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Suspicious Man — Brooklynian

Suspicious Man

qmarnor
qmarnor
edited November -1 in Park Slope
Has anyone else noticed a guy hanging out on Dean and Bergen between 4th and 5th? I've been seeing him several times a day for the past couple months. He is always carrying a black plastic bag. Sometimes he stands outside Marines after it closes and stares into Black Sheep and Cafe Tapeo for hours. The reason I'm posting this is that he's gone from standing and staring to doing some weird stuff that makes me nervous. One day I walked by and he swore at me for no reason. This morning, he followed my husband around the block as he walked our dog. He was snarling at the dog. Last week, he had his pants down between two cars on Dean at 4 in the afternoon. Last Sunday, he was trying to open the gated door to a basement apartment of a Bergen brownstone. Last night, he came running up Bergen like a bat out of hell, laughing wildly all the way to Flatbush. We've called the cops to report this behavior several times but each time they say - well, he hasn't done anything, so we can't do anything. The thing is, I think he's been around long enough to learn residents' patterns and I think he's gotten bolder and could be getting ready to do something. I talked to a few local business owners who said they're getting wary of him as well. Any suggestions? Should I try and photograph him? How can I get him on the cops' radar? Am I overreacting?

Comments

  • pastoralia
    pastoralia
    Creepy...I don't know what to tell you...but any of those things he was doing (pants down, trying to get in an apartment) are against the law. You should call 911 if you see him doing something illegal. But expect to be questioned by the cops and lose your anonymity.
  • bergenites
    bergenites
    That is very creepy... I live near there, haven't seen him, but I'll keep my eyes out, and if I see anything illegal I will call 911 ASAP.
  • christina
    christina
    I walk by there several times a day at all hours and I've never seen him. or I just dont' pay enough attention, that's entirely possible as well.
    Either way, I only know the homeless guy who usually hangs out on 4th and Dean. That's not him though.
  • brooklyndogs
    brooklyndogs
    There are a lot of somewhat shady characters around Bergen and Dean. Which one are you referring to? Can you describe him (old/young/short/tall/big/little/race or ethnicity)?
  • lo kee
    lo kee
    image


    Did he look like this??
  • smitty
    smitty
    @ Lo Kee:

    I think I saw that guy stealing hamburgers in 1987.
  • qmarnor
    qmarnor
    I would describe him as sort of small and slight. He's African-American, about 5'8", in his 20s, thin. He has large, round eyes. He has a touch of 5 o'clock shadow. He wears a long grey t-shirt, jeans and carries a black plastic shopping bag all the time. Sometimes he wears a dark button-down shirt with a pattern on the bottom instead of the t-shirt.

    I never saw him before until late June and now I see him at least once a day.
  • lo kee
    lo kee
    qmarnor wrote: I would describe him as sort of small and slight. He's African-American, about 5'8", in his 20s, thin. He has large, round eyes. He has a touch of 5 o'clock shadow. He wears a long grey t-shirt, jeans and carries a black plastic shopping bag all the time. Sometimes he wears a dark button-down shirt with a pattern on the bottom instead of the t-shirt.

    I never saw him before until late June and now I see him at least once a day.
    Should be about 20 minutes before someone jumps in here and calls you racist.

    I KEED, I KEED!
  • brooklyndogs
    brooklyndogs
    I am pretty sure that he lives on Bergen Street. I always see him around and have wondered if he is autistic or otherwise disabled. I don't know if he is dangerous or not.
  • arlette
    arlette
    Call 911 and report an emotionally disturbed person and describe his behavior.Mention kids and the danger to them and they will respond.
  • droppingshadows
    droppingshadows
    I've seen him hanging around Bergen for the past two years or so. I think he lives on Bergen as well. I've never seen him do anything creepy. He just kind of stands there. I never thought that he may be harmful. But who knows.
  • MOD
    MOD
    Lo Kee wrote: [quote=qmarnor]I would describe him as sort of small and slight. He's African-American, about 5'8", in his 20s, thin. He has large, round eyes. He has a touch of 5 o'clock shadow. He wears a long grey t-shirt, jeans and carries a black plastic shopping bag all the time. Sometimes he wears a dark button-down shirt with a pattern on the bottom instead of the t-shirt.

    I never saw him before until late June and now I see him at least once a day.
    Should be about 20 minutes before someone jumps in here and calls you racist.

    I KEED, I KEED!

    I'd say more like in 20 minutes a relative of this guy will jump on here and call ya'll insensitive bloggers with no compassion. :lol:
  • daver
    daver
    Mamacita wrote: I'd say more like in 20 minutes a relative of this guy will jump on here and call ya'll insensitive bloggers with no compassion. :lol:
    Lol! And the relatives will be _lawyers_ ready to pursue you to the fullest extent of the law should you _dare_ look crosswise at him again! :mrgreen:
  • carmen
    carmen
    qmarnor wrote: I would describe him as sort of small and slight. He's African-American, about 5'8", in his 20s, thin. He has large, round eyes. He has a touch of 5 o'clock shadow. He wears a long grey t-shirt, jeans and carries a black plastic shopping bag all the time. Sometimes he wears a dark button-down shirt with a pattern on the bottom instead of the t-shirt.

    I never saw him before until late June and now I see him at least once a day.
    I've actually seen this guy a few times. I don't live near there but drive down to grocery shop at that keyfood and he's milling around quite often. I always try to cross the street...he doesn't look stable.
  • jack krohn
    jack krohn
    At 334 Bergen Street, between 3rd and 4th Avenue, there is a psychiatric residence for adults. I wouldn't be surprised if this man lives there. Either way, he sounds like one of too many mentally ill New Yorkers who are not receiving the treatment that they need. Given the strict standards for involuntary commitment and the legal right of anyone not an imminent threat to themselves or others to refuse treatment, this sad situation is unlikely to change anytime soon.

    I mentioned this on another thread, but I'll repeat it here. Anyone wishing to read an excellent layman's account of this issue should check out Pete Earley's book, "Crazy". It details the frustration that he personally experienced while attempting to navigate the mental health system and secure his bipolar son treatment.
  • christina
    christina
    So this morning, and last night, I actually saw him. And realized that I had seen him before, just never paid much attention to him.
    I'd be the worst witness in case of an accident, bank robbery or something like that. I"m so blind on purpose, I could pass Michael Jackson and would not notice it. Then again, these days he looks like a homeless person himself...
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    yup, the mental health "system" is in a sad state of affairs.

    The development of ACT teams and the passage of Kendra's law has only helped a small percentage of people who are impaired to the ability that they need "the hospital to come to them".

    Go NYAPRS go....
  • quiddity
    quiddity
    We have noticed this kid standing on Bergen and 5th Ave or just on Bergen near 5th for at least 3 years. Sometimes I run into him walking on 4th Ave to the subway station. I walk by him on Bergen all the time.

    We used to think he was a lookout for some sort of drug dealing... until we realized that he is never on a cell phone. In fact, I've never ever seen him communicate with anyone.

    Our dogwalker did say that this kid flipped him off once for no reason.

    I never know if I should make eye contact or not. He does seem like he might have a diagnosis like autism or God know what (I'm no psychiatrist). So I'm not sure if direct contact would be considered threatening. But it bugs me to walk by someone every day and not acknowledge them.
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