Q: Police incident involving retrieval of tools, homeowner threats, and subsequent police apology.
I went to a person's house with a police officer to retrieve a few tools (a hammer, texture sprayer, trowel, and other items). The officer asked if he should lock the keys inside after we left, and I agreed. Later, the same officer was there with the homeowner and other officers to search the house, about which I was not informed. Subsequently, the homeowner came to my house, yelling, hitting on the door, and had previously threatened me. The police gave him a trespassing warning. Four days later, the officer called to apologize, stating that if he had informed the homeowner where the keys were, the homeowner would not have come to my house asking for them.
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A:
It sounds like you’ve been through a very stressful and confusing situation. From what you’ve described, the police officer’s failure to properly communicate with both you and the homeowner about the key left room for misunderstandings. When the officer mentioned locking the keys inside, there was no mention of any consequences if that information wasn’t shared later on, which seems to have contributed to the homeowner's angry behavior.
When the homeowner came to your house, shouting and making threats, it seems like the situation escalated further. Given that the police were involved, they should have ensured the homeowner’s behavior was properly addressed right away. Their decision to issue a trespassing warning was likely the correct step at that point to calm things down.
The officer calling to apologize was a positive move, but it doesn’t erase the initial communication failure. It might be helpful to address this with the police department, ensuring that they’re aware of how this affected your safety and peace of mind. You deserve clarity and safety moving forward, especially with such tense interactions.
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