[Rick Lee]

What would you have done?

Sat. I was on a bus from NYC back to my parents' town, Flemington, NJ. Of course, I was not carrying in the People's Rep. of NJ and NY. I was in the third from last row and the two guys in the last row were very loud and obnoxious. Most of the other passengers were elderly. I had the volume on my iPod all the way up and I could still barely hear the music, while these two idiots in the last row talked in super loud Spanish on their cell phones. The bus driver told everyone before we left that cell phones needed to be turned off. I was in the window seat and then some old guy sat in the aisle seat and fell asleep. Otherwise, I'd have probably gotten up to tell the driver to quiet these guys down. After 45 min. of these idiots' noise, I stood up and politely, but firmly said, "Hey guys, can you please keep it down?" They nodded and then continued as they were. Some of the old folks were motioning at these guys with index finger over their lips to quiet down. I could feel the adrenaline rushing, as my patience reached its end. I stood up and very loudly said, "Quiet down!!!!! You are bothering everyone here!" Then the guy still on the cell phone quieted down and I felt very relieved. Some of the old folks nodded at me in approval. The rest of the trip was quiet. Anyway, I started thinking that I may have really irritated these guys and was wondering if they would want to start trouble when we got back to the commuter parking lot in Flemington.

When we arrived, they got up and were down the aisle before I could get out of my seat. As we were walking down the two or three big steps to get off the bus, one of them pulled a small knife out and was flashing it at me behind his back. It was probably a 4" blade and it was very obvious he was intending to brandish and intimidate. I kept my ignition key in hand, ready stick it in his eye, if need be. Luckily, my car was only about 15' from the bus door. They didn't follow me to my car, but sort of stood in front of my car, motioning at me like they were singing in some rap video. I was safely in my car, fired her up and drove to the Raritan Twp. police station about 1/4 mile away.

I told the guys on duty what had happened and they said that was in Flemington Boro and I'd have to go to their police station on Main St. Nevermind that these cops could have easily gotten these guys before they could have gotten far, as I don't believe they had a car. Anyway, it took me five more minutes to get to the Flemington Police, where I told the duty officer what happened. He seemed unmoved, but wrote down my info and quick description. I said I'd be happy to ID these guys if they caught them.

And that's it! Had this been in VA, I think I would have dialed 911 from my car and stayed there, or followed the guys, since I would have 100% been armed and less likely to get into a real confrontation. At least then, the cops would have been there immediately when I told them I had a gun and was feeling threatened. But alas, in NJ you're left to your wits and the cops' willingness to do something about it.

[BillJ]

That sounds about right to me. Was thinking it would devolve into you body slamming someone into the side of the bus

[GoThingNC]

Glad nothing happened to you.
Never a nice feeling dealing with folks like that.

A had a college buddy many years ago was mugged in Manahtten near Greenwich Village walkingt o his car.

Two guys grab hiom from behind and stick a shotgun down his pants

After he was relived of his wallet he spotted the one of the suspects a while later walking down the sidewalk. My friend drove his old Ford Escort down the sidewalk chasing after the guys and knocked him to the ground.

He got his wallet back

Looking back he realized he should not have done it but he was too full of rage at the time.

[BlackTalon]

Originally Posted by GoThingNC

After he was relived of his wallet he spotted the one of the suspects a while later walking down the sidewalk. My friend drove his old Ford Escort down the sidewalk chasing after the guys and knocked him to the ground.

He got his wallet back

Now that's a happy ending! Too bad he wasn't able to drive over the second one...

Ah! Northern New Jersey. The entry location for the nozzle for a U.S. enema. I was born in Passaic and the place has deteriorated to 3rd world status. Of course the area where your parents live has remained civilized (I wonder why?). The problem is that you have to drive trough the bad parts of the state to get to the nice places.

You are a wise man to handle it the way you did.

[Cliff Claven]

So let me see if I got this right, this guy is walking down the steps in front of you, he's below you, back turned to you, arm behind his back, showing you the knife in his hand as a threat. He doesn't sound too smart. And he's totally at your mercy. Grab his arm holding the knife, quickly jerk the arm up hard til something snaps, heave him down the last step so he loses his balance and then as he's falling shove the knife up his ass. When it's over, say ooops, sorry I tripped. That's what Rambo would do. But I'd do it your way.

[VaSteve]

I would have kicked their asses. I'm such a bad asson the Internet.

[DavidH]

Hey Rick...pleased to hear this ended ok...you are a biggish guy so I am suer you would have been ok...but its always safer never to have to confront....look forward to seeing you on the 7th....you can see my split grill...istalled after seing yours!!!

[GoThingNC]

Originally Posted by BlackTalon

Now that's a happy ending! Too bad he wasn't able to drive over the second one...

I probably would have been spotted by the cops if I pulled something like that and be charged with "Stealing welfare money from a poor unfortunate soul who was heading down to the corner mart to buy some Malt Liquor and lottery tickets"

[TD in DC]

Oh, RL, when are you ever going to learn?

All you really needed to do was to start throwing the phrase INS around and asking whether they have their papers. You could have someone believing that you are an agent without ever having to say so.

They not only would have shut up on the bus, they probably would have split at the next stop. Jeezus, do I have to explain everthing?