Alright. This has NOTHING to do with banding whatsoever, but there are so many different types of people here, I KNOW I can get some good perspective on this.

History:

At the end of November I moved to a new apartment. At the same time, another person moved next door to me. Her and her roommate (sister/friend, dunno) have 3 small children. I think they are all hers, but I'm not 100% sure. A LOT of noise comes from this place. I have called the police on a few occassions to deal with it. Examples: Stereo so loud it sounded like the speakers were in MY living room, louder than I would ever play them if they were. Kids with the TV on so loud I can understand the words through the wall, and them bouncin' and bangin' around at 11:30 at night.

I tried to knock on the door once, but she couldn't hear me through the noise. Something about a maglite banging on the door got her attention tho. I've called on her 4 times I think.

Last night she confronted us and asked that we knock on the door when her kids were being loud, which my fiancee agreed to do, but in her very next breath she threatened to have her 'baby daddy' come kick our asses. I told her that THAT was the very reason I call the police instead of dealing with her; she's always threatening to kick someone's ass.

Later last night, her kids were making noise, but we hadn't complained. She came upstairs to the kids room (right next to ours) and found food in there, and evidently they are not allowed to eat in their room. She started screaming at them about it "m***** f*****" this and "f'in get this sh*t out of here, or I'll beat the sh*t out of you!". She went on for about 10 minutes, and I can't be sure, but I think she spanked them. Now, I've never been against spanking, my mom did it to me (though I don't know if I'll do it when I have kids), but considering I could hear it through a WALL, I'm a bit concerned about how hard she might have been hitting them (again, not 100% sure about this part). She yells at them like this many times a week, though I've never heard what I thought sounded like hitting before.

Dilema:

I really want to call Child Protective Services and get these kids to a safe environment. But, I KNOW she is going to know that a) the landlord is asking her to leave because of my complaints (even though he's had other issues with her) and that I called CPS if they knock on her door. I have no idea if her threat to have her kids' dad come harm us was real or not, and I have no idea what other friends she has, or what she is capable of. Before her, I'd never called the cops on anyone, and I'm usually a quiet person who leaves the other tenants and the landlord alone, so now I kind of feel like I'm going too far... but I feel scared for her kids... whilst being a bit afraid for myself...

Any thoughts are appreciated. I know there are varying opinions on all aspects of this, and I am open to all of them. I wanted to sit on this decision for a couple of days, but my fiancee makes a good point that if we don't hear anything else, we wont call, even though more could be going on.

Only if they are threatening them with a deadly weapon or an instrument that would cause serious physical harm as defined by statutes. (baseball bat, lead pipe, vehicle, etc). In that case, an assault would be implicated.

Many years ago, there was a woman in our apartments who was habitually leaving her 4 year old alone. I was always seeing this child wondering around the apartments, out in the parking lots, etc. The daughter of a friend babysat for this woman one night.. and the woman didn't return home for two days. The poor girl babysitting didn't know what to do. I struggled with the decision to call about this too, but I did it. And when the police showed up and took the little girl with them, I cried and felt so guilty. So odd. I can't really explain why I would feel so bad and so guilty about helping that child.

No matter what happens, Sarah, you can at least know that you did -something- to try and help.

Have you talked to the apartment manager about the noise? You'd think they would evict the people.

I like the way Delarla handled her neighbors (very funny)!!!! Jenna has it right regarding the laws. Most of these folks, like to intimidate. However, stand up for your right and don't be bullied. Be cautious. Most likely they will be gone in a short while. Folks that live in chaos, often move around..in my opinion. Shawn

Im laughing here....

as the mother of 3 #L O U D# kids, Ive often wondered how many times my neighbors wanted to call CPS on us. LOL

You did the right thing!

In the mean time, interest rates are down, why not shop for a starter home so you wont have this problem again!

This story is interesting - keep us posted, ok?