
Especially in the spring when folks lay out snail bait. :mad:

You might be able to get a restraining order if you can prove by the neighbor's actions that there is the potential for harm to you or your family. You need to fill out an application for restraining order. Your attorney can help you with that. Here is what a Restraining Order looks like in your state: http://www.judicial.state.sc.us/forms/pdf/SCCA751.pdf

Assemble your evidence and move forward!

Would it help if all / some / several of the neighbors went and filed at the same time?

Backed each other up on some of the shenanigans that have been going on or would that look like mob mentality?

Is there any evidence that the wife knows about the report to Animal Control and the letter he sent??

Seems to me that either she's equally nutty and is an accomplice or is unaware of Nutter's extracurricular activities.

First, I'd send a certified letter to the wife with a copy of the Animal Control Report and a copy of the Nutter's letter. If the wife is unaware you might as well make Nutter's life a bit uncomfortable.

Second, as some have suggested, file a police report documenting the threat of shooting the dog. Tell them you feel that he is off his rocker enough to escalate that threat to human members of your family.

Third, again as others have suggested, file a restraining order and have him served.

Forth, I'd take his letter to Animal Control so that they can update thier report to show that he initially lied to them about the bite and later gave you a different story. That should mitigate any future reactions by Animal Control if he tries to falsly report your dog again.

I would not let the dog out on its own and I would hang a go-pro from its collar.

this seems like good advice.

5mw laser sight mounted on tripod used to "burn" the ccd of the security camera on the poll.
this can be done fron 1500 yards away-

Get your legal documentation straight! Have the data on your side already processed through legal channels. In a his word against yours situation few entities are on your side.

FWIW, seems as though he has already initiated a threat which appears to be in writing, signed, and delivered through the US postal system?

He and his wife are of a singular consciousness. She backs his lunacy 100%.

My company does some maintenance work on the Sheriff department helicopter, so I know a couple of the guys. Maybe I should make a courtesy visit to check on their helicopter and chat with them.

I have a meeting set up with my attorney tomorrow to discuss the restraining order.

I have started meeting with the neighbors today to discuss the letter I received. At least one other guy is planning to also inquire about a restraining order.

He flies for US Airways out of the Charlotte Douglass airport.

Welcome to my hell...

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Next time your out of town ask them to do a house check for you at 3am. A low hover over the neibour's place for a few minutes with the search lights on might cheer the neibour up.

My dad was a criminal defense lawyer. Whenever some old acquaintance would ring him up with some problem like this, (because they'd heard that he was a lawyer), he had this stock advice: " Kill the fker, then give me a call. I don't do civil law."

It was his solution to every problem, from a bad water heater to business disputes, anything. He was a piece of work.

I'm glad that you're doing something about it. He has threatened, in writing, to commit multiple unlawful acts. Seems like this could make his life unpleasant.

I have now spoken with two attorneys and one Magistrate Judge. Here is what I have been told:

To obtain a restraining order in this county, the plaintiff (me) has to go before the judge and show a history of harassment. One event, as is my case, will not be enough he said.

He said that the police need to be called at every instance of harassment, and the event documented, and eventually I may have enough documentation to warrant the restraining order.

Once the judge is convinced there is a history, then both parties are called before the judge to present their side of the story. If the judge agrees with the plaintiff, then the order is issued. Losing party pays all court costs.

He said, "I'm not trying to dissuade you, but all you're going to do is piss him off. That piece of paper is worthless."

The judge suggested an alternate and interim measure: Have him served with a no trespass notice. The only cost is the cost of a process server to serve him. Once it is served, then every time he sets foot on your property, you call the police with the notice number and they pick him up. Multiple times trespassing is justification for the restraining order. (which is worthless - right?)