how would you handle this?

[lonelyfarmgirl]

What do you do when you have a serious, or getting there situation with a neighbor and the police wont help, or are against you?

As in, open threats to shoot you, blatant harassment of various sorts, accusations of thievery, other random things.
You call the police, and they come and assess the situation, then go to the offending party and tell them, I knew those people were lying the minute they opened their mouths.

Here's a good one. You rent land to run cattle on, and the owner of the land and you are having disagreements about rent, etc...
So the land owner calls the newly elected county sheriff and says something like 'they aren't paying me the rent I want, or they won't give me more money, or some other such nonsense.'
and the sheriff tells the guy, just round up some neighbors and run those cattle off your land. where exactly is he supposed to run them? into the streets? so then the sheriff will be responsible for free roaming cattle?

so when the county sheriff and his various underlings are obviously not going to do anything to help you, stop the situation, etc.. What do you do?

This makes me think of that episode of the Simpsons when Marge got arrested. The cops told her were powerless to help you, but not hurt you.

[Tad]

State police? Go over his head if you can hopefully the person over his head isn't his BIL or something. Sorry this is going on, it really stinks when the ones that are supposed to be there to help people are part of the problem.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Move.

[PNWest]

If I understand correctly; you have rented ground that you are running cattle on. The owner for some reason wants you off, out of there, gone with your animals.

The owner at this time is making threating noises toward you and your animals.

Have you kept your part of any bargain the two of you started. If he has no reason to be badgering, complaining, then you have to weigh the risk to you and your animals.

Although I wouldn't like it; I believe I would move my animals to ensure their safety. As for the rest of it; somewhere their must be some background.

[lonelyfarmgirl]

There is only so much you can do when there is a foot of snow on the ground and everything is still frozen down. And yes, of course we are upholding our part of the deal.
The man is sick in the head, and his behavior shows it, but when the local authority is acting the way they are, what do you do?

We are working on transitioning to somewhere else, but that takes time, and is impossible before the ground thaws and dries.

The situation is fairly nasty and way deeper than anything I have posted here. We are dealing with it the best we can. I am just floored by what I was told the county sheriff said. Why would someone like that say something so dumb?

I remember a place I lived in Arkansas. The county sheriff told me they don't do anything about people who starve their horses, so long as they are giving their animals food sometimes.

[kasilofhome]

do you have a written contract for payment?
do you have written proof that you have made each payment required per contract on time and in full?

[||Downhome||]

around here they would tell both parties its a civil matter and they do not handle civil matters. as far as death threats and that bit different.

[Shrek]

I usually just keep my powder dry, gun steel oiled, CCW permit up to date and watch the perimeter and my back and keep any at risk livestock on my side of any potential kill zone if someone makes a veiled threat to me or mine in case it escalates to where the authorities need to be notified.

[susieM]

Start a blog about the problem, and be sure that the town Mayor knows about the blog.

[susieM]

(be sure to be polite)

[haypoint]

"I am just floored by what I was told the county sheriff said."

Would I be making a wrong assumtion that what the Sheriff said is hearsay?

Could you get a clairification by asking the Sheriff directly?

Often what one person says and what another person hears is more than a bit different.

If you agreed to a monthly rent and he changes the terms, you are stuck. If you had an agreement for the year, with monthly payments, he's in the wrong.

But I suspect nothing is in writing. I've made the "word of mouth" mistake dozens of times. Listen up, Homesteadingtoday students, get it in writing.

[oregon woodsmok]

His land, that isn't going to change. Get him to sign a release to let you out of the rental agreement and move your cattle.

Stop doing business with wackadoodles. It isn't worth the stress. He apparently loves drama and it is making you crazy. Get out. And stop blaming the police for your disagreement with your landlord. Your problem is with the landlord, not the sheriff.

[foxtrapper]

There's a lot your not saying, and it's very material to the whole story.

But what is clear, is you're a tenant, and the landlord wants you gone. In the end, you will be. How is the part you have some control over.

