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priusron wrote:Tow people don't need to exit the vehicle to ask directions, especially going in different directions.

Good point, though I suppose the same reason I and a friend would have gotten out had I had a friend with me that night/...might be they same reason they both did....because you never know, and back up? Had my son been with me, we would have both exited the truck...taking 12~6 and 6~12.
My wife would have moved to the drivers seat , drawn and observed... a friend I have trained with, exited with me, an acquaintance of a non trained friend I would have asked to remain in the truck...phone out and 91 ....dialed

Or perhaps it was as simple as the hope that with both listening and asking.... one will understand what the gringo is saying and you can be on your way....?

I'm happy that the OP's instance worked out better.

I've played the event back copious times now, I don't "THINK" I missed anything, and I don't "THINK" I should have done something different. I don't "THINK" there was a threat I missed.
Any number of variables to what did happen would have put me more on the defensive. Had I not chose the stopping point.
Had i not been able to clearly see in the vehicle or had they maneuver in such a way i was no longer able to observe them AND the vehicle in the center of my vision. IF IF IF....
So I guess cautious but prepared... plan for the worse, hope for the best kind of a thing. What is that quote often attributed to Gen Mattis "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet."

KC5AV wrote:There have been times that I've stopped to render assistance to somebody on the side of the road, and there are times I've just driven on. There have been plenty of cases where a 'break down' has been used to facilitate a carjacking. I will typically assess the situation as I drive up. Is the person male or female? Young or old? Is the vehicle close to cover where another person could be hiding? Are the temperatures extremely hot of cold? Does that voice in the back of my head tell me something smells fishy? All of that, and more, usually determine whether I will stop.

Absolutely....in this day and age of cell phones, instant communication, availability of wrecker service, ect Im not apt to stop for every broken down car on the side of the road..
Limited cell coverage, bad weather, accident, sure....
Of all the car side of the road scenarios that red flag the most for me it is that single female looking hapless next to her car in the dark....
"Look Im helpless, come save me, never mind you can not see into the dark what is just over there in the grass"
I'll call 911 and report it in a heart beat....if I have a clear line of sight all around the vehicle I might stop well back and assess the situation, drive up with some lateral space and speak to her though a partially open window, doors locked, weapon out, but out of sight.

crazy2medic wrote:I have taught both my children and my wife that when the voice in the back of your head tells you something is amiss to listen to it and get out of there, our primative brain, our survival instinct whatever you chose to call it will clue in on things our higher intellect will ignore, if a situation feels bad, it probably is and you should either leave or prepare to defend yourself!

I agree, and believe in the same.
I have a respectable amount of experience with being approached by armed and unarmed folks whose intentions are largely unknown..And I THINK Im a pretty good judge of "this dont feel right"
I did not get that sense from the initial encounter, and in reflection I think that was because overall there was no ill will or hostile intent.

In hindsight it was two mostly non English speakers lost, who approached in a manner likely normal and common to them that to an outsider, and more outsider trained to assess and act when needed perceived the POSSIBILITY of hostel intent and reacted accordingly. As soon as it was reasonable to take it down a notch i did, and they seemed no worse for the encounter.

Beiruty wrote:Did 911 send help? What happened to those who claimed they are lost?

They left as I was walking back to my truck and no nobody was dispatched

really couldn't tell the dispatcher anything was wrong or suspicious that point

There was nobody but me on site interview
And they had full descriptive information of those people and vehicle to include license plate so perhaps they put out the word to contact them if seen elsewhere
I don't know any law-enforcement in that area I'm pretty sure it's sheriff or state trooper only I don't believe there's a PD
So I can't really ask anybody I know if they be on the lookout was issued

I had zero red flags or concerns as I was stopping and getting out of the truck so I hadn't already called 911

Don't know if I want to put this and never again or something else so I'll put it here and MODs can move it as they see fit.

If somebody signals for help I'm apt to do that just kind of the way I'm wired.

On my way down 195 headed to Buda I had two military age males waving and signaling and honking at the intersection at me not sure if there is something falling out of my truck or they needed help so I pulled over.

Both passenger and driver got out of the car and approached speaking broken English but moving in a manner I perceived as aggressive for the situation.

Signaling with my offhand to stop and speaking in my best Spanglish STOP..

They continue to advance and I perceived actually spread apart, both left and right.
I again stated halt and got a little animated with my offhand trying to signal them to stop or go back.
They continue to advance approaching to about 15 feet

Cleared my shirt drew my weapon, Two hand Low ready and continue to aggressively say stop Halt stop halt

Both stopped dead in their tracks passenger turned around went back to vehicle driver had hands up and got out words that made me understand he was lost and trying to find the road to Austin

I created some additional space holstered my weapon but kept it uncovered and the driver and I worked through directions to 35
Not exactly difficult since all he had to do was stay on 195 another 4 miles.

I went back to my truck got my dogs calmed down and noted the vehicle make model, license plate number and called 911 to report the incident

Under the adage the first to to call is the victim, the second or more the suspect.
Information taken no offers to respond as event is over.

As I go through this in my mind I don't feel I overreacted I do feel a little concerned that they perceived I overreacted.
But secondly I honestly can't say that it wasn't an attack, a carjacking, a theft that they simply changed their minds about once they realized I wasn't a soft target.

The "never again part" might be to not pull over without having at least a second person with me ..

But honestly I don't know that I'll ever do that. I understand asking for help is a tactic used by the bad guys occasionally .
But I don't want to be that guy that is too afraid to help and find out later somebody died who I could've provided life saving aid to.

We tend to not see what is right in front of us, so as I review this I can't see anything I would do differently but perhaps somebody else will
Somebody will likely suggest don't stop, that really isn't on the table for me unless I perceive a threat in which case I would've just kept driving and called 911.

Why did I get out of the vehicle?
Because I didn't think I could adequately keep both under observation if they went to both sides of the car.

Outside the car I had freedom of movement to use the car is an obstacle and maneuver for a cover or better line of fire if needed.

EDIT: Wow I did not realize how many voice to text typos there were in that first post..... I just read it tonight what a mess, yet folks seemed to have understood the post.