So, I live in a town that is riddled with drug sale and use. When I say riddled, I mean half the town is pill poppers, and the other half is meth heads. Where I live specifically, there are 2 dealers within pissing distance of my door. There is constantly traffic in and out. Sometimes one of the places gets so backed up with people coming in that they have to park in the road. Beautiful part is, a cop rents this place to the druggies. That should give you a mild idea on how corrupt the government is around here. I always though "Pfft yea corruption these days isn't real", boy was I wrong.
So anywho, ever since I got my DSLR, I have been going outside and taking pictures of these dealers showing up, then car loads of people running in and out until the dealer leaves. Mind you, I have been taking these photos from my porch, in clear sight of them the whole time. It scared them for a little bit, and calmed down the activity for a few months. Recently its started back up pretty hardcore again.
Today I stepped out on my porch with my camera, and took a few photos of the 7 cars packed into their driveway, and hanging out into the street, and of a clear drug deal in the middle of the road. They apparently didn't like this. A few minutes later, the drug dealer is standing in the driveway with a digital camera taking photos of me yelling "I can take photos of you too". After ignoring it all for a few more minutes, I start to respond back.
They ask who they think I am and blah blah blah. I know my rights, if you are outdoors it is considered being in the public and anybody can take whatever pictures they want. Cop today even agreed. Well one of them spouts off that if I take more photos, they are going to shoot me. I warn them I am armed as well, and to not test me. I then proceeded to mind my own business, and they proceed to go about theirs. My wife's parents find out about it the ordeal, and call the cops. They live on the same street, and agree with me, they are sick and tired of the drugs being run, done, sold, and dirty needles left everywhere around all these kids we have around here.
So, cops come, first thing I ask them is if it is illegal to take pictures of people. I get immediately told it is not, so we let them know about the threats and the drug problem. Cops act like they have no idea about any drug problems, and that they are tired of getting called up this road for this and that. I basically call him a liar, he shrugs it all off, tells us to not confront or argue with them (the druggies) anymore, and that they will have a talk with them. In the end, nothing happened. The lady who threatened to shoot me ended up moving their vehicle next door to me, and just sat there staring, until the owner came home and requested they move.
Now, I am hearing of more possible threats of "vehicles will just not work anymore". So, what is yalls advice? I was declined on a home loan since I am considered self-employed by loan agencies as a contract worker, and need atleast 2 years of self-employed tax information. This is also the only place we could find in the area that would rent to us with my 60lbs chocolate lab. Atleast we aren't under a lease
, but until then, I need to protect my property, wife, and unborn child. The main problem is I often have to fly out of town for a week at a time for my job, leaving my wife home alone.
Are there any ways to escalate these issues past the local police? Any good, fairly tamper proof security camera systems that aren't too pricey and easy to setup/use? I'm locked and loaded for short range and long range if they decide to get violent, so not very afraid of that type of confrontation. More worried about the "What are they going to do when we aren't home or sleeping?" kinda situations. These are the kind of people that would rather do something to your property while you weren't looking than confront you face to face.
I appreciate any help that can be given.
/ranting over lol
So anywho, ever since I got my DSLR, I have been going outside and taking pictures of these dealers showing up, then car loads of people running in and out until the dealer leaves. Mind you, I have been taking these photos from my porch, in clear sight of them the whole time. It scared them for a little bit, and calmed down the activity for a few months. Recently its started back up pretty hardcore again.
Today I stepped out on my porch with my camera, and took a few photos of the 7 cars packed into their driveway, and hanging out into the street, and of a clear drug deal in the middle of the road. They apparently didn't like this. A few minutes later, the drug dealer is standing in the driveway with a digital camera taking photos of me yelling "I can take photos of you too". After ignoring it all for a few more minutes, I start to respond back.
They ask who they think I am and blah blah blah. I know my rights, if you are outdoors it is considered being in the public and anybody can take whatever pictures they want. Cop today even agreed. Well one of them spouts off that if I take more photos, they are going to shoot me. I warn them I am armed as well, and to not test me. I then proceeded to mind my own business, and they proceed to go about theirs. My wife's parents find out about it the ordeal, and call the cops. They live on the same street, and agree with me, they are sick and tired of the drugs being run, done, sold, and dirty needles left everywhere around all these kids we have around here.
So, cops come, first thing I ask them is if it is illegal to take pictures of people. I get immediately told it is not, so we let them know about the threats and the drug problem. Cops act like they have no idea about any drug problems, and that they are tired of getting called up this road for this and that. I basically call him a liar, he shrugs it all off, tells us to not confront or argue with them (the druggies) anymore, and that they will have a talk with them. In the end, nothing happened. The lady who threatened to shoot me ended up moving their vehicle next door to me, and just sat there staring, until the owner came home and requested they move.
Now, I am hearing of more possible threats of "vehicles will just not work anymore". So, what is yalls advice? I was declined on a home loan since I am considered self-employed by loan agencies as a contract worker, and need atleast 2 years of self-employed tax information. This is also the only place we could find in the area that would rent to us with my 60lbs chocolate lab. Atleast we aren't under a lease
, but until then, I need to protect my property, wife, and unborn child. The main problem is I often have to fly out of town for a week at a time for my job, leaving my wife home alone.Are there any ways to escalate these issues past the local police? Any good, fairly tamper proof security camera systems that aren't too pricey and easy to setup/use? I'm locked and loaded for short range and long range if they decide to get violent, so not very afraid of that type of confrontation. More worried about the "What are they going to do when we aren't home or sleeping?" kinda situations. These are the kind of people that would rather do something to your property while you weren't looking than confront you face to face.
I appreciate any help that can be given.
/ranting over lol
