Date7/30/2005
Story Time
Alright, you might want to sit down because this might take a while. Good! Now, for the past 10 days or so, I have been supervising Check Point 12 which is the main entrance into the Green Zone/International Zone (IZ). I have been working 8:30 p.m. until 4:30 a.m.
The other morning around 1:10 a.m. I was sitting at the Reverse Traffic Control Point (TCP) where we check vehicles and convoys that are exiting the IZ. We check to make sure vehicles aren't stolen or the occupant isn't kid-napped, etc.... Well, I was talking to two of my soldiers when I see a vehicle speeding towards us. I "estimate" the speed to be 55 m.p.h. in a 35 m.p.h. (yes, they have speed limits in combat zones) so, I flash the light on my weapon at the vehicle and motion the driver to stop. the Ford Explorer nose dives and comes to a stop. I talk to the driver, the only one in the vehicle, and ask him what was he thinking? "Where are you going and why are you speeding towards my check point (CP)?" He told me he was just driving and going "out there." You are not allowed to leave the IZ alone and with only one vehicle. His speech sounded slightly slurred (although it has been a while since I have heard slurred speech) and I asked if he had been drinking. He assured me that he hadn't been drinking. I told him I couldn't let him exit the CP and he had to turn around. Well, he backs up and starts to turn around when he backs over the curb and hits the guardrail. Then, he tries to drive off!
That's it! I get him to stop the truck and I sit him on the guardrail. I move the truck out of the road and call for the IZ Police (Air Force). While I am waiting on the police to get there, I ask the guy who he works for. He tell me, "I'm with CID(Criminal Investigation Division) and I am checking the security of all the check points." So I say, "Really? How are we doing?" He didn't reply and starts to get angry. He asks how I knew he was doing 55 in a 35. He asked if they taught me that working the check point? I said, "No, I am in the National Guard. In my civilian job I am a police officer and they taught me to estimate speed" (I wanted to add "Asshole" but figured I shouldn't). Well, that did it for him. "Oh, so you're a cop? I hate cops and think they are all pussies!" (Sorry about the language ladies) Now he is starting to rage. He tells us how he use to be in the Marines and has been over here four times and he watched his friends die. He told us we are worthless and he was going to "smoke (our) asses!" He stood up and challenged us to a fight. The sorry part is, we were on camera that is directly fed to Battalion Headquarters so we could ablige him in his request.
This goes on and on about how many insurgents have we captured or killed today? He goes to the red zone every day and kills people. He kept going from calm to hostile like he was on steroids or something? This goes on for about 20 minutes and the IZ Police get there. I tell them what happened and about the guy's demeanor. Oh, he is a DOD Contractor and is a GS 14 (making good money). Well, he tells the police, "I dropped off a buddy at a girls place and I was driving around when I got lost and ended up here." The IZ Police does a Horizontal Gaze and Nystagmus (HGN-field sobriety test) and tells me he thinks he is more tired than intoxicated. I told him I think he is on something because of his demeanor. He was calm until the police started questioning him again. Then, he became hostile towards them, telling them what he told me, "I hate all police and all police are pussies!" The police told him, "I have not raised my voice at you nor cussed you and I would apprec iate it if you did not treat me that way." I think that was the "Verbal Judo" crap! Anyways, he calms down for a minute and then goes into the rage about killing people and doing something over here. "Give me a gun and I could end all of this myself!" He cussed the police some more and they warned him two more times.
The police were going to let him go home and I suggested we call his supervisor to pick up the truck because he was a danger to himself and others if he drove. They agreed and we were waiting on the supervisor to arrive when the guy went into another one of his fits. He told the police he hoped we got attacked and were all killed and made some other threats to us all. That was it! He finally talked his way to jail! Way to go brain child!!!!!! The IZ Police finally had enough (took them long enough...I was tired of him long ago), asked him to "stand up, turn around, and put your hands behind your back." He does, they hook him up, and walk him back to their Explorer. He refuses to get in and I don't know how but they got them in there. I decided I was not working as a police officer and I will let them deal with it. I think I would of smashed him a long time ago!
Now came the fun part! Statements! Two of my guys and myself had to write a statement about what happened. He was taken to the station and then released to his supervisor (like a juvenile being released to their parents). It is up to his chain of command to punish him. They were pretty pissed when they had to come get the truck at 2:30 a.m. and it had a broken tail light that wasn't there before. I will give it a few days and try to find out what happened to him. The IZ Police said this is the second person from the same unit that acted like this within the past week. Oh, the guy is a computer programmer at the hospital! Not the big stud, hero, killer he said he was. He told me that I would be demoted because he works for General Grainger. I am not sure if there is a Gen. Grainger but, one of my guys said that Gen. Grainger is the name of the Air Force Gen. on the game Command and Conquer. That is probably where this guy kills his people every week. Oh yea, he talked about being in a combat zone and he was running around in a "Netrition.com" tank top, shorts, and flip flops! I wish I had video of it! There for a while, I thought I was back at work with KPD!
Well, that is kind of long, sorry! Had to tell it. It was much better in person! Take care and talk to you later!
Matt Cousins
SSG, INF
EOD PSD
"We live in the Land of the Free because of the Brave!"
Unknown
Remember: You have 1* and Check 6!
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