Strange incident with an angry person who doesn't like Porsches

[Tidybuoy]

I had an interesting moment at lunch today that required split second reflexes.

I generally don't speed on city streets and try to be courteous to neighbors. However, my road to work ends on a winding country road that has one house on it (sitting 1/8 mile off the street) in the middle of a two mile stretch. The posted speed limit is 45 mph and a one point says "end 45 limit." I occasionally test my car on this quiet country road.

Today, I went to lunch and cruised down the road at 35mph (no speeding). I had a friend with me and we were chatting so I was not driving fast. On the way back, a man came out of the house and started running into the street straight at my car. I was wondering what this guy was up to and suddenly he dove into the air as if to land on my hood. Of course, I was not going to let anyone put a dent on my car and I swerved around him and he landed flat on his face in the middle of the street.

In the back of my mind, I was thinking he might be mad at me from previous speeding but it is a country road in the middle of nowhere. And I haven't been driving out of control...but my car is louder than a modern car and may seem like it's going faster than it is to someone that only hears it.

After I got back to work, about 30 minutes later, the receptionist tells me that someone was taking pictures of my car in the parking lot. I looked at our security cameras and it was the same guy that lunged at the car. He took several photos and some close ups of the license plate and then left.

I'm thinking I may pre-emptively call the sheriff and let him know that this concerns me as I have to drive by the house every day and next time he may have a shotgun.

[nameisbauer]

Whoa. wild story. I would call the sheriff to report the man jumping at you, what can that hurt.

[esses62]

Bath salts

[slow&rusty]

Let him photograph away...you were not doing anything illegal and have a witness to prove the guy's dangerous behavior. Furthermore if you were speeding or doing something illegal, the cops need to have actual proof not some stills of a car sitting in a car park. Certainly the cops have more sense and will tell this home fry to stop wasting their time.

[Matt Monson]

Definitely call the police. They will pay him a visit that he won't soon forget. Throwing himself at your car like that may even be considered assault. Don't just wait and see what happens. Get it on the books. Like you said he may be armed next time.

[PCA7GGR]

He probably feels that had you been speeding, as you normally do, he would have landed on your car's hood. If that had been the case, he would not have hit the road and your hood would have saved him from harm.

Obviously, you are at fault.

[kidrock]

maybe the rural part of your drive is located in the Green Triangle, and he thought you were one of those "revenooers".

[dcjones56]

He may be just the village idiot looking for attention. Or maybe he is nuts. Either way I wouldn't worry too much about it, but I am willing to bet that if you call the police they will take a report and sweep it under the rug after having a good laugh about it. However, if the next time he runs out there and he is wielding a weapon, I would be deeply concerned. How do you know he hates Porsches? He may just hate you.

[ossiblue]

I agree with those who suggest you call the police. Your concern is two fold. First, it looks like you're being set up for some type of traffic incident and the police should be made aware of what happened and be informed that you have an eye-witness to back your story. Second, you travel that route every day and you are concerned that whatever is motivating this person will be repeated or escalated and that you fear for your safety as well as his (be magnanimous.) To me, anything as bizarre as you describe, especially with him following you to work and taking pictures, warrants notification of the authorities just to get your position on record.

[CountD]

You are the victim here. Call the police and report it. They take down everything. Better you report it first than have him report his story - no matter how erroneous it is. Call it in, make a statement. This one is a crazy, and you don't want one of those crazies looking over your shoulder everyday. Make him go away, the police will follow up with this guy if you give him an address. I had one of these guys once in some deal when I sold something. It was beyond bizarre. I reported it - he went away.

[cgarr]

Sounds like an attempt at a hit and run but he missed, he didn't put any marks on your car to show where he will say you hit him I hope?

[techweenie]

He attempted to assault your car and you have a witness. Give the cops a heads-up. People like that tend to escalate if unchecked.

[Tidybuoy]

Well, it's now the weekend and time to go home.

Monday morning I will print photos of this guy in my parking lot taking photos of my car. Fortunately, we have a $140k digital security system that has crystal clear photos of him entering our property (which is marked private property).

I will pay a visit to the police on Monday with photos in hand and witness in tow. If the guy is angry for me driving too fast, well, for starters I will slow it down. Secondly, I will turn the tables and let the police have it on record. Besides possibly denting my car, he could have gotten killed and then I would have to prove my innocence; I will try and diffuse the situation first.

[Michael T]

I would definitely call the sheriff. The person sounds unstable. You have a witness. Better to document now, plus the sheriff would be more apt to be on your side, if there is a next time. I would also see if there is another way to go to work, even if out of the way, better to avoid this person.

[Lapkritis]

Sounds like a major Porsche fan!

[RSBob]

On summer days our rural neighbors are often out in their front yard by the road. One day when going 30 on this country road posted at 25 they yelled, SLOW DOWN! Of course when I am doing 30 in 2nd with a sport exhaust it probably sounds like 50. That may be part of the issue with the OP. Perception is unfortunately reality, especially if they piss off easily.

(Now I drive by their place when they are out in 3rd and stay off the loud pedal, just to keep the peace.)

Tell us how this all works out and if the guy escalates since he unfortunately seems like the type. Document everything.

[SoCalSK8r]

Crazy! Definitely go to the sheriff as planned. People are whackos, there's no telling what this guy will do next.

[Matt Monson]

He may be just the village idiot looking for attention. Or maybe he is nuts. Either way I wouldn't worry too much about it, but I am willing to bet that if you call the police they will take a report and sweep it under the rug after having a good laugh about it. However, if the next time he runs out there and he is wielding a weapon, I would be deeply concerned. How do you know he hates Porsches? He may just hate you.

I have filed police reports twice in the state of California for road ragers and both time they paid face to face visits with the person in question. In the second instance it sent a guy back to prison because when they pulled him over he had a gun under his seat and was on parole.

But it is basically a CYA move to report this. If it is a 45mph zone and you are going 50 and he jumps out you have some serious **** on your hands. But if you document this guy's previous attempt to get hit then if the day comes when you cripple him with your car, the case swings very much in your favour, even if you were speeding. The previous actions of this guy make it an on purpose, not an accident if he ever gets hit, by anyone's car. He may be hassling more than one person with these antics.

[Lapkritis]

Consider getting a dash cam? I probably would. Sounds like Andy Farmer might be your neighbor.

[Bob Kontak]

PM me the house address.

Don't ask.