Did I do the right thing?

[xxturbowesxx]

Was at the ramp last weekend I launched my boat very quickly and while walking back down to my boat there is a guy screaming at his wife in the truck as she tries to back the boat in. Usually I would just pass by but this guy is calling her every name in the book and then yells "if you mess up one more time in going to punch you in the _____ face" My girlfreind suggests I help out. shes crying like crazy. I walk over and simply ask if he would like me to do it. He says yeah and continues to scream at his wife. at some point he jumps from the boat and starts advancing toward her. I step out and just say everyone calm down and step in between him and her. He makes a B line for me and Its not secret this guy wants to fight. I think great here we go and waited for him to throw a punch and laid one on him. He was out and I grabbed my phone and called 911. The cops came and we both got cuffed for a brief moment as they asked the witnesses what happened and i was released. He was charged with domestic violence it turns out he was beating on her on the way to the ramp. It was a disgusting situation and makes me sick thinking about it. I hate that it turned out bad but don't regret doing it. What would you have done?

 

[zach103]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

I would have done the same thing dude.. good job

 

[ezbtr]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Hell yes you did the right thing! I would have done the same - guys that beat their women are azz holes......

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

IMO, you did the right thing. Problem is, .............. whether or not she will go back to him. ALOT of them do !!!!!!!!! That is a sad thing to say, but true !!!!!!!!!!

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

XX let me see if I understand the events correctly,
Simply put: He was screaming, you stepped between him and his wife, he came towards you, and you hit him. Correct?
If my understanding is correct, NO, you are at fault for assault.

Now, don't get me wrong, I would and have done the same thing. And, I have been in handcuffs and charged with assault. I'd still do the same thing. BTW, the charges were dismissed because the witnesses agreed that he was intent on causing me harm. He came at me aggressively. A real hard thing to prove. Sometimes my size works against me.

Unfortunately, most police want you to call them and allow them to resolve the issue. Time is not on the good guys side. Some police will back you, some won't. So. my advice is do the right thing. But, make sure you are a potential victim and not the aggressor.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

By throwing the first punch, you took the risk of being the 'bad' guy...however 'good' your intentions were. Had the abused little woman been the only witness, the odds are that she would have supported her 'man'. There are a ton of stories where both of the fighting family members gang up on the Good Samaritan!

Since all is well, that ends well...you done good!

P.S. next time make sure that the bully at least 'touches' you first, or states clearly that he has every intention of inflicting bodily harm...then you are on the right side of the law!

 

[xxturbowesxx]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Was at the ramp last weekend I launched my boat very quickly and while walking back down to my boat there is a guy screaming at his wife in the truck as she tries to back the boat in. Usually I would just pass by but this guy is calling her every name in the book and then yells "if you mess up one more time in going to punch you in the _____ face" My girlfreind suggests I help out. shes crying like crazy. I walk over and simply ask if he would like me to do it. He says yeah and continues to scream at his wife. at some point he jumps from the boat and starts advancing toward her. I step out and just say everyone calm down and step in between him and her. He makes a B line for me and Its not secret this guy wants to fight. I think great here we go and waited for him to throw a punch and laid one on him. He was out and I grabbed my phone and called 911. The cops came and we both got cuffed for a brief moment as they asked the witnesses what happened and i was released. He was charged with domestic violence it turns out he was beating on her on the way to the ramp. It was a disgusting situation and makes me sick thinking about it. I hate that it turned out bad but don't regret doing it. What would you have done?

I waited for him to throw the first punch and saw it coming a mile away. I don't think she will go back to him but who knows. She is the one who pressed charges so one can only hope.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

i think you did the right thing.
as stated in another post, "by throwing the first punch". Thats not true, he was coming at you with the intent to do harm, and that sets you free to use reseasonable force to stop him from hurting you. Now that term is a little loose, but you get the idea. There is no law that says someone else has to throw the first punch if you feel your in danger of harm, or protecting someone else that is in danger of harm.

To bad he didnt fall down a couple more times.

 

[ebentraywick]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

great job. i hade that hapend 2 me once i live right near lakemendocino and i was hanging at the ramp with my freinds and some guys was yelling at his gf and i was watching and he got all pissed at her like crazy and started 2 grab her and throw her out of the truck bechase she chouldnt back up the treailer and he got in the truck and she got in the boat and she chouldnt figure out how 2 start the boat so he comes swiming after the boat bechase it was drifting off and he got on the bot and thru her off and started 2 drive towerds the treailer and me and my freinds got up and started 2 tell the guy 2 com down but he started 2 yell back at us but when he got the boat on the treailer after we started 2 call the cops he saw us calling the cops and he came on the dock and yelling like crazy at my freind and he pushed him in the water and me and my other freind got really pissed so we pushed him in the water and my freind got on the dock finely and the guy was even more pissed but he was at the sore freaking out and the ranger saw what was going on and drove down and it started 2 go crazy the guy punched the ranger and me and my freinds helped the girl on the dock and she was crying and finely the ranger had him on the ground and after a few hours it felt like the cops shouded up and cuffed the guy and she got a restraning order on him. but i hate when u guys yell and hert girls it terrible.. great job and check out my questions i have one about my outboard the nobody has commented back on

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Actually, the threat of violence by him would be assault. If he had struck you, it would have been a battery.

 

[Numlaar]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

i think you did the right thing.
as stated in another post, "by throwing the first punch". Thats not true, he was coming at you with the intent to do harm, and that sets you free to use reseasonable force to stop him from hurting you. Now that term is a little loose, but you get the idea. There is no law that says someone else has to throw the first punch if you feel your in danger of harm, or protecting someone else that is in danger of harm.

To bad he didnt fall down a couple more times.

Hehe in Florida with the new(ish) stand your ground law, you could've shot him.

 

[Philthyphil]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Hehe in Florida with the new(ish) stand your ground law, you could've shot him.

I would have not said a word to him, just call 911, for all you know he could have shot you!! esp in florida!!

 

[lowkee]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Awesome job! I can't say I would have risked a fight (I likely would have lost), and would have simply talked to the wife and asked if she needed help and called the police if she said yes. You did what every decent guy should do (who stands a chance of not getting beaten to death ).

 

[mphy98]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

You did the right thing and acted bravely. As for her my brother in law was a police officer for 30 years and he told me many times of going to a "domestic dispute" and taking the dirt bag away, only to have the beaten wife/girlfriend attack him or his partner. I cannot imagine doing anything like that. Oh and by the way, guys that hit girls usually do it because they are wimps when it comes to guys.

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Hehe in Florida with the new(ish) stand your ground law, you could've shot him.

+1. Man against woman in FL is an unfair advantage and would put a reasonable person in fear of great bodily harm or loss of life. Bang.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

+1. Man against woman in FL is an unfair advantage and would put a reasonable person in fear of great bodily harm or loss of life. Bang.

not all that I have seen since being out here.....

Seriously...One warning to stand down & one new nasal cavity if he doesn't.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Good going!! In my opinion you did the right thing, I hate people like that so ya I am all for it. Good job!!

 

[skargo]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

Too bad he didn't fall into a wood chipper.

 

[watermellonI]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

evil flourishes when good men do nothing

 

[642mx]

Re: Did I do the right thing?

In this sue happy world, I wouldn't have gotten involved. If he was beating her in public I would have simply called the cops.

Think of it like this.... what if you hit the guy and he fell back and broke his neck. Now he's in a wheelchair and looking for a paycheck.... see where this is going?