When a tenant is evicted, their chattel is placed on the curb. Be it a couch or a cow.

A tenant that moves their own couch before being evicted usually fairs better than the one who's couch is placed on the curb. The same would apply to cows.

[Irish Pixie]

What does your agreement say about rent? If it states a certain amount for a certain length of time you need a lawyer to enforce it, not the police.

[wwubben]

Did the sheriff come back and talk to you after he visited the other party?You should go to the sheriff and ask him how things went if he did not come back to your place.You can not go by what somebody said the sheriff said.You can try talking to the county attorney or your township trustee.Make sure people know you have been threatened.

[suitcase_sally]

Originally Posted by lonelyfarmgirl

What do you do when you have a serious, or getting there situation with a neighbor and the police wont help, or are against you?

Hmmm...that ought to tell you something. Perhaps you are not seeing the situation with clear glasses.

[suitcase_sally]

Originally Posted by lonelyfarmgirl

Here's a good one. You rent land to run cattle on, and the owner of the land and you are having disagreements about rent, etc...
So the land owner calls the newly elected county sheriff and says something like 'they aren't paying me the rent I want, or they won't give me more money, or some other such nonsense.'
so when the county sheriff and his various underlings are obviously not going to do anything to help you, stop the situation, etc.. What do you do?

The owner of the land is going to trump you any day of the week.

Do you have a written agreement for land rent? Do you have receipts?

Since you are the renter, I don't think you're going to find the sympathy you're looking for.

[lonelyfarmgirl]

I know his land is his land. That is irrelevant at the moment.
Our involvement with the police started with a phone call to report harassment by the neighbor. The cop came over here, was all nicey nice and helpful, went over there to tell the guy to stop, and a week later showed up and tried to arrest my husband for theft of a piece of equipment he did not steal based on the other guys word. Then told us we had no basis to claim harassment and that we were liars.
I am certain this will end up in court. We are ready for it. Thats not the issue.

I am sure the county sheriff only knows half the story, and what ever he was told may very well be all lies, but why would someone like that tell someone to get neighbors and run cattle off the land? Again, to where does he think they would be run too? Then the sheriff or the group of mystery neighbors would be responsible for the damage feral cattle caused? Escaping cattle is a liability and in some places illegal. That is why people use fences. He must be an idiot.

I actually find it somewhat amusing to think what it would be like to watch the neighbors friends trying to run our cattle away. Some of them would likely be killed trying. Most of our cattle have large, mean looking horns, and there are a few out there that would fight to the death to protect their calves.

But that isn't even the issue, to whom do you go for help when the local police department is obviously against you?
I find the blog idea interesting.

And we aren't after sympathy, just looking to protect our own interests.

[Wolf mom]

Doccument every incident with date. List all incidents from the beginning. If you have proof of payments etc. put a COPY of them with your doccumentation. If ther is any way to get pictures - get 'em.

Go to your local court - get a restraining order. Here, there has to be 3 incidents within one year. You do not need a lawyer to file. Most paperwork is straightforward. After you get the order, you must keep it with you if you call the sheriff. He has to see it right then or can't do his job.

Others will say that restraining orders don't work - they do in the fact that the other party will be arrested for violating the order. And he's getting a police record. When he violates the order, it's nice to have a 3rd party around to verify your statements.

Yes, so far, this sounds llike a civil matter. Make that call to the court NOW to find out how to proceed with a restraining order.

I wouldn't start a blog or do anything to rattle this guy's cage. He sounds retalitory. ANd I would look at my lease or whatever land rental agreement to see how I could legally break it ASAP. Maybe put something in the restraining order, if you've found another place for your cattle - all the judge can say is "NO"

You also need to think back to see what started all this. Maybe he just doesn't want you to rent and can't figure a way out.

My best to you.

[Jokarva]

Some sheriff's are idiots, or he may have been misquoted, or he may have just shot off his mouth without thinking. Hard to tell.

But, every sheriff has a boss - if you can't get resolution from the sheriff then get your documented evidence together and go to them.