Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: Neighborhood Bully or Pest

The next time he is doing what he does, call your local police department. Have them issue a report and file a complaint.

Re: Neighborhood Bully or Pest

No easy answers; life is not fair.

Talk to him, with witnesses present for your safety and proof of discussions; at risk of unpleasantness or worse.

Call the police and file charges when it happens, or have them 'educate' him about what happens to him if you have to complain again; at the risk of retaliation.

File civil suit, which will force him to spend money and risk judgment, and may thus change the behavior; at risk of retaliation.

Take vigilante action; at risk of retaliation and risk of injury or arrest yourself.

Move; usually unacceptable on principle and on practical grounds.

Neighbors join forces and 'convince' him to change [see vigilante above].

Neighbors join forces and buy him out; not usually practical.

There may be others, none are easy or guaranteed.

These situations can sometimes escalate into violence by one or more parties.

Re: Neighborhood Bully or Pest

If you feel like you were in imminent fear of bodily harm, I would go to your local courthouse and file for immediate temporary restraining order. The key to getting the restraining order is to demonstrate to the court that you are indeed in imminent fear of bodily harm. I agree with what the other attorneys posted, however I would strongly avoid a face-to-face confrontation. You never know what a drunk will do. Face-to-face confrontations even in the presence of witnesses can and do escalate into violence. If you're concerned about tampering on your property, or obtaining video evidence of what the neighbors is doing, I strongly suggest that you go to the following web site: www.Galaxystorm.com/tech On this web site you will be able to buy low-cost surveillance cameras and recording devices that can be installed outside of your home. I use the same products. I highly recommend getting the Robo cam camera, which will automatically scan the area around your home. Furthermore, these cameras are wireless so there is no need to run video cabling. A picture is worth a thousand words. Good luck with your nightmare.

Re: Neighborhood Bully or Pest

Get together with your neighbors and all sue him in small claims court at the same time for $7500 each. This technique works equally well on obnoxious fall-down drunks, filthy pack rats, 95-cat ladies, etc. You will sue him out of house and home and boom, he's gone.