rborow@bcm1a09.attmail.com (03/28/91)
Well, I just got off the phone with one of the officers of the North Riverside Police Dept. (my "little" hometown). This policewoman has been really helpful in assisting me with my nuisance calls. She's to get back to me later today when I get home, so I'll let all you readers out there know what's up within the next day or so. Seems like the officer has stuff to tell me. I did want to relate a similar experience I had while a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign years ago. I was receiving similar annoying calls, some threats, etc. As Pat put it, I had NO INTENTION of changing my number. I probably wouldn't mind if I had just got the number and hadn't told it to anyone yet. Nevertheless, why should I have to be put through all this trouble when it's some other [expletive deleted] who's causing this? So, not one to give up or shrug things off, I pursued matters and had a trap put on my line. Illinois Bell a week later told me the trap was quite successful: five people were nailed (which, though it sounds low, is a good catch). They released the information to an Urbana police investigator who dropped by my apartment and showed me the results. Four of the five people I didn't know. The remaining person I did: he was (at that time) the best friend of one of MY friends at school. This guy didn't like me; after this, I didn't like him. So, I instructed the investigator to proceed and prosecute. The policeman contacted me a few days later, explaining how he dropped by this scum's house (his name was Jim) and revealed what's been going on. The investigator told me he showed up in uniform, in his squad car. He said they usually do it this way to get across to the people that they are serious about this "crap" as he put it. (Probably cuz there ain't much to do police-wise in hick towns like Champaign- Urbana.) Well, to make a long story short, they arrested the guy, and I got to go down to the station to sign the complaint. I purposely took my time, because they kept him in a cell for a few hours until I could come down to the station. I smiled a satisfactory smile as I went to sign the papers, knowing that it was I who indeed had the last "laugh." The outcome? He pleaded guilty and was given some really meaningless and trivial community service, probation, and a nice fine (I think it was around a couple hundred bucks, but I honestly can't remember). I was pleased. After all, the evidence was so obvious and irrefutable. BTW, it was revealed that the reason this guy had been bugging me was because he "cared for" my friend so much. Huh? My friend was 25, this guy was 50ish! I think he was of a "different persuasion," shall I say. Geez, I sure picked a winner down there on campus. (You should have seen the judge's reaction to this!) Randy Borow AT&T Communications Rolling Meadows, IL.