Stalking: It’s Not Just Being Watched: Part Two
Yesterday we told the story of Cate Allen, who dated a guy for two months and then decided it wasn’t working out. But when she tried to end it, his personality changed. She wishes she had called the police immediately. The relationship went from casual to obsessive then to violent. “He assaulted me multiple times,” she said. Allen said after finding out her attacker had a history of stalking, she went to court, but the court’s decision shocked her; they refused to grant a restraining order.
“My attorney spoke up and said, this man has had a protective order due to his violent behavior,” she said. “On record I had text messages, I had emails, I had affidavits.” Even with all this evidence, Allen found the justice system would side with her stalker.
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Beau Babka, a 20-year law enforcement veteran, has seen this happen. “Let’s give them one more chance or, well, we don’t have enough room in jail for this one, or, sentencing issues,” he said.
Allen is left with the fear that he is out there, somewhere. “He has assaulted me in more ways than…” she said. “I wish I had never met him.”
Here’s the second part of our list of tips if you are being stalked:
- Acquaint yourself with 24-hour stores and other public, highly populated areas in your neighborhood. If someone is following you, never go home.
- Inform security at your place of employment that you are being stalked.
- Inform friends, family, neighbors, and other people you know that you are being stalked so that the stalker cannot get information about you from them.
- If you have a picture of your stalker, give one to people you know at the places you frequent.
For more information, go to Safehorizon.org or call their Crime Victims Hotline on 1 (866) 689-HELP (4357).
Here is a link to yesterday’s story: https://gephardtdaily.com/special-reports/stalking-watched-part-1/
A confidential poll would reveal a large percentage of people have endured stalking, unreported molestation and rape. Tolerance for these abhorrent crimes and behaviors reflect an unacceptable condition associated with male dominance in our legislative bodies, law enforcement, military, religious, business and judicial bodies. We to often fail to support women when protection and shelter are needed most. The result is the encouragement of a more violent society that threatens all of us.
Greg Hayes CAPT USN Retired
Teacher, Highland High School, Salt Lake City School District, Retired