I picked up a fare at SJC, and she asked if I would take her home. She said that she lived by Kelly Park just off of Senter Rd. It was just a typical ride until we got close to her condo complex. The street was lined with SJPD cruisers, and big orange cones were blocking our left turn. Car after car in front of me were being turned away. This was not an option for my passenger as it was her only way in.
Risking a severe reprimand, I drove toward the police officer as she was pointing me away from the street. As I explained our predicament she turned and looked over her shoulder at the motorcycle gang milling about up the road, and then back at me. I assured her I would be fine with driving in. She finally gave me the go ahead, but I could see the concern in her eyes, by saying,"Be very, very careful."
The road was made narrow by the numerous police cars parked barely off to each side. Other than that we made it to her home without noticing what would have the police in such a tizzy. I had no real problem getting her to her condo, but getting back out was another story.
As I turned the corner, I found myself behind a large group of mostly men dressed in jeans, boots, and their vests - They were wearing the "colors". I was blocked by the notorious outlaw motorcycle gang, "The Mongols". (In 2002, members of the Mongols and the Hells Angels MC had a confrontation in Laughlin, Nevada at the Harrah's Laughlin Casino, that left three bikers dead) I just sat there, motor running wondering what to do, for several minutes. I gave the horn the teeny-tiniest little toot. "Toot-Toot" - got me a few glares.
Then I noticed a biker standing to my left. He was taking pictures of his men, and of the cops. A flickr buddie in the making? Thinking we had something in common, "Can I take your photo?" He smiled and posed. From out of the crowd a woman yelled, "Ask him for his autograph!" and lots of laughter. I snapped the pic, and ventured, "What? The cops won't let you in the park?" Shaking his head, "Nope!" Me, "You could invite them to join you." While he was still smiling I told him that I did need to get back to work and I would really appreciate his help. Could he get them to scoot over just enough for me to get through?
With the help of my new found friend I made it without running over any toes, but I still wasn't in the clear. I still had to make it around the police barricade. There were now more cops standing at the cone studded intersection. They were so engrossed in their situation they seemed to look right through me.
I sat there lost in thought - Last May a 911 call brought the SJPD to the Vagabond Inn on North First Street. A man said to be disturbing the peace was also suspected of throwing a woman out of a window. The man was found standing in a room grunting and not wearing any clothes. In an attempt to temporarily incapacitate the struggling man he was shocked with a Taser gun. The man believed to be a member of the Mongols motorcycle gang was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Go! - Get out of here!", a big cop was yelling at me as he moved cones. Stupid guy. What did he think I was trying to do? I was already blocks away when more SJPD units flew past me rushing to the scene code-3. I had my radio on but heard no news reports then or later in the day, so I imagine there were no injuries.
I got my first computer early in the Summer of 2004, and began blogging almost immediately. Thanks to blogging I have been a part of several newspapers and online blogs. By that August I was featured in the lead story of the Tech Section in the San José Mercury News. Then what a pleasant surprise it was to find that my blog, "Taxi Vignettes" was the reason I was chosen as the best local blogger of the year (2006) by the Metro Newspaper. Fall of '06, I was contacted by a reporter, asking if I would be willing to be the topic of her next story in The Willow Glen Resident. It was a cool two pages including photos. Am I having fun yet?
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Comments (1)
Balls of steel as they say. It seems all the emergency training in the world can't help most people. The police looked threatened and threatening before anything was even initiated. I grew up 4 blocks from the hell's angel's house and half the time you hear about someone being punched, and the other half you hear about old ladies being walked to their door kindly. While sitting at the local bar, an angel stepped on my shoe and then he didn't hesitate to apologize to me.
Posted by forman | Wednesday, July 25, 2007 11:49 PM
Posted on July 25, 2007 11:49 PM