Unusual Situation

[floridaorange]

Curious what you all would do...

About 4-6 months ago roughly I noticed a guy walking in our neighborhood. He looked like he was in his late 20's - early 30's and just seemed really sad by the way he was walking. I almost drove up next to him to see if there was anything I could do to help him, but decided not to.

Now I'm sure to New Yorkers, this is probably laughable, but our neighborhood is very quiet and everyone knows everyone. Lots of young families and we are very close to one of the best elementary schools around. Homes are about $500k - $2mill in our area and on up.

Anyway, same guy, walking around, noticed him instead of weekly, now it's daily. And he's normally gripping his fists and yelling at nobody. So it's clear he has tourettes or something along those lines.

My wife is a bit bothered by his presence, saying she thinks he could be dangerous around our kids playing outside. I personally think he's totally harmless.

Long story long, does this guy need help, or what do you think? Ignore him and move on with our lives . We both work from home, so we see him on our street daily, and again, I'm not worried or bothered, but wife is.

[Tyga11]

Ummmm he’s probably on fentanyl man. I see these zombies all over Phoenix. Non emergency and get a cop to ship him out of your neighborhood

[GolfCoyote]

If he's minding his business and just doing his thing, you should do the same.
It sounds like this is his baseline as you see him daily like this. He may have underlying mental health related issues, no much you're going to do about it nor will the police or medical first responders.

[BIGW0RM]

Nothing wrong with asking someone if they are OK. I would do that OP.

[Alfisti]

Urrrrrgh this is tough. First thing first is try to determine if it is a drug issue, if so have him pushed out ASAP. If more a mental health thing or Tourette's it seems harsh to have him reported but i'd be concerned about unpredictability. What are the neighbours saying? I have been to 4 US cities in the last yr and sweet baby jesus the drug/mental health/homeless thing is just relentless.

[Watching The World Burn]

Originally Posted by BIGW0RM

Nothing wrong with asking someone if they are OK. I would do that OP.

And when you do, make sure you are carrying lol.

No, but seriously, I see it maybe going either way, either things escalate because he's in an alternate reality re: drugs / mental lapse, or he isn't, and then appreciates the concern and you learn a little about him and are able to make a more informed decision.

I don't know that I'd walk up to him with nothing to defend myself with though.

[BIGW0RM]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Urrrrrgh this is tough. First thing first is try to determine if it is a drug issue, if so have him pushed out ASAP. If more a mental health thing or Tourette's it seems harsh to have him reported but i'd be concerned about unpredictability. What are the neighbours saying? I have been to 4 US cities in the last yr and sweet baby jesus the drug/mental health/homeless thing is just relentless.

I was just in Syracuse, NY to visit my son station at fort drum. I could not believe the amount of drugged zombies I saw downtown leaving the airport. Ive seen videos of people hunched over standing still. But to see it in person hit differently.

I dont understand how any one could live that way. Id rather be dead.

[BIGW0RM]

Originally Posted by Watching The World Burn

And when you do, make sure you are carrying lol.

No, but seriously, I see it maybe going either way, either things escalate because he's in an alternate reality re: drugs / mental lapse, or he isn't, and then appreciates the concern and you learn a little about him and are able to make a more informed decision.

I don't know that I'd walk up to him with nothing to defend myself with though.

I understand your position. You cant trust anyone these days. But its sad to think that we live in a world where we cant just ask someone "hey man, are you ok" without fear.

I miss the 80's. Where we all talked to each other. We all talked shit to each other. We all said hurtful things to each other and laughed about it the next day.

[BIGW0RM]

double post.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

Curious what you all would do...

I would let it slide. Since you're in a close-knit community, talk to your neighbors, maybe someone actually knows what's wrong with him.

[DieselDiner]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

I would let it slide. Since you're in a close-knit community, talk to your neighbors, maybe someone actually knows what's wrong with him.

x2

You need to get to the neighbor that knows everyone (every neighborhood has at least one of these LOL) and find out if this person is a resident in your neighborhood. He could very well be an adult child of someone in your neighborhood - and it would be helpful to know before you make contact with what you might be dealing. Since you see him every day around the same time, it seems possible it's a neighbor rather than an interloper.

[Alfisti]

5 posts is all it took before someone suggested going in locked and loaded.

