March 24, 2010

pepper spray: YES PLEASE

so as many of you already know from my slightly histrionic tweets this morning, i learned today that i almost definitely had the pleasure of running into the east coast rapist twice over the past two weeks. i know! can you believe my luck? also: OMFG.

here's the whole story: two weeks ago, i got to my pole studio early for my 8:45pm class. our studio is in a suburban strip mall, essentially. here is a googlemap street view of NOT our actual location, but to give you the general sense.

it's the type of place that's bustling with business all day long, along a busyish road in a populated area, although the lot itself pretty much clears out after 8pm. when it is also, coincidentally, very dark outside.

so at about 8:15 two mondays ago, i'd pulled up outside my studio, sitting in my car and reading a book while i waited for the current class to finish. i was distracted momentarily by a guy walking in front of my car, along the sidewalk in front of our studio. i glanced up, then went back down to my book.

then looked back up, although i couldn't tell you why, except that something just didn't "feel right."

i watched this man, with a hoodie up over his head, walk directly to our studio (which doesn't even have a sign on it - it's new and still has the signage from the previous business up). he stopped at the front windows, cupped his hands around his face, and peered in. the windows are blacked out, so i don't imagine he could see much.. sorta pervy, but whatever, right? if i were a pervy guy and was walking along and happened to pass a pole dancing studio? i'd probably peek in. except after peering in, this guy turned around and walked back the way he came. which means he wasn't "passing by" and noticed the studio; he walked over to it - at night, in a dark parking lot, when nothing else was open - expressly to look inside.

i was staring pretty hard at him as he walked back in front of me. he stopped directly in front of my car, looked at me through the windshield, and waved. i didn't react, so he waved again and made a friendly motion as if he were going to come to the side of my car. i continued to stare stonily at him... so he walked away.

the next day, i was feeling bad about the situation. looking back on it, there was nothing expressly wrong this guy had done. except... MAN, my gut didn't like it. and really, who IS just wandering around a deserted strip mall at night? on foot? and knows exactly where a pole studio is and goes there to look in...? but i kept feeling guilty about assuming this guy was up to no good. he was black. was i secretly racist and didn't know it? did i just assume the worst because he was black? god, what was wrong with me? but i still just... didn't like it. i couldn't place why, but i just DIDN'T.

i should note here that i am normally pretty reckless in terms of my personal safety. i walk alone through the city at night. i walk home from the metro by myself. i don't carry any weapons. i feel that i make informed decisions and am careful not to make myself a target, but in general i don't get scared walking alone or assume most guys are out to harm me... which is why my strong fearful reaction to what amounts to a (failed!) peeking tom seemed weird to me.

fast forward to this monday night, when i'm back at the studio again. we finish up our class at 10pm, then four of us hung around chatting for another 20 minutes. i hugged my instructor and her friend goodbye and said i had to get home, so the other student and i left the two of them to close up. i hopped in my car and started to drive out of the parking lot... when i noticed a man in a hoodie walking through the lot, heading toward the studio that i had just pulled away from. i was already going slowly, but slowed down even more (since there was a dude walking in the road and all) and he flagged me down and motioned repeatedly that i turn around and go back toward the (completely deserted) back area of the lot, presumably with him.

i suddenly felt really, REALLY uneasy. i obviously did not blithely turn around and go with him, but... my instructor and the other girl were still at the studio. alone. and once again my gut was absolutely SCREAMING at me that something was Not OK Here.

i waited until i'd pulled past the guy and he kept walking, then i did pull my car around so i could see the front of the studio, where the two girls were just leaving. i still figured i was overreacting and there was no need to alarm anyone, so i would just stay and make sure i saw them both get into their cars. except then the man WALKED DIRECTLY TOWARD THEM, then stood under a tree and stared at them from over his shoulder. my instructor tensed up and looked very uncomfortable, and hurried to her car.

i waited until i saw they were both in their cars and pulling out, then i left and went home as well. i decided to tell our instructor the whole story next week at class, just so she knew.

