Ok Mama's,
Here's my problem, last week Friday my kid's were out in our fenced in backyard having a water balloon fight, they came in after an hour and ahalf to rest. I was in the kitchen fixing to get dinner ready when I noticed a loud noise coming from our backyard. My kids were laying on the couche's in our family room which is open to my kitchen, anyways my kids all were freaking out as I was too, my son said it was the window that he was sitting infron of, I go to look out the window (shades were closed) and came to find a bullet hole in my window! Grabbed the kids and got out of the family room took them to the basement hallway stairs and told them to wait there. Went to the kitchen window and find the neighbors son standing in their backyard holding a shotgun-it was a BB gun. He looked calm and normal. I quickly grabbed the phone and dialed 911 to put in a report. Waited like 10 mins for the police to get to our home. The officer come's in looks at the window and asked me if I knew who it was and I told him about how I went to look out the window and seen the neighbor kid holding the gun (he's 13!). The officer asks me what I wanted to do and I told him I wanted to press charges. He leave's my house goes to the neighbors house, the father just magically showed up, and talks to the father and the little kid, the kid claims he was trying to shoot a rabbit? (I guess rabbits fly!) And that he meant no harm. The officer comes back and tells me that the kid didn't mean to shoot at my window and the kid was in tears and freaked out. I asked the officer if it was legal to carry any type of firearm and he said it was illegal, also illegal to shoot any type of animal like the rabbits. SOOO the officer asks me again if I wanted to press charges of course I said YES again. He went back to neighbors and come's back with father and father looked upset and somewhat sorry (from what I thought). Well the officer ignored my wanting to press charges againts the boy or whom ever and had the father come and tell me that he would fix the window. Ends up being the father of this little kid is the nephew of the chief of something for the local fire department here in our city..go figure on ignoring the fact that I wanted to press charges!
This isn't the 1st incedent with our neighbors! Last summer around this exact time they broke our siding with a baseball, called the police and was ignored! Tried to contact parents but had NO luck! We let that one go and figured we would do it ourselve's. The officer also seen the siding that they damaged and told the father about it as well, anyways, that day last friday the father said that he would come on Monday-yesterday- and get the window to fix it, he gave me his number to have my husband call him (angry husband!) yet he didn't come, my husband called the number he had given me and it was a wrong number! My husband then called the officer that came that day and the officer said he was off duty and that he would need 2-3 hours to get back to his office to pull up the report, NO CALL BACK! Again we are being ignored!
Last Friday my husband was freaking out and worried and very mad at the whole situation. We don't live in a bad neighborhood, it's a nice one with wonderful neighbors-with the exception on one! I mean I understand it was a bb gun but the fact that our children were sitting in the family room and that our son was literally right infront of that window is awful! God forbid had that glass shattered or had we had the window opened and hit one of our children is just awful! I don't know what to do! My husband and I are extremely furiated and ticked off at the way this whole thing was handled. I don't feel that I should be held accountable to pay or repair something that wasn't damaged by anyone in our family. Although my husband just wants to get it fixed. We had a company come out lat summer to see if we can have the siding area thats damaged replaced and they said we would have to do all of it only because the colors won't match, why should WE have to pay for it? I'm soo confused and mad at all of this! I mean we aren't even safe in the privacy of our own home!? Help! Whatelse should or could I do to get this whole thing resolved?! Somethng "fishy" is going on with this whole issue and yet nothing is being done? Whats next? Our house being set on fire? -GOD FORBID! ! This is just making me soo sad and somewhat depressed! We are stuck in this house since we can't sell it and now I don't even feel safe, I am afraid to let my kids play out in our backyard too! Any advice would greatly be appreciated! Thanks Mama's!
Add on- The only reason why I wanted to press charges (no matter what age) is because I have been having waay too many issues with the kids and YET they haven't learned their lessons? I can open a store with all the baseballs I have in my backyard, did I also mention that my siding is dented up too? I don't really talk to the kid's or parents only because they don't seem to be friendly people. The kid's are soo rude, vulgar language loudly spoken out in their backyard, they smoke god knows what, I'm just pretty much fed up with all of it. I have been ignoring them but when it come's to an issue like this how can i? Also, when the siding was broke they tried to blame our next door neighbors son who was 3 years old at the time! Such a sad and helpless situation!
