The Police Were Here for Two Hours!!
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It's amazing how serendipity works. You do something, and immediately it leads to something else totally unexpected.
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Last Night I was doing research on BWS (Battered Women Syndrome). Today DJ (my long suffering spouse) and I picked up my mom. We were taking her to our house to fix a B-Day dinner for her 77th year. We drove along, DJ called out, "did you see that??" I'd been fiddling with something and only caught a glimpse of a woman being shoved and hit.
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We turned around, went back, flipped a u-turn and pulled up to them. As we neared, it was clear the man was hitting and pushing her. She was trying to get away from him. I asked if she needed a ride.
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In broken English (we have a large hispanic population) she said "Si, yes please." She got into the back seat. The man was not happy.
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Now I am an ex-cop, have been the victim of abuse, and have worked in a shelter for BWS women. While I've been working on my feminine voice, and most of the time have a very pleasant woman's voice (so I'm told) old habits die hard.
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In what DJ told me was a very forceful voice to command I told him to "Back away from the car."
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He backed up, then started to come back "aggressively." But, he had stepped away long enough for her to close the door.
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As we left, he hit/kicked my car. DJ just kept driving.
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We got her to our house (yes, we were careful to not be followed), tried to find a BWS shelter open, and called the Police.
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My 21 year old son was freaking out. He asked if I was out of my head.
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At the same time, the man, her husband of two years, called the police and reported that someone had kidnapped his wife.
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So... The officers came to our house. As happens all too often in my life serendipity again came to visit. One of the officers knew my mom, as in for nearly 20 years knew her. When he saw her he asked, "What are you doing her Mom?"
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All together we spent about two hours making statements and trying to figure out where she could stay.
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Then we found out we were kidnappers. ROFLMAO It was quite hilarious.
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The man, for whatever reason, made the claim. The officers just shook their heads when they told us. He now is looking at domestic abuse, filing a false police report, AND when the officers got to his house found uniforms for two police agencies, and a gun belt. The police were NOT amused. Impersonating an officer is NOT a good idea.
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In the meantime, DJ and my mom had sat with the woman, one on either side. I tried to get across to her she NEEDED to get help. BWS follows a predictable, escalating pattern. She seemed to understand, and had taken the first step when she walked away from her abuser.
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We went on to have a lovely dinner with my mom, followed by German Chocolate cake (one of my all-time favorites).
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IF YOU are involved in an abusive domestic situation (whether man, woman, trans, or whatever!) you NEED to get help. Get out and get help!
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As I grew up, my parents nicknamed me "Dudley Doright of the RCMP" because I was always getting involve in some kind of "rescue." Tonight, when we go to bed I'm going to tell DJ that Dudley's gone, but Nell has taken his place!
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Again, PLEASE, if you are in an abusive relationship take the first step, get out and get help!
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I'm grateful that today we were in the right place, at the right time. We were able to help a woman get away and take that first step.
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Thank God.
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Hugs and Blessings to you all,

Beth