Neighborhood Manhunt

The Swat Team was on my street today. And there were shots fired on the street below mine. At one point today, there were eight officers on foot and three helicopters in the air. I saw actual automatic weapons.

Apparently, cops served an arrest warrant on the street across the main drag from us this morning. The criminal in question took off on foot and an officer began chasing him. Then, sadly (for he will bear the brunt of fault here) the police dog miscalculated who it was he was chasing and took down the good guy, causing his gun to discharge and put a bullet through his leg.

Then this guy takes off on foot up my street about the same time Birch was headed back to work after lunch. Birch saw him covered in mud heading our direction. He was able to alert the police to his whereabouts, but he managed to evade them. Drugs will really give you some superhuman powers. Incidentally, it's the first time in 39 years (did I just admit that?) that I've answered the phone to, "Make sure all the doors are locked!" That kind of thing will really get your attention.

So, there's been a manhunt on my street and the street beside ours all afternoon. We live on a street of old houses with towering shade trees and lots of woods. A lowlife wonderland.

I did get the privilege of calling my sweet neighbor ladies to warn them to lock their doors and stay indoors. I have the dearest neighbors. They all secured their homes tight to the point that one of the husbands came to our house to use the phone. His wife wouldn't let him in.

Juliana has already been having some fear issues and trouble sleeping. This should really help. She's already moved her blanket and pillow to sleep on our floor tonight. Holt, on the other hand, was worried only that this "bad dude" would come for his Nintendo DS. Priorities, you know.

So one of the dumbest things I've ever done, at least in the top five, was to decide to get a picture of the helicopters over our house. As they cleared the trees to our right, they were met with me aiming at them. I can't believe it never occurred to me how stupid that was. Birch pointed it out.

The helicopters are gone. The street is empty of patrol cars and men on foot. The criminal, however is still out there. And there's a german shepherd close by that has probably been elected to receive some remedial training.