[spazzyfry123]

If it’s your neighborhood, do you have any type of neighborhood/HOA chat? May be a good idea to connect with the people you know to see if this individual is a relative/friend of your neighbor.

We had a similar situation in our gated community neighborhood (prior to where we live now - if we see ANYONE here, we raise flags being so rural). Immediate response from neighbors is cops were called since he was in our gated neighborhood. Turns out, neighbor was taking care of a mentally unstable relative for a few weeks. Ended up having to get him out of jail just because no one thought to ask.

May be a totally different situation than yours, but a perspective nevertheless.

[RPM33]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

Curious what you all would do...

About 4-6 months ago roughly I noticed a guy walking in our neighborhood. He looked like he was in his late 20's - early 30's and just seemed really sad by the way he was walking. I almost drove up next to him to see if there was anything I could do to help him, but decided not to.

Now I'm sure to New Yorkers, this is probably laughable, but our neighborhood is very quiet and everyone knows everyone. Lots of young families and we are very close to one of the best elementary schools around. Homes are about $500k - $2mill in our area and on up.

Anyway, same guy, walking around, noticed him instead of weekly, now it's daily. And he's normally gripping his fists and yelling at nobody. So it's clear he has tourettes or something along those lines.

My wife is a bit bothered by his presence, saying she thinks he could be dangerous around our kids playing outside. I personally think he's totally harmless.

Long story long, does this guy need help, or what do you think? Ignore him and move on with our lives . We both work from home, so we see him on our street daily, and again, I'm not worried or bothered, but wife is.

Floridaorange: Keep us updated about this situation. I agree with your wife as I would not trust this “man” either.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by RPM33

Floridaorange: Keep us updated about this situation. I agree with your wife as I would not trust this “man” either.

Wives seem to have a 6th sense about these things. Maybe it's their momma-bear instinct.

[floridaorange]

My neighbor who knows everyone responded:

Yeah. Lives down the street. Been there for years that I remember. Harmless. Tried to make contact once and got a smile and a wave.

I guess that’s that. Granted my neighbor isn’t the best judge if I’m being honest.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

Curious what you all would do...

About 4-6 months ago roughly I noticed a guy walking in our neighborhood. He looked like he was in his late 20's - early 30's and just seemed really sad by the way he was walking. I almost drove up next to him to see if there was anything I could do to help him, but decided not to.

Now I'm sure to New Yorkers, this is probably laughable, but our neighborhood is very quiet and everyone knows everyone. Lots of young families and we are very close to one of the best elementary schools around. Homes are about $500k - $2mill in our area and on up.

Anyway, same guy, walking around, noticed him instead of weekly, now it's daily. And he's normally gripping his fists and yelling at nobody. So it's clear he has tourettes or something along those lines.

My wife is a bit bothered by his presence, saying she thinks he could be dangerous around our kids playing outside. I personally think he's totally harmless.

Long story long, does this guy need help, or what do you think? Ignore him and move on with our lives . We both work from home, so we see him on our street daily, and again, I'm not worried or bothered, but wife is.

Find out where he lives in the neighborhood and then ask his neighbors.

You could always call the police and say there appears to someone with mental health issues walking your neighborhood.

[infinitekidM2C]

Thought this was going to be a Nazil post. Is she banned yet?

[Pauly Wauly]

I was going to say for you to be careful how you approach the situation, but it looks like you spoke to your neighbors and now understand the situation.

We have a young man who lives in the neighborhood that has mental health issues and is not violent.
He walks around the neighborhood in the morning clinching his fists and talking to himself, but he is harmless, and everyone in the neighborhood knows that.

[CTinline-six]

I would leave him alone unless he starts hanging out around your property and gives you a reason to be suspicious. The last thing you want is for him to think you are after him or something.

[zx10guy]

We're all not there to see the behavior you're witnessing so none of us can say for sure what to do. But you clearly are concerned about this man. There's no harm to call the police for a welfare check. If things are ok, the cops will just leave him alone.

[floridaorange]

Some great ideas - I appreciate it. We walk alot so I will see him and keep an eye on him and as pointed out - if he seems like he's likely a harm to himself or others , a welfare check is a great call. I get so busy focused on our young boys at home, sometimes it helps to get extra advice from here, so thank you. Promise not to go the Nazali route I'm fairly certain that's a "he" btw.