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8 years ago

Palmira near Boquete - Armed & Masked

8 years ago
Sent this morning by Betty Gray

My dogs started barking about 7:30pm and
were very excited. In fact, they were so excited that I could not hear the
program that I was listening to on my computer. I finally got up about 7:40 to
go to my bedroom to put distance between their noise and me. (They usually do
their most energetic barking if there is a rat outside.) I turned on my outside
lights at that time.

Around 8:20 my neighbor, Mike Hart, called and
said that my worker Lio was at his house describing armed and masked males in my
car port. He had already called Rodney at Alto Crimen and said the police were
on their way. He was really a great help in informing everyone and giving
directions. Thank you so much, Mike.

I immediately got my gun and
started peering outside. I never saw anything, but through the bars of one of
my back doors, I fired a shot at the hillside to perhaps scare them. Actually,
I just wanted to fire my gun.

When Lio left to run to Mike Hart's
house, Luis, my other worker, went to keep track of the maleantes, who left
walking up toward Palmira Abajo, then leaving the road and going into the trees.
Luis, joined the police in their car to direct them in the hunt. When they were
not able to find the bad ones, they all came to my house to talk about the
intrusion.

Oh I also need to tell you that Lio's whole name is
Lionardo and I think he is appropriately named. And Luis Vega is also a very
valiant and protective young man. Mike Hart was really impressed with their
actions. I am impressed also and very thankful.

(A few days ago,
Luis saw an old green corolla drive past our entrance very slowly several times.
I was not alarmed because many people drive by slowly to look at the progress of
our gardens.)

I called my dear and indispensable, Yasmin Arauz, who
called Eric Nunez, my dear friend who works for the police in David, Internal
Affairs. Yasmin came with her husband and another Rolando. Eric arrived 30
minutes later. Yasmin interpreted and also operated the video for the
police.

There were three maleantes who had masks, the cameras did not
show a gun, but Lio, the one who first saw them, did see a gun. They were aware
of the several cameras around my house and grounds because they kept their heads
down and they damaged one camera.


The first responders left and now there are two
detectives here at midnight also investigating. Eric is helping them and he
plans to spend the night to make sure that I am safe. I am so grateful for the
quick response of the police and support of my friends. I believe these police
really are seriously intent on catching the maleantes.

When I fired
my gun, I had to pull the trigger three times to get it to fire. Eric says I
should fire it more often because humidity is not good for bullets. I will
store them in my closet from now on and put one of my dehumidifiers in there.

I was fortunate that I found out about the gun not firing until the
third time I pulled the trigger. I will fire it routinely now to make sure that
I am really ready for the next time. I am a little disappointed though that I
did not get to kill a robber and perhaps a murderer. But at least now I am
really ready.

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William Russell
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