How fucking useless Texan police are.

Chagen

There is a couple near my apartment. It consists of a Man and his girlfriend. The man is extremely abusive. We can hear this girl's screams A LOT if we are in my mom's room. Seriously, this man is flat-out torturing. Yet, every time we call the police, they show, and then do nothing at all. They have not even pressed charges on this man, even though he done the following: -Throw her into a wall hard enough to feel it in our apartment -Throw her down the hard-wood stairs of their apartment -Beat her with a lamp -Beat her with a blunt object till she was unconcious He has done all of these things. Which have been witnessed by her friends (who do nothing and let him do this without reprecussion) and heard by us. But the cops don't do anything. They just questioned him for a bit, and then wave him off. They haven't even pressed charges, as I already said. This is sheer insanity. Is our legal system that incompetent?! Today, I heard her screaming again. I also heard a car start. But the bystander effect kicked in and I was too frozen in fear to do anything. I heard the car drive off. I didn't hear her screams again. .....I'm scared what might happen to her. But the police are so useless that's it hopeless to call them. Why.....I may have just let him KILL her. I have no clue what to think anymore. Why must our legal system be so pathetic...

All Nines

Jesus. Forget questioning him, I'd grill the police over something like that. Or I would hope I would have the courage to do so.

MadassAlex

Just keep calling whenever something happens. Don't feel as if you're wasting police time, because you're not. Every time you call, there's a chance they'll do something about it.

Chagen

They haven't done anything the past three times. I just lost faith.

MadassAlex

Three times is nothing. Keep trying.

Chagen

They're not even around right now. WTF is the point anymore...

It feels horrible to say this, but sometimes, it's just hopeless

Forzare

If you keep calling the police, something might happen.

If you just say it's hopeless and give up, nothing is going to change.

And it's probably not entirely the police's fault. Someone correct me on this if I'm wrong, please, but doesn't the person being abused have to admit it to the police if there's no actual witnesses stepping forward to get the guy arrested? From what I've heard of domestic abuse situations, she's probably not going to tattle so easily.

MadassAlex

If she's dead or something else awful has happened, you're in a position to bring your foot down on the police and the abuser. Let's hope it hasn't come to that, though.

Just don't give up, for the woman's sake. She's being abused and is clearly too terrified to leave the relationship. She'll need external support to get out of there, and if you keep calling the police, there's a chance that guy will eventually be put away and she can go on with her own life.

Remember, this is ultimately about the victim. You might not have faith in the police, but don't give up on her.

Chagen

Like three of her friends saw her get hit with a damn lamp. Half the apartment complex heard her yelling.

When we called the police, they grilled him. I sneaked over and looked--there was like three people there besides the two (I think, didn't want to get too close or the guy might attack me). If they were her friends, then they didn't tell anything to the police.

Forzare

Are you sure that they weren't his friends? They might not want to rat out their friend, as terrible as that sounds, or even contradict her saying that he beat her.

RedEyedAbyss

"Someone correct me on this if I'm wrong, please, but doesn't the person being abused have to admit it to the police if there's no actual witnesses stepping forward to get the guy arrested? From what I've heard of domestic abuse situations, she's probably not going to tattle so easily."

If that is the case, then it would be prudent for Chagen and co. to talk to her about the situation. You see, one of the traps of domestic abuse is to make the victim feel utterly alone. She needs to know that people can help.

Chagen

"Are you sure that they weren't his friends? They might not want to rat out their friend, as terrible as that sounds, or even contradict her saying that he beat her."

Nope, I distinctly remember hearing the friend yell at him for hitting her. But the people who were with him when the police came? Those could have been his friends.

Abyss: That's one problem: we haven't actually talked to her at all. Actually, I've never even seen her. She stays holed in that apartment 24/7 and he's always there to make sure no one gets incriminating info (I assume). I'd love to talk to her but it's going to be difficult.

RedEyedAbyss

Hmm...I expected such an obstacle. It would be tricky to go pay a visit without looking suspicious. But if you know her friend, your lot could probably talk to her. If she hasn't been cut off from her friends, there could be an outlet.