except! i came into work today to a string of emails from folks at the studio. turns out my instructor had been seriously shaken by the incident as well - apparently her gut was freaking out too - and ended up calling the police tuesday morning. they asked her to describe the man, where she'd been, and what he'd done, and once she gave a complete report they told her that this serial rapist had been spotted several times in the area, and her description was exactly that of the man they were looking for. he'd attempted to subdue a woman walking her dog in a nearby neighborhood over that weekend, but she got away.

i know that it's still likely that it was just some dude being creepy. EXCEPT, you guys. i have NEVER felt that way before. i have never had someone's purportedly innocent presence make me that uncomfortable, ever. i have never had my stomach start twisting and my heart start racing when someone wasn't threatening me or making alarming moves toward me.

either way, i'm buying pepper spray tonight on the way home. and our instructor's (very large, very muscle-y) husband will be coming to oversee us leaving the studio from here on out.

42 comments:

  1. Jesus Fuck! I am so glad you're okay, Alice. Moral of the story: Never ignore your gut.

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  2. Holy crap Alice, that is SCARY!!! Get that pepper spray and buy a few backups too!

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  3. Trust your instincts. They're there to keep you safe.

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  4. OH, GOD! OH, GOD!

    Trust your instincts. Always trust your instincts. Don't let society get in the way of that. Trust them.

    Oh, take care of yourself.

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  5. Yeeeeesh that is scary. So glad you and your friends are okay.

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  6. ALICE! omg, so scary. see im the opposite - my gut is always telling me people are creepy and i make up whole stories as we walk towards each other on the sidewalk about how he'll grab my purse strap and...well it really goes downhill from there. one of these weird in-my-head scenarios ended up with me getting "curb stomped" is that the right term? i think i had just watched a Soprano's episode...

    and of course when i do pass these people they nod and are perfectly friendly and have no idea im thinking these deep, dark, evil thoughts of them.

    either way, glad nothing happened with you and your friends!

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  7. First of all, thank god you and your friends are ok. That's VERY scary.

    And secondly, please call 911 next time you see a guy like that. If your gut is telling you something is wrong, it likely it. The cops are there to "serve and protect."

    Over the holidays when I noticed some suspicious activity in my neighborhood and eventually reported it to the cops, they encouraged me to call when the incident is happening. They said, "If we have to respond to people who complain their neighbor's wind chimes are too loud, the least we can do is respond to suspicious activity."

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  8. I can't believe that they aren't gong to have cops PLANTED in that parking lot. If he is a SERIAL RAPIST that has been going on for that long, why wouldn't they be doing more to, you know, CATCH THE GUY?

    Your instincts are totally on the money. Keep trusting your gut.

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  9. Oh my god, that is seriously frightening! Be careful!

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  10. I am really freaked out right now, Alice. BE CAREFUL!!!
    Are the cops there watching now? Have YOU talked to them?

    Don't go anywhere alone, please!! STAY SAFE!! I read the article and he might be watching you.
    Please keep us posted. I don't twitter and I'm worried about you!

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  11. Just a little extra freaked out because I have a friend whose daughter could fit the Halloween scenario and mom has been wondering if something has happened to make the kid go off the deep end...

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  12. Oh holy shit that's scary! Oh my god! Ok I say carry pepper spray and maybe a BASEBALL BAT. Jeez. Be careful!

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  13. Wow. I have goosebumps... please stay safe!!

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  14. Yikes! That is so creepy. I am happy you followed your instinct and ignored him, and that everyone is okay. Wow.

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  15. AAACK! AAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!

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  16. Oh My God! That is SO SCARY! Keep listening to your gut - sounds like you've got good instincts.

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  17. Yikes, that's creepy. Never ignore your gut. I'm sure mine has saved my ass several times.

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  18. Sweet merciful CRAP!
    Thank you for looking out for your friends. And please please PLEASE take care of yourself for the next little while, a little bit extra, ok?

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  19. Damn!!

    Stay safe, wonderful lady.

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  20. I know I told you about this earlier, but in case any of your other readers are interested, this is what I carry.

    http://pepperface.com/

    Buy it. Practice with it. And then carry it with you.

