Who here has been pepper sprayed?

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 3:30 pm

So....I'm riding my bike to work this morning, and a car totally blows through a stop sign...didn't slow down, didn't even look. I saw them coming, so I was already on my brakes (I always slow down at that intersection anyways, just in case), but I yelled out "Hey! You've got a stop sign".

3 blocks later, they've circled around behind me, come up to me at a stop sign, and the guy in the passenger seat leans out and shoots a white foam steam right in my face.

I instantly started to hack and cough, but was able to get a good look at the license plate, and yelled it out to a woman who was standing there waiting for a bus. I then kept repeating it to myself as got out my phone and wrote it down.

I then called 911, and as I was talking to them, giving them the information, my face/mouth started to burn. Like when you are cutting up hot peppers and accidently touch your face before washing your hands, but way more intense. So the EMT's came (I was about a block from the fire station...I told them I should have just walked there), took a look, took my vitals, and said "You should probably go to the ER, just in case...want us to call an ambulance?". I said no, and rode my bike a couple of miles to the UW Hospital.

There, they got me all checked in, and were looking at me, when the cops got there. Cops took all the information, and then told me that the plate matched the description I gave them (Black luxury SUV, early 20's white guy, in the neighborhood) and told me that they were going to go over to the address and see if anyone was there.

Doctors then had me get into the "Silkwood Shower" for 15 minutes, with a washcloth covering my eyes, to wash off any possible remaining stuff, and then did an exam on my eyes, just in case. Spent most of the morning there...just got back home.

Let me tell ya...pepper spray fucking hurts. And water seems to "re-ignite" it...like if you try to drink water to cool down your mouth after eating something super spicy. Just makes it worse.

So...we'll see what happens. Hopefully they catch the dude.

Oh...and the bonus part...only cost me $800 for my insurance deductible at the ER. Nice...

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 3:31 pm

Holy shit man!! That's scary!

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 3:34 pm

What the fuck

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 3:36 pm

The fuck? That's a shit 60th birthday present.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 3:39 pm

Damn, Dave. That’s rough. Hope they catch the jerk.

Nowhere near the same thing, but I was at an outdoor keg party/bonfire in my hometown when I was about 19. The cops showed up and ordered everybody to disperse. Wasn’t happening quickly enough to please them I guess, and we realized there was something like pepper spray or tear gas wafting through the air. People were gagging as we got the hell out of dodge.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 3:44 pm

Oh, and the docs told me I should shave my beard, just in case there was anything still there...

So now I'm clean shaven for the first time in a couple of years...

Luckily, nothing got in my eyes.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 3:50 pm

Good lord, Dave.

I'm glad it didn't end up worse than it did. Holy shit that's scary..

Sue the motherfucker for the entire ER bill - not just the amount you have to pay. Plus everything else you can think of (new bike clothes, whatever).

It's *possible* that your own auto insurance would cover you for this, though maybe not because what that asshole did was not accidental.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 3:57 pm

And not even defending the autonomous zone

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 4:09 pm

Just going by my weird YouTube algorithm, there's an uptick in people going out of their way to use pepper spray in a lot of situations where it's borderline aggravated assault.

Your case is not borderline. That is very clear-cut. Press charges and sue that motherfucker.

=-=-=-=-=

Back in college, a lot of the women walking around off campus carried pepper spray, including one of my gf's (wife's) roommates. One night, I got curious (and a little drunk) and just fired off a quick stream of the stuff in the hallway of their apartment.

OhMyGod. It was absolutely horrible and I was on everyone's shit list for a solid week. Pretty much had to clear out for the entire day with the windows open and fans on.

That was a tiny tiny blip, fired off into nothing, and it cleared out a 3 BR apartment for 6-7 hours. Can't imagine taking that to the face.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 4:14 pm

Not that it really matters but just curious if it was bear spray?

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 4:44 pm

JFC

Glad you’re mostly ok.

And as a guy who frequently yells at strangers when they run stop signs in my neighborhood, uh oh?

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 4:47 pm

Doing a deep dive on your strava looking for a clue on where it happened

Post by **Shirley** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 5:31 pm

Jesus. That's some crazy shit. I guess Trump was right about Seattle.

duff · Post by **duff** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 5:51 pm

You didn't damage your bolo, did you?

And hopefully you get every cent out of the mother fucker that did this.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 6:25 pm

rass wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2024 4:47 pm Doing a deep dive on your strava looking for a clue on where it happened

Right here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZUuUvvQw6N3qYG2MA

I was just a block away from the Burke-Gilman Trail...if I'd gotten to there, they wouldn't have been able to get at me.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 6:31 pm

One time we were eating at my wife’s favorite restaurant ever when my eyes started itching and watering. Then started coughing a bit, then noticed most everyone in the restaurant was doing the same. It was much worse towards the kitchen. So I stopped a server and asked her what’s up, and turned out some dumb teenager thought it’d be cool to spray her pepper spray in the back as a joke. I finally had to take the girls outside joining most of the rest of the restaurant. Except my wife who would not leave her Babe’s Chicken Dinner fried chicken behind like the true warrior she is.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 6:41 pm

I really pissed off the family once by "toastng" some peppercorn for a cacio e pepe recipe.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 7:01 pm

Any luck with the plate? You gonna file a report?

