WWTID?

What would Teh Internetz do?

On Saturday morning, I left the hotel I was staying at to walk to the convention center for Blogher 2011. I was at a hotel with my very wonderful friend Heather of Domestic Extraordinaire and we were about 6 blocks away. It was a totally enjoyable walk that I made a few times a day.

San Diego weather - oh, how I love it so. Especially since today my house is feeling the effects of the rabid wildfire (+6000 acres!) raging out of control just a bit away from us - I woke up several times during the night and walked around my house, certain that it MUST be on fire - that's how pervasive the smoke is. I'm so tired today that I'm seeing double.

While walking Saturday morning, I was chatting on the phone to my husband. We talked about nothing much really, and I remarked that the streets were really empty. The stores were still closed, and there were no people around. Just then, I looked up and I saw a man walking towards me. About 6 feet tall, he had dark curly hair and looked intently at me. As he passed me, I noticed his companion - a woman, wearing a dark baseball cap over her blonde curly hair, purple plaid pajama pants, being pulled behind him, her focus low on the ground and her shoulders hunched over -

and she had wide black duct tape over her mouth.

I saw it, processed it, took two more steps and literally said, "WTF?" to my husband. I quickly told him what I saw and I turned around to double check it -

and the man had stopped, about two storefronts down, still holding the woman's hand and pointing at me with what I could only describe (very descriptive fictionally based) as a black stare.

It flipped me out completely, and I scrambled away. I told my husband the details, and wondered aloud, "What should I do?" I glanced around for a police officer - after all, every other day during the trip I'd seen a bajillion officers, cabbies all around and multiple people. The streets were totally empty this day, nothing was open, nowhere to dip in and call attention to this scenario. I actually almost couldn't believe what I saw. As I walked to the convention center, which was just a minute or two away I passed no one. As I walked I talked it out and tried to process it.

It could have been a protest movement. It could have been an artistic demonstration. It could have been one of those "Dateline" shows, the ones who point out how BADLY the public misses the bad behavior each and every time. It could have been someone trying to have fun, or get under the skin of a tourist - but I kept thinking about the interview with Elizabeth Smart that I'd seen after her escape from captivity. In the interview, she said that she'd been in full view of many people and no one ever tried to help her escape.

I was totally freaked out and very bothered by what I saw, and as soon as I saw a friend in front of the convention center, I shared what had happened. She told me that she would have yelled at him, screamed at him, called attention to the matter - and I probably should have, but I was afraid. Almost in shock and also thinking to myself - did I really see what I THINK I saw? I may be a (almost) black belt, but I was completely flipped out when I turned around and he was pointing at me. I don't even know that I could adequately express how flustered it made me. I felt threatened and my sole thought was to get out of there, NOW.

I went into the convention center, found a security guard and they called the police. The sergeant took me seriously, and promised to put out an alert. I feel like it was too little, too late. I felt like I'd done something wrong, something BAD. I just kept thinking about the woman, who looked as scared as anyone I've ever seen - and it still haunts me today.

What would you have done?

Edited to add - there was no shop open - I was almost at the end of two streets - there were no alleys, no restaurants - there was literally nothing around. It was early on a Saturday morning, and it seemed like San Diego didn't get moving until much later on the weekends. There weren't even any cabbies around, or pedicabs for that matter. I was almost the only person on the street.

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Comments

[Elaine]

I'm so sorry this happened and honestly, I don't know that I would have done differently. Especially considering that there was nobody around and you have no idea what this guy had on him. But her... I wish you could have been able to connect with her.
Here's hoping it was art.

[Nicole]

To be honest, I don't know what I'd do in that situation. I would like to think I'd find someone to tell (go in a store and call the police, tell a security guard like you did), but I honestly don't know. I'm certainly not confrontational, but people have been known to do stupidly courageous things in the right situations.

I'm glad you told someone, and I'm glad you're safe! I pray that that woman is safe, too.

[Thumper]

Being almost a black belt, you know the best defense is to not be in a sticky situation... I think--but just think because no one *really* know until they're in that situation--I would hang up on the husband and dial 911, and be prepared to cough up the address or intersection where I was. Duck into the closest public place but keep an eye on the couple...and then wait for police. That's about all you can do unless you're 100% sure you could physically handle a personal confrontation. Even then...that's why we have cops.

At least you noticed. It might not have clicked in my head until much, much later...

[Dianna]

I'm with Thumper, duck into an alley and call 911, possibly take a photo with my phone if possible. Freaky situation though. Wow.

[Lise]

I'd have kept moving but immedately called 911. How frightening.

[Tara]

OMG Carmen, your story gave me the heebie-jeebies. Seriously, I'm freaked out for you!! You did the right thing.

[Megan]

Probably the same thing you did. At best, you maybe could've called 911 as soon as you were out of earshot. I would have been terrified for my own safety. If it was a kidnapping kind of situation, which I certainly hope it wasn't, he very likely had weapons on him. Trying to fight him or making a scene with nobody around could've ended badly for both you and her. I hope the police tracked them down and it turned out OK. Is there any way for you to follow up?

[Rox]

I might've tried to snap a pic and called the police ... but, then again, I've spent some time in that area of San Diego, and there's a lot of weird stuff going on around there ... so really, I wouldn't let it stress you out. My bet is that it was a pimp/ho situation. Unfortunate.

[Sabz]

You did the right thing. Safety first. You don't know if that guy was armed. He clearly doesn't sound normal/regular. You removed yourself from a possibly dangerous situation and alerted authorities which is what I would've done.

I don't think it's advisable to take on weirdos even if you know karate unless you're threatened. Guns can overtake a karate chop very quickly. I'm just really glad you're ok and hopefully that other woman is too.

[Laura H]

I don't know what I would have done, either. I would have FREAKED if I'd seen something like that! I'm so glad you're safe, and praying that the situation was not what it appeared to be, but wow! Just reading about it made my skin crawl, Carmen.

[Sandy]

I would have called the police immediately from my cell phone.

[Mariah]

Wow. Scary and disturbing. I would have probably done the same thing you and most of us would have done. At some point called 911. That's not something you see every day. It's totally not normal for some woman to be led down the street with her mouth duct taped. I fear it was not art, but something more sinister. It would have thrown me for a loop for sure!

[Sylvia]

I live in Nevada and I see weird crap ALL THE TIME. If I had to guess, I wouldn't feel too bad about the whole situation, and I'm really surprised that's the only strange thing you saw. I'm so used to the weirdness that is the west coast that I don't pay attention to it anymore. Much.

[LizP]

You probably did the wisest thing, get away to a safe place then call the police.

My first thought was 'well it *is* California' (as a former Californian I can say that!) but then again that was just way weird!

[Lisa]

I would have done the same thing you did.