When Lura gave the cops a detail description of the culprit they in essence scratched their heads. I assured the officers that Arad is small and that soon I will present them with a photo of the guy. I then asked, “Would that help?” “Could you find him from a photo?” They still looked puzzled, not saying a word.
About 6:30 a.m. one of our neighbors rang our doorbell to tell us about the cut tires and of the words painted on our vehicles. I thanked him and told him we already knew. He was truly sorry for what happened to us. I thanked him for caring and he set off for work.
I said to Lura, “You know how I dispatch my Angels to find my misplayed items like keys, wallet, papers, etc?” “Well, I’m going to ask them to find this dude!”
You see, I’ve always hated looking for lost things and one day decided to send my Guardian Angel to look for my keys and when he or she finds them to let me know. I was watching T.V when it dawned on me exactly where my keys were. From that day on I’ve been letting my Angels do the footwork when I’ve misplaced something. Yes Angels, I now have 4 Angels personally assigned to me but it’s a long story.
About ninish Lura decided to go down to Ali’s coffeehouse to show photos of the damage and to tell what all had happened. When Lura gave them the guy's discription, everyone she talked to knew exactly who he was.
When Lura returned home she was beaming! She told me where he could be found on any given Friday morning. I’m thinking “Go Angels, go Angels, go Angels!” (Strange...everyone knew who he was except the cops)
Meantime cars are stopping in front of our house and neighbors we never knew were coming out of the wood works to behold what had happened. As we were assuring them that we know who it was and we’ll collar him by Friday, two neighborhood kids came forth saying that they seen the guy snooping around our house and they could show us where he lives. “Go Angels, go Angels, go Angels!”
Outside the guy's house Lura used her cell phone to call the police. She gave them his address while I held our camcorder and digital. After waiting about 20 minutes and no cops Lura calls again. This time she was told that the police were in a meeting with the mayor. The meeting would not let out for at least 40 more minutes and that we should return home and wait.
About an hour later, 2 cops rolled up carrying a photo of a young, tall, blond headed, clean shaven man. They asked Lura, “Is this the guy?”
Lura had told them before that he was short, chubby, black hair, and bearded. Lura had also told them the guy’s address was 34 and they had gone to 43. Anyhow I went with the officers in their car and physically showed them the house.
Well, that was that, case closed. We found our man! Now that he’ll be off the streets, we can see about getting new tires put on.
Lura was outside seeing if fingernail polish remover would help when the brother of the tire shop owner happened by. He said he had something that would remove the graffiti and had tires to fit the small car.
He used carburetor cleaner and it worked! Next he will have to remove all residue of the cleaner and give it a wax job. But in the meantime he began slapping on new tires.
As we were getting tires put on the little car, the mechanic exclaims “Hay! He just drove by! I thought he was in jail?” He had driven by our house a total of 3 times before we could get a hold of the police. They told us he wasn’t arrested because he just has mental problems.
I pleaded with them to please take him off the street. I didn’t want to purchase new tires until he’s behind bars. Plus whatever he’s using to slash our tires could also be used as a weapon. He’s coming to our house packing a weapon, destroying property, and threatening us. If he’s sick, please get him some help, but don’t turn him lose.
Reluctantly the cops made a phone call and he was taken to the station.
Edwin Beckford
October 8, 2002