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 7:34 pm

I thought it was delicious. They didn't go near it.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 7:51 pm

You should get the option of following the normal legal process or spraying them back.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 8:56 pm

Wow. Glad you are okay DiS. I have been Coal Rolled a few times on my bike and that just is not enjoyable.

So not the same but my first night in college we had a mandatory fun type event for the freshman class. Everyone went and then as soon as it was over, everyone went to a party a short walk from campus. The house was called Stucco (the houses in town have names and this was a stucco house). Well several hundred kids at a small house party resulted in it becoming a block party. So the local cops come out and just start spraying to get everyone to leave. Just firing that stuff all over the place. I was far enough on the other end of the street that I could see it but not enough to be impacted. Just wandered off to another place.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 9:36 pm

mister d wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2024 7:51 pm You should get the option of following the normal legal process or spraying them back.

Why not both?

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Sun Sep 29, 2024 9:22 am

what.the.actual.fuck

dave that is actually goddamn terrifying and i'm glad you're "ok" but shit. who among us hasn't yelled at someone/something like that. yeah keep us up-to-date when they find these lunatics.

(not to mention it's beyond illogical - running thru a stopsign because they're in *such a goddamn hurry* yet felt so butthurt they felt they needed to delay their whatever to circle back and pepper spray you - fk)

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:18 pm

An update: Just got a message from the Seattle PD that they "are not pursuing the case". What the fuck?

I've called, and talked with a Detective, who said he didn't know why it wasn't going anywhere, but gave me the # of the Sergeant who made that decision. And of course, that guy isn't answering the phone.

So know I want to know...what's the level of assault one can get away with before the cops will actually do anything? If the guy had got out of his car and threw some punches, would that count? Maybe braining me with a baseball bat? Stabbing me? Firing some shots?

Not sure what I should do next...

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:27 pm

Oh fuck, I'm angry for you. This is bullshit.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:28 pm

Contact whatever the equivalent of the city's district attorney's office is in Seattle.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:29 pm

DaveInSeattle wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:18 pm An update: Just got a message from the Seattle PD that they "are not pursuing the case". What the fuck?

I've called, and talked with a Detective, who said he didn't know why it wasn't going anywhere, but gave me the # of the Sergeant who made that decision. And of course, that guy isn't answering the phone.

So know I want to know...what's the level of assault one can get away with before the cops will actually do anything? If the guy had got out of his car and threw some punches, would that count? Maybe braining me with a baseball bat? Stabbing me? Firing some shots?

Not sure what I should do next...

Ask the police what level of assault you can commit without them charging you.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:29 pm

Sadly, there's probably little you can do at all. The person would probably have had to been doing it to several people for them to escalate. And since I'm a cynic, I'm guessing someone at the PD probably wrote it off as :"if the guy hadn't yelled at them in the first place..." bullcrap.

Hell, cops are so bad at showing up for fender benders that most insurance companies don't care if there's a police report or not, barring injuries. So I am not surprised that an assault isn't high on their priority list, especially since you seem to be ok physically. But I'd be in my head riding everyhere for a while I imagine if it had happened to me. Hate that you had to go through all that.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:32 pm

I wonder if the sprayer is the son or just the nephew of a cop.

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:32 pm

You have no choice but to become a GoPro on the helmet guy. Sorry.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:33 pm

mister d wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:32 pm I wonder if the sprayer is the son or just the nephew of a cop.

This thought crossed my cynical mind as well.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:36 pm

Count me in the "relative of a cop and/or elected official" camp.

The mentality displayed by chasing someone down and assaulting them is pretty telling. I hate to use a trite word, but that's highly privileged and unhinged behavior.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:37 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:28 pm Contact whatever the equivalent of the city's district attorney's office is in Seattle.

I would also consider complaining with Internal Affairs.

And I'd call your council person (or the equivalent.)

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:37 pm

You got the license plate. Have you thought of lawyering up? It might be worth a free consult, just to see if you’d have a case against the sprayers.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:39 pm

I think the problem is, without a witness or video, the DA won't take the case, so the police won't bother charging. If they found the guy, he is going to deny it, then you don't have much to go on.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:40 pm

I thought there WERE witnesses.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:44 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:40 pm I thought there WERE witnesses.

There was a woman sitting at the bus stop that's right there who saw everything. I got her name and phone number and gave that to the cops as well.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:46 pm

DaveInSeattle wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:44 pm
Nonlinear FC wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:40 pm I thought there WERE witnesses.
There was a woman sitting at the bus stop that's right there who saw everything. I got her name and phone number and gave that to the cops as well.

That's what I'm talking about. I like the idea of suing this motherfucker.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 3:04 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:46 pm
DaveInSeattle wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:44 pm
Nonlinear FC wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:40 pm I thought there WERE witnesses.
There was a woman sitting at the bus stop that's right there who saw everything. I got her name and phone number and gave that to the cops as well.
That's what I'm talking about. I like the idea of suing this motherfucker.

Anyone here licensed in washington? Maybe the spongelikeninja has some PNW contacts!

duff · Post by **duff** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 3:43 pm

Maybe Seattle shouldn't have defunded the police.

Where is the outage font?