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A night I will never forget...

I was telling a friend yesterday about the following story and remembered I had written about it the day after "it" happened (Feb. 7, 2004). It was fun rereading it. I hope you enjoy it. It's all true!

Last night Tami and I went to bed shortly after 10 p.m. I always go to sleep before Tami, and was asleep by 10:30. At 11 p.m. my wife shook me awake and said, "someone is knocking on the door." I decided to just lie there and wait to see if she really heard knocking. Seconds later, I heard the knocking. By this time I started thinking, who could be knocking on our door at 11 at night?

I got out of bed and went to the door; before I got to the door someone knocked again. I figured that whoever it was on the outside of that door must be someone I know. Who else would knock on someone's door in the middle of the night? I realized that I was not dressed to open the door (shorts and T-shirt) so, I just shouted through the door, "who is it?"

Meanwhile, Tami had tiptoed into the room and began to try and look out the window. I looked out the small peephole in my door but I couldn't see anyone on my porch. Finally someone answered my question. The voice from the other side of the door said, "Sir, we're having car problems, do you have a tire or a jack?"

I didn't know what to say. Even if I did have a tire, I have no idea how this guy would know if it could have fit his wheel. Looking back, I now believe the voice was just trying to get me to open the door so he and whoever was with him could enter the house. I finally gained enough composure to say, "I don't have anything."

The voice responded by saying, "Dang! Well, thanks anyway sir." My wife was able to see that there were two males on our porch, one white and one black, and they appeared to be teenagers. The black male had been doing the talking. I never saw the two, but after they left, I heard what sounded like someone climbing over the chain-link fence that separates my house from my neighbor's.

As I walked back to my bedroom, I honestly did not feel any concern for our safety. I dismissed the event as two very inconsiderate teenagers who had blown a tire and were desperate for someone to help them. I went back to the bedroom with Tami and was back asleep within 15 minutes. Tami was not so lucky; she always has trouble getting to sleep, especially after being awakened in such a manner.

Tami watched TV as I slept. The next thing I remember, is Tami shaking me awake again! "Someone is in the backyard!" she said.

Our bedroom is on the back of the one story house. We have a large window that looks into our large wooded backyard. For reasons I can't explain, we do not have any blind or curtain on that window. As I began to open my eyes, all I could see through the window, is our reflection and the occasional flicker of what appeared to be flashlights. There was just enough light in our bedroom from the TV to prevent us from being able to see anything but the lights in the backyard. I watched dumbfounded for a few moments and then finally told Tami to hand me the cordless phone.

By that time, we were both sitting in bed still under the covers. I, for the first time in my life, dialed 911. The phone just rang and rang. I immediately began to think about the horror stories I've heard about people being put on hold as murderers enter and kill those needing help. Finally, after what seemed like a thousand rings, a woman's voice came on the other end of the line. All I could think to say was "strange men are in my backyard." By this time, it appeared that there were 3 or 4 flashlights shining back and forth across the yard.

The 911 operator asked me if the men were Cobb Co. police officers. I asked the operator, "how should I know?"

She asked me if I could look out a window to see if they were police officers. I immediately thought what a terrible idea that was. The operator then finally told me that there were police in my neighborhood looking for someone.

About that moment, I heard someone banging on my door. I left Tami in the bedroom staring at the flashlights and went back into the main room. I had the phone at my ear and told the operator that someone was banging on my door. I honestly thought that whoever was on the other side of that door was going to break it down if I didn't say something.

Finally, In the most masculine voice I could muster, I shouted "who is there?

About that moment, I heard someone banging on my door. I left Tami in the bedroom staring at the flashlights and went back into the main room. I had the phone at my ear and told the operator that someone was banging on my door. I honestly thought that whoever was on the other side of that door was going to break it down if I didn't say something.

Finally, In the most masculine voice I could muster, I shouted "who is there?"

The voice from the other side of the door boomed back, "Cobb County Police! Open up! The voice was much more masculine than mine.

In a split second, I thought, "how do I know that this voice is who he says he is?" At that point, I noticed the blue lights. In front of my house, I could clearly see the blue lights of a police car. I decided to trust the voice and open the door.

With the phone still at my ear, I went to the door while continuing to give the operator the play by play. I told her I was opening the door. Before I could open it, whoever was on the other side pounded on it again.

I spun the lock and grasped the door knob with one motion. As I turned the knob, and pulled the door, I felt the weight of someone pushing it from the other side. I was knocked back, but managed to keep my feet under me. All I could see was two men pointing hand guns at me.

One of the men yelled, "Put your hands where I can see them!" I put one hand above my head, but continued to to hold the cordless phone to my ear with the other. The man yelled again, "Put both of your hands in the air!"

I told the man that I was on the phone with 911. He told me he didn't care and to drop the phone and put my hands in the air. I quickly told the operator, "I'm hanging up now" and threw the phone on the couch and put my other hand above my head.

I finally noticed that the men were in fact police officers. They continued to train their guns at my chest. They began interrogating me about presence in the house. They began by asking me who lived in the house. I told them that I lived in the house with my wife. They asked me who else was in the house. One of the officers was already darting in and out of rooms with his gun perpendicular to his body pointing towards the ceiling.

"My wife Tami is here," I said. "She's pregnant!" I guess I hoped that the news of her pregnancy might warrant some special treatment from these men.

I yelled to the bedroom, "Tami it is OK! Come out, it is the police!"

No response.

"Tami come out! It's the police, they want you to come out!

No response.

By this time, one of the officers began yelling, "Tami! Tami!"

Finally, the door of our bedroom opens. Tami comes out, barefooted in a long red shirt that hangs down past her knees. The officers, after seeing Tami finally lower their guns.

Tami later told me that she had been hiding in our closet. I still have no idea how pregnant Tami fit into our tiny closet.

The officers asked if we had had anyone in our house that night, and I told them about the two boys who had knocked on our door earlier that night.

One of the officers talked into the radio on his shoulder, "We have the homeowners, they are not involved."

Tami and I looked at each other and wondered silently, involved with what?

One of the officers finally explained to us that someone had stolen a Cadillac Escalade (a $50,000 sports utility vehicle) from a church parking lot near our neighborhood. Evidently, someone followed the thieves and saw them parked in front of our house. The police were told that the criminals were seen coming out of our house. The police had thought we were the car thieves!

We told the police everything we knew about the two boys who had been on our porch earlier that evening. One of the officers remained in the house with us and the other went back out the front door.

The officer that remained with us seemed sincerely embarrassed to be a part of scaring two innocent home owners half to death. He tried making small-talk. "So, is this your first baby?"

I told him it was and I apologized that the house was a mess. "We've just built a new room and haven't gotten our house back in order."

He walked around as if he were looking for a place to sit, but there were boxes everywhere. I finally told him that I need to go put some clothes on. I went back to my room and slipped some pants on and then rejoined my wife and the officer in the main room.

Even fully clothed, I couldn't stop shivering. I couldn't believe what had transpired that night.

The police officer finally radioed to his partner and requested permission to "release the homeowners."

After getting permission, he apologized again and told us goodnight. We thanked him and locked the door after he left.

Tami and I barely talked about the events of the evening and I was asleep less than 30 minutes later. Tami barely slept. The cats spent the rest of the night making mysterious noises and knocking over boxes. Tami has never held me so tight!

Obediently yours,
~jon

Posted by Jonathan at August 1, 2005 4:34 AM

Comments

Posted by: stefan earnhardt at August 1, 2005 11:27 PM

Posted by: A.Josiane at August 26, 2005 7:20 PM

Posted by: lastman at August 28, 2005 4:29 PM

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