Is anyone here a PA LEO or state trooper? I have questions for you

[Howie]

Suspense...taptaptap

[lethe]

if my guess is correct, he will have to be careful with wording and most likely someone will bring the thread in a direction that it will get locked
just my guess
so a pre-emptive    DON'T RUIN THE GUY's THREAD!!

[RAT900]

 

[Ddan]

Well?   

[rgramjet]

 

[red baron]

+1

[rgramjet]

If my guess is correct, it will involve an illegal knitted cozy, mancard incident and/or cavity search....

[Monsterlover]

Here's what happened.

R00tchick and I were going to the grocery store for supplies last night.

We're waiting at the light behind another car.  Light turns green (this is a tight 90* left) and the car in front pokes through it at maybe 10mph.  Waaay slower than he should have (could have) been going.

We both make the turn (we're in the left lane) and as it straightens out he speeds up.  And then drifts into the right lane finally pulling it back after he was maybe 12" from the F150 that's in the right lane.

Ok, maybe he's messing with his phone.

We follow and observe.  Soon it becomes clear that he's drunk out of his mind.  Drifting all over, can't keep it in his lane.

He drifts waaay right again and almost hits a car in the right lane.  I tell RC to call 911 and I close in to get the plate #

He makes a last second lane change to the left turn lane at the light we're fast approaching.  I follow, not wanting him to get away.

We cruise along, he drifts around, barely keeps it out of the ditch and damn near takes out a mailbox.  I don't know the area all that well so Im calling off street names from the nav system to RC who relays the info to 911.

The main road curves left and a second road sort of "Y's" into it.  At the last second he cuts right and takes the other road, as do I.  As he makes this turn, he's carrying a little too much speed for his condition and drifts all the way left.  There is a car in the oncoming lane that has to drive completely off the road toward the ditch to miss the drunk guy.

I continue following.  By now he probably knows he's being followed (we're in a residential area now) and is either taking random roads to try and loose us or he's going home/to a friends house.  He's down to about 30mph.

He makes some rights and lefts and we follow closely, but at a safe distance.  RC is off the phone with 911 who said officers were en route.  A car shows up behind me, then passes me in a fairly aggressive manor and gets behind drunk guy.  It's not a cruiser or an unmarked.  It's like a Chevy Cobalt or something.  We're like wtf.

We finally are at the end of a dead end road.  So many strange things happening.  The thought did cross my mind that I didn't feel like getting shot.  2 seconds after that I had an escape route planned just in case.

The drunk guy makes a left into a driveway.  I stop where im at and wait to see what happens next.  

The cobalt makes its way to the end of the road and turns around.

He pulls up next to us and puts his window down.  I put mine down.

Him: who is that guy?!
Me: I have no idea.  We think he's drunk.  He almost hit a car back there.
Him: Yeah, me.  (Ohh, this is the guy that had to drive off the road to avoid a head on)
Me: We called the cops
Him: I am a cop.  Why'd you let him drive home?!?
Me:
Him: He's obviously too drunk to drive and you're following him home.  Why would you let him drive?!?!
Me: We don't know this guy.  We're not following him home, we're following him to make sure he doesn't get away.
Him: You know how much sense that makes? None

It took about 2 minutes of having a circular conversation (where we both keep saying the same things to each other) before we could move past that.

Im already irritated beyond belief and then this jack ass starts mouthing off to me.

Finally I start to loose it and I interrupt him as he's going on about how we obviously know this guy etc etc blah blah blah

Me: Look, if you really are a cop you'll have access to the 911 call records.  You'd then know that our last name matches the who called in this drunk driver.  If you've gotta badge I'd be happy to show you ID.

He softens a little and starts talking about how he can't do anything because the guy's home.

A few more words are exchanged and he leaves.  We turn around and go get groceries.  

Was he really a cop, no idea.  Probably based on the attitude and the pass he made to get in front of me.

But really, there's nothing anyone can do here?!  I watched this guy almost hit 3 cars while he was driving.  I'm not talking about like a bump in a parking lot.  I'm talking about close the road down on two of those occasions.

Further more, the "cop" is the one that got run off the road.  How can he do nothing?

Drunk guy probably will get off with nothing and I'm seeing red about it.  I have his plate and could easily get an address.

What could I have done differently to make sure that guy burned?

[cokey]

Legally, im guessing nothing..  don't know laws there but with a couple eyewitnesses, I don't see how they can't do anything just cause he's home..

Pit maneuver, let the cops find him..

[Monsterlover]

[Howie]

I can't imagine a real LEO suggesting you should have done anything more than call 911.  What were you supposed to do?  Run him off the road?  Pull up next to him, reach into his car and shut the key off?  Following him was above and beyond the risk most would have taken.  I think if the driver was apprehended between the car and the house there would be no problem.  Once in the house, if someone sober was there the driver might be able to claim he wasn't driving.

[cokey]

True..  could rt have taken video?

[Pip]

Kev, you went above and beyond by reporting him, and trying to maintain a visual, and no doubt HAD he hurt anyone, you and r00tchick would have been right there to render aid and call for EMS. You did the right thing. Also, if this isn't the drunk guys first rodeo, and he's been reported before, now they have a record of his behavior and can build a case if he is caught.  I spoke to my LEO brother, and he said you were well within the law, and should be appluaded. Forget about Captain Cobalt.

To You and the Mrs.

[mitt]

maybe the cobalt guy was a mall cop?  Sounds like you did the right thing.  I have been in similar shoes before, and regret not following the DUI farther after calling the cops...


mitt

[DRKWNG]

maybe the cobalt guy was a mall cop? 

I didn't know JuDDddDdDDddd drove a cobalt.