Call the local news, let them know what happened. Sometimes they do their own investigation. Sounds like this one definetly needs some attention-wow! How scary!! Hopefully you will get some help there!
Almost all of this advice is SPOT ON......Go above the initial officer's head and make a fuss until you are heard. Age is not something that should allow for this child to not have to face charges. He was shooting a gun in a neighborhood, PERIOD. If he was out in the woods or something, fine. He also shot high enough to be at window level, not low to the ground as if actually hunting a rabbit. BBs can and have killed people, this is NOT something I would let go on account of his age, who his family is or just trying not to make waves.
Make it public!! Call your local news!! Or go to the police again try to file charges and talk to supervisor and let them know you are going to the media.
Go down to the station and demand to speak to whoever is in charge of the officer that came out. Talk to them, and mention that you also plan to go to the local news or paper with the story. If it is not handled to your liking, than go to the papers/news and see if you can get your story out. Keep going to the police station every day if you have to, talking to people higher up on the chain of command until they understand that you are not going to go away and be harassed in your own home.
Call your local prosicutin attorney let him decide to press charges. I would also press charges against the Parents for allowing a minor to handle firearms unattended. And before anyone thinks I'm anti guns I'm a card carrying member of the NRA. And NEVER EVER should a child be allowed to handle a Gun without Strick supervision. ALL Firearms should be under LOCK and KEY went not being used for the sport of hunting. I would ask if these parents and child have had their HUNTER SAFTEY COURSE and ask to see their cards. This is probably one of the people who Shouts for gun rights but fails to act Properly in the use of guns.
Try the officer one more time. Make it a point of telling him that if you do not hear back from him, he is forcing you to go over his head. If he does not respond, and you wait a day, get on line and look up your Mayor's email address and the email address of your trustee. Do Not Let This Go. Stick to the facts in your email. Do not make any accusations as far as the neighbor being related to the Cheif of anything. Someone will pay for your window if they really want this to "go away" without charges being pressed. Just a heads up...unfortunately it may make for neighbors that are more aggresive, you need to be prepared for that. If you don't do anything, its likely something else will happen. No matter,you have had two different personal property damages happen to your home as a result of these people that think just because they know someone they can get away with it. Whomever they know, that person will not be happy if they hear from the Mayor, whom I would have to guess will not like being dragged in to this. Do what you have to do....make them pay for the damages and agree to drop the charges if you have to in order to keep the peace.
*** Bolingbrook police dept....exactly why you want to give the police officer another chance. You can't move and you don't want to pi** the police dept off. I wouldn't go to the papers, tv or a lawyer until you give them the chance to make it right. I would hate to be living there and you call 911 for something and oooh I don't know....they take forever to get there or worse...no one shows up.
if you remember the officer's name, call the police dept and ask for "officer so and so"s supervisor. tell them AGAIN that not only do you wish to press charges against the undisciplined little juvenile delinquent that lives behind you, you also want to let him/her know that the officer at the scene REFUSED to do so. please continue to pursue this legally - it sounds like this kid needs some boundaries, and he clearly isn't gonna learn them from mommy and daddy. additionally, i'd start a habit of filing police reports whenever anything occurs with this group - if they are as crazy as it sounds like they are, you may need documentation to at some point file a restraining order. goodness, sorry you are dealing with this :(
I would take him to small claims court...don't mess around with trying to talk to him anymore.
I would keep calling the officer that addressed your case and also ask to talk to his superior. That's awful that you are treated like this by your neighbor! Could you possibly call another police department (a neighboring one like Naperville or Plainfield) -- maybe someone there could offer you some better advice? You could also threaten to contact the media -- I wouldn't actually do it but might get the department to re-look at your case in order to avoid some negative buzz. Maybe talk to some of your other neighbors to see if anyone else is having the same issues as you? Do you have a homeowners association that could help you address the issues you are having? Just some thoughts!
