Grabbed by a registered sex offender…the police did nothing.

*A NOTE HERE: I wish at the time this happened this group was in full kicking butt mode as it is now. This happened last year and since then I’ve taken the experience and helped others.*

It was a Monday night in April of last year (2011) and I just got out of my Ethics in Criminal Justice class- just did my final- and I was waiting for my Mom to pick me up from school (at the time I did not have my license so I relied on a ride from night classes). Where I attended school was a fine place- a bustling neighborhood that was cheerful during day time- but a SCARY place at night. I had never run into an issue there in the three years I had attended there at that point- until that night.

While waiting I felt someone grab me. I turned around and it was this creepy guy who appeared in his 50’s or so. I froze. He started talking to me- whilst holding on to my left arm in a death grip. I stuttered my answers- gave him a false name when asked what my name was. The conversation pretty much went as follows:

*creep grabs my left arm*
Creep: ” Hey pretty little girl”
Me: *froze in place*
Creep: “What’s your name?”
Me: “Debbie”
Creep: “I’m Ralph”
Me: *frozen again*
Creep: “Come with me” *proceeds to attempt to drag me*
Me: *stomp foot, muster courage* “NO!”
Creep: *stunned, runs away*

All this took three minutes, but it passed slowly. I whipped out my cell phone and attempted to take a picture of the guy but it was blurry. My Mom shortly arrived after. I told her what happened. She wanted to take me to talk to the police, but I wanted to go home- which we did. The next day I kicked myself in the butt for not going to the police right away.

After carefully going through the details of the incident I wrote it down and called that city’s non-emergency police line to report it. I was told there was nothing they could do. (I was FURIOUS). I told them I had a picture and I was told to drop by and we could talk. I showed up at the police station and I got blown off. I got mad, and I spent that night scouring the web on the registered sex offender list for NH/VT (I was able to recall physical details of the creep). Well I found him. God was with me that night- this guy’s charge was aggravated felonious sexual assault on a child. Now at the time I was not quite 23 but I did get mistaken for being younger than 18- still disturbing. There are some sick people out there. And why they are there instead of being in jail- I (along with many others) would like to know.

After this I stopped wearing my hair in braids. I bought several cans of mace (I always carry one when legal to do so) and I pushed myself to get my license (which I did get) and put an awareness around my college, my coworkers who have young teens/children, and formed a buddy system amongst my classmates- basically two of us would wait with someone waiting for a ride or offer the individual a ride. Ever since then, I have never felt threatened/frightened like I did that night.

– Dal

Location: Lebanon, New, Hampshire

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