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  21. Incredible! I'm glad you listened to your gut.

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  22. SO SCARY - you're so lucky nothing happened to you. I saw your tweets about the rapist, I just didn't know it was actually THE RAPIST!

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  23. Trust your gut, follow your instincts, pepper spray the fucking shit out of anyone who comes close. STAY SAFE, my dear.

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  24. "Histrionic" would be the TIP OF THE ICEBERG in describing my reaction to that. Get your pepper spray NOW. And learn how to use it so that no matter how scary the situation, it will be like a reflex in case you ever actually have to pull it out.

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  25. animalcrackers24/3/10 9:07 PM

    1. So glad you're ok. That gave me the creeps just reading. I'm totally the way you are, I don't act like an idiot, but I also walk alone etc.

    2. I told T the whole story, and I think I said "she takes pole classes, instead of going to the gym or whatever" and then later in the story I said "her studio is in a strip mall" and he thought that was just about the funniest thing ever.

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  26. Intuition and gut feelings are your best defense. If something doesn't seem right, chances are, it's not.

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  27. Holy shit, Alice. My heart is pounding, I'm a little teary and I am seriously freaked the fuck out. Thank god you're okay. Thank god your friends/classmates are okay.

    Just one more reason we should all be constantly aware of our surroundings and ALWAYS trust our gut.

    Big hugs to you!!!!!

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  28. OMG Alice! This is a perfect example of why we as women need to trust our instincts and not worry about being rude. I'm ordering some pepper spray tonight! NO KIDDING.

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  29. I'm so glad you're okay and that your spidey sense was working overtime! I hope they catch this guy!!!

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  30. This is why it's so frustrating that it's illegal to carry pepper spray in Canada. I'm an avid runner and live in a really rural area where there are no houses for miles. I run with my dog and also carry a hidden pocket knife but I would much rather be able to carry pepper spray.

    Go get yourself some!

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  31. You know the lady who was almost attacked by the guy while walking the dog? I sort of know who that is. Matt's friend's sister has someone walk her dog for her when she can't get home in time. That's who that was.

    I told Matt's friend the story so he would warn his family and friends who actually live in the area.

    EFFING SCARY SHIT. Glad you are safe lady.

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  32. Augh! Just goes to show you--always trust those gut instincts. We have them for a reason and too many women ignore them. Fight or flight--it's in our DNA!

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  33. Thats some disturbing business. It just shows that you should never underestimate the importance of a gut feeling. We know so much about what is "normal behavior" that even if we cant put words on why something is incorrect, our brains (and stomachs) still know.

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  34. As a self-defense instructor I'm going to tell you that the best weapon you have is listening to your gut. And you did just that so GOOD for you! So many women who have been attacked remark after that they had a bad feeling but did not listen to it because of not wanting to come off as paranoid, bitchy or weak. There is nothing weak about taking control of your safety.

    Maybe one of your pole dancing classes can have a guest self-defense instructor? Might help to bolster everyone's confidence. You did the right thing!

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  35. Do they have pepper spray that also has paralytic in it so that you can subdue him and get the cops to come?

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  36. I started reading this earlier, and it actually freaked me out too much to finish. That is SO scary and SCARY. Stay safe!

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  37. Egads! (I needed an exclamation that no one else had used... this is what happens when you don't read blogs for a few days and you're the last one to comment.)

    Please be extra cautious, and if you haven't done so already, you might want to talk to the police and tell them you saw him there before. Stay safe and no more reading in parking lots alone at night please!

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  38. OMG! I'm so glad you and the other girls are OK! ALWAYS TRUST YOUR GUT!

    I had a similar experience once in my apartment laundry room and I still think that had I ignored my gut, something bad would have happened.

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  39. No such thing as "too safe." I'm glad you and your friends are okay. Calling the cops was absolutely the right thing to do.

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  40. That is absolutely scary. You can't possibly be too cautious!

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  41. My God that's scary! That's good of your instructor's husband to walk you out, I hate to say it, but sometimes you just need a big muscly man...

    Stay safe!

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