Wow......I would be just as upset as you are. I would go to the police station and press formal charges. I would also contact the news paper on the hazards of letting children that are to young handle a firearm such as a bb gun. I would fix my window and take em to court. First get a copy of the police report on what happen that day . Good luck!
I would go to the original officers' superior, give him a chance to handle it properly. Document everything, dates of the incident...the incorrect phone number, phone calls...etc etc. Give it a week or 2 for the police to help you...if they don't....I would call the local television station....one of them probably has an "On Your Side" type program that they investigate issues like this.....let them have a go at it!!!
If you do get the window fixed...keep the bills...and present them to the irresponsible father.
Good luck
Go to your local news station with your story.
I would call the police department and ask to speak to the Chief. I would start off stating the damages (siding and window) done by these neighbor's children and that your desire to press charges against the family were ignored. I would then also state that if the CHIEF ignored your request, you will call the local news stations about the favoritism family members are given if they are part of the Fire or Police department and that they endorse illegal and criminal activity.
You could contact DCF about child neglect-regarding a young child having access to a bb gun if its illegal. You could also take them to small claims court. Someone should be held accountable for the kids actions & if the parents dont seem to care then maybe its time to do something more drastic to get their attention? Good luck.
Oh I would be so pissed! You could take them to small claims court for the window. Probably too late for the siding. But I wouldn't let the window matter drop. Talk to an attorney and see what your options are.
Get your facts in writing.
So what that it is just your side of things. Write down dates and times, if you remember, and what happened.
Get the police reports from both incidents, or all incidents.
Take pictures
Then call the paper, do you have a local paper? If not go to the Chicago Suntimes or that other one, mom gets the Suntimes.
Then call the Chicago news, is it still 2, 5 and 7?
And at 13 he new exactly what he was doing. My 10 yo knows how to handle a bb gun. He also knows the rules.
Everything you've written seems to be screaming out for action, if not with criminal charges, at least a civil action. I suggest you contact a lawyer and/or your insurance company about ways to go after the neighbor to make them take responsibility for their actions.
As for the police officer stalling you, you can try going over his head. You're assuming some sort of pressure because a relative of the neighbor is an officer of some type at the fire dept., but this may not be the case.Finally, if the kids are smoking an illegal drug, and you have direct evidence of that, the police may be willing to respond to that complaint appropriately.
Just my thoughts.
I agree, get an attorney and hold them accountable. If someone doesn't do something that sends the message it's okay for him to pull stuff because the cops will protect him. Had that parent had any decency his son would be over doing yard work for you, etc.
There are lots of good suggestions here already, I would just second the comment about speaking to an attorney. At a minimum, you can sue the neighbors for the damages since they should have paid them anyway. If the police continue to ignore you, there are legal grounds for suing the city/police dept, but you will have to weigh whether or not it is worth it since unfortunately there are always some people in powerful positions who enjoy abusing that power. Good luck.
I read the whole thing so i thought i should comment. The boy is 13, so i dont think you should press charges. I do think he needs to pay to fix the siding and the window. If his parents don't do it in a timely manner then you fix it and give them a copy of the reciept asking to be reimbursed. If that doesnt work take them to small claims court.
I would be totally freaked out too by the gun being so close to your kids. How irrisponsible of the parents to let him shoot it in their backyard.
Again you need to deal with the parents. The cops are worthless and arent going to do anything.
contact a city council member about this or go higher up even, write a letter to the paper, if you live in an association then contact them and ask for legal help
oh wow, this is a bad situation. I would maybe try the police again, maybe another officer? if it were in school session i would suggest talking to the school counselor to suggest therapy. I am so sorry you have to deal with this, I wish I had something helpful to tell you. I would just keep the kids safe, tell them not to do or say anything to the kid that could set him offf. I know it is not you or your kids fault, but maybe by not saying anything to the kid it might keep him from doing something worse??? which i know is totally unfair. I would def try the police again. Good luck, i'll pray for ya'll!!
