Under the Documentation title I will be keeping track of some events in my neighborhood. Documented events can be admissible in court at best and at least will help me keep a solid timeline without having to rack my brain months from now for what happened when.

Placing these on my blog make it easy access in case they are needed legally and I wont lose them on my desk or if my hard drive goes sideways. Please don't leave any comments. I will delete them out of hand to avoid muddling up the issues.

On February 9th 2009 at residence 1208 (the right half of the duplex that is rented out) the father of the children who lived there allegedly committed felony assault on their mother who lives there punching her in the face more then 30 times breaking multiple bones in her ace. I do not know if he was residing there at the time but I believe he had not been.

This is my documentation of my participation in events after the assault.

On February 9th I was watching TV with my wife as my daughter was running around playing. We had just finished watching a previously taped show on our DVR. I went to check my e-mails and noticed out the window a police car. I went to the front door and saw multiple officers and their vehicles.

I called out for my wife to look herself and I went out on my porch to watch. I saw the emergency medical services pull up and go inside. It was cold on the porch and everything was well under control so I went back inside.

I had expected to see the police dealing with the other side of the rental duplex since the adult male occupant who lives there has been removed from the house recently by multiple police officers.

This is a nice, quiet neighborhood from my experience here in the past 8 years or so. You notice these things and of course discuss them with your neighbors.

I had missed the article in the morning paper and was linked to it by on of my neighbors in an e-mail the following day. There is where I learned the details.

Knowing he had been incarcerated and not knowing if he had been released yet I had been watching the house. After talking it over with my wife a few days later to avoid any knee jerk response I walked over there on the 15th.

I had just seen the mom outside brining the two children inside through the open garage door. There was an inebriated male there standing outside. I approached the domicile.

I walked up to him and asked if he would get the lady of the house. He asked why I wanted to talk to her. Not knowing his role in events I informed him I was there to talk to the lady of the house and I was a neighbor across the street and pointed out my house.

He then began to ramble on so I informed him I was going to talk to the lady. I told I was there to talk to the lady and walked to the front door and knocked. Being unsure of his intentions I kept him in view at all times. A young girl answered the door.

I asked if I could talk to her mother and she told me she would go get her and closed the door. She came back and told me her mother was too embarrassed to be seen because of the injuries to her face. I squatted to the girls height, smiled and warmly made eye contact hoping to gain some of her confidence.

I told her I was the neighbor who lived across the street and pointed out my house. I asked her to tell her mom that if at any time the mom or the girl herself were worried about their safety to come knock on my door. I would protect them until the cops arrived. She went off to tell her mom with a quick word of thanks.

The drunk male asked me if I was going to protect the kids because he would appreciate it. I replied that is why I was there. Apparently he had traveled 100 miles to do just that. I said that was good but come Monday morning he would be gone at his job and I would be here. That is why I was there.

I left him there rambling on and went home.

On the 16th my wife came home from work and handed me a note that had been left for us. The neighbor lady it seemed still wasn't ready to talk.

*****

Transcription without editing:

Dear Neighbor,

I didn't want to answer my door, because something very bad happened to me and I am scared of a lot of people. I was beaten, and (abbreviated symbol was used) than found out from my son that his Dad mean't to murder me Monday.

I thank you for your concern. there should be more people like you in the world.

Thank you
Name (I am not posting her name)

P:S: Im sorry that you had to talk to that Steve guy at the door - he is innebreated.

*****

After discussing it with my wife we decided on a course of action. My wife enjoys baking so she baked a Banana Chocolate Chip Bread. I wrote a note in response to the one above and brought them both over while the bread was still hot. Hopefully this would provide some comfort and build up their feelings of trust with us.

In the note to help the lady understand my reasoning and experience I told her how I grew up with my parents opening our home to Foster kids, how I had volunteered for a few month at the local domestic abuse shelter. This was to show her my background for helping. Then I told her about my Army experience so she could feel safer coming her to be protected.

I walked over and knocked on the door. The boy answered the door. I asked him to bring the bread and note to his mom. I didn't want to ask for his mom to come to the door to avoid embarrassing her. He thanked me with a big smile and went brought them bread and note inside.

The mom turned the corner at that point and made eye contact with me. She seemed timid, scared and unsure. I popped my head in to say they are safe at my house and went to leave. She asked if I was the neighbor. I said yes. She thanked me and during our brief conversation I reiterated not to hesitate coming to us for help.

I asked her to call me to let me know when the authorities inform her he has been released and went home trying not to overstay my welcome out of respect for her feelings.

It is late and this is a rough copy. I'll edit for grammar and to double check the order of events later.