This happened to me yesterday. I’m at the grocery store, come up the elevator to the parking complex. As the elevator door opens I see a violent attack taking place. Two women wrestling around, one trying to take the other to the ground. It was violent an viscous. One gal had both hand full of the others hair, jerking her around by the head. Me, being a hand to hand self defense guy my first thought is “I should intervene…”. This was taking place 15 feet from me as I stepped off the elevator. Then the reality hit, it was a small statured adult female vs a 10+/- year old female child. The woman was trying to talk the girl down while trying to get the kids hands out of her hair, it appeared to be something she had done before, maybe the child had a mental/physical disorder the lead to this attack.
SO What do you do? Intervene? OR Walk away and call security?
If it’s just hands and smallish females involved unless a weapon is produced the likelihood of life threatening injury is low. Unless one were to fall and lose consciousness and the other started using the pavement as a weapon I would dial 911 and observe.
Best I can do with what you describe.
Sadly, I’ve moved into the go the other way mentality while we’re living in “this world.” Maybe that’ll change one day. Today, I value my life and the lives of those I’m close to more than any of these people.
Ask “do you needed any help”?
Welcome to police work, where most of a working shift is devoted to intervening in and trying to sort out family fights. It’s not at all unusual that when a stranger (a cop) called to the scene and lays hands on one of the combatants, the other will attack the intervenor. Then, instead of getting a “Thanks for helping me” and deescalating the situation, you become the common enemy and get to fight with both people.
When in doubt, be a great witness and video the whole thing for the police. You never know what you don’t know.
First level of triage: Is this part of a wider scenario, is there more I’m not seeing, who else is here, is there a danger to myself or anyone with me? If family is with me, it’s pretty much an immediate exit virtually guaranteed before we pass go
If alone or only with other able bodied adults who are their own protectors kinda thing, after the above evaluation…while pulling out my phone…is somebody at risk of imminent serious bodily harm or death? No? No involvement other than at most be a good witness.
Next, only if the above is yes, at this point, do I even consider getting involved. And then it is unlikely. How sure am I of the situation? Is the person I believe imminently in danger of serious harm/death one i am willing to risk prison, or death, to protect? Things go from 0 to 300 mph fast, if you’re in, you’re in
Probably unless there is a child or a helpless unconcious/defenseless victim getting or about to get kidnapped or maimed/killed, its’ an easy “that’s a no from me dawg”
If there is that unlikely but possible situation of me by myself and an innocent child at serious imminent danger, now we might have something, and I might be willing to take those risks. But it’s gotta be pretty ■■■■■■■ obvious and serious before I step into a third party encounter for more than a 911 call because once you’re in…you’re in
Gather enough information to answer this question. Am I willing to die or go to jail over this? The act accordingly.
Personally I would try to smear jello or pudding on them maybe some oil … Sit down and watch the show …
I would try to verbally deescalate the situation. The only time I would try to physically intervene is if I knew one or both parties or one of the parties was getting beaten to pulp. In all other situations I’d be observing from a safe distance or just leave the area. You never know how the lawyers for one of the parties will paint you as the bad guy in court to sue you for all you’re worth.
Call the authorities and be a good witness. By walking away you could be guilty of a crime (fleeing the scene of a crime). Getting involved can go south in so many directions.
As any police officer will tell you, domestic spats -be they in a home or outside- are some of the most volatile, unpredictable, and dangerous situations to get involved in. As a civilian, better to not get involved if possible and call law enforcement if you believe it’s a dangerous situation for the involved. I’ve even seen such intervention go sideways!
I’m not a lawyer, but…what??
Since when is it ever a crime to leave a spot where somebody else may or may not be committing a crime?
BRB rioters try to block the highway and you can drive away with complete safely for all but you get arrested if you don’t stop and stay and let them trap you from behind
So what did you do or do you want to get more responses first?
Stream it live!
Seriously, I would be observing at a good distance while calling 911.
I personally knew a guy with a knife scar on his belly and another guy who’s missing his left hand.
Both had good intentions and intervened.
Growing up, they were my role models on what NOT to do when there’s a fight.
I can’t predict without being there. Lots of variables. For what it’s worth, a friend of my father’s intervened in a man and wife argument. The wife smashed his face with a clothes iron and opened a 4” gash that created a nasty looking scar.
I’m with Enzo call Police and video what’s taking place.
One of my EDC mantras is: “I’m not a cop.”
Observe and report, at best.
I don’t disagree, I guess I’m not hip enough to think about videoing things all of the time.
How many have practiced, and know how to to smoothly accomplish, taking a video with their phone while talking to 911 on their phone at the same time?
Is everyone considering how standing there pointing a phone at them while using speaker to loudly talk to 911 is getting involved, and are you prepared for their possible actions when they realize exactly how involved you already are?