[chyrece]

Over a year ago my then 8 year old daughter and her friend had a loaded gun put to their heads by an 11 year old neighborhood boy. Charges were filed and the kid was found guilty on 8 charges, 2 of which were felonies. Because of his age (I’m assuming) he served only 6 months of probation; go figure. His “family” is notorious for trouble, domestic violence, and instability – so much so that when anything happens where the police are involved, at least one office will always say “oh yeah, we know all about the XXX family”. Anyway, all was quiet until after the boy’s probation was up – at which time the family would do stupid stuff like pull up next to me at a stop light and harass me, or harass my kids when they are outside playing. We ended up moving. Unfortunately for my parents, they still live in the same neighborhood and now the harassment has been directed at them. Most recently, the police showed up at my parent’s house stating that the XXX family’s oldest daughter was bitten by one of my parent’s dogs. Now, mind you, my parent’s dogs are 12 and 13 years old. Supposedly one of them scaled the 6ft privacy fence that is padlocked got out and bit someone and then scaled the fence to get back in the yard. My point is that it didn’t happen – the dogs had been inside the entire evening. When the officer came to check out the complaint, he quickly realized that it was bogus (and yes, he actually made a comment about the XXX family) but said that he still legally had to report it to animal control. My concern is that a civil case will be next, with the dysfunctional family trying to get some sore of financial retribution – they probably see it as a sort of payback for getting their son in trouble. I want this behavior stopped. My parents are almost 70 and they don’t need this sort of bs. What are my options if this continues – we live in PA. Thanks.

[N0help4u]

They may have to file harassment charges HRO -harassment restraining order or PFA- Protection from abuse
Then if they come within so many feet of the house or continue to harass they will be arrested
Plus if there is a your word against their word having the papers can look more reputable on your part.

Getting a Harassment Restraining Order (HRO)

[Fr_Chuck]

Also consider a order of protection.

[JudyKayTee]

Over a year ago my then 8 year old daughter and her friend had a loaded gun put to their heads by an 11 year old neighborhood boy. Charges were filed and the kid was found guilty on 8 charges, 2 of which were felonies. Because of his age (I’m assuming) he served only 6 months of probation; go figure. His “family” is notorious for trouble, domestic violence, and instability – so much so that when anything happens where the police are involved, at least one office will always say “oh yeah, we know all about the XXX family”. Anyway, all was quiet until after the boy’s probation was up – at which time the family would do stupid stuff like pull up next to me at a stop light and harass me, or harass my kids when they are outside playing. We ended up moving. Unfortunately for my parents, they still live in the same neighborhood and now the harassment has been directed at them. Most recently, the police showed up at my parent’s house stating that the XXX family’s oldest daughter was bitten by one of my parent’s dogs. Now, mind you, my parent’s dogs are 12 and 13 years old. Supposedly one of them scaled the 6ft privacy fence that is padlocked got out and bit someone and then scaled the fence to get back in the yard. My point is that it didn’t happen – the dogs had been inside the entire evening. When the officer came to check out the complaint, he quickly realized that it was bogus (and yes, he actually made a comment about the XXX family) but said that he still legally had to report it to animal control. My concern is that a civil case will be next, with the dysfunctional family trying to get some sore of financial retribution – they probably see it as a sort of payback for getting their son in trouble. I want this behavior stopped. My parents are almost 70 and they don’t need this sort of bs. What are my options if this continues – we live in PA. Thanks.

I'm an accident investigator - they can claim anything they want. Your parent's insurance company will investigate - no proof, no claim, no money for them. I don't know what Animal Control is thinking if there is no sign of a bite but different things happen in different jurisdictions. Where I live you need signs of a bite/attack, they just don't run around writing people up.

Or hire a private investigator and get your own proof that this never happened.

Someone else has already addressed controlling the behavior -

[twinkiedooter]

Harassing of elderly people over age 65 is against the law. You should be able to find lots of people to help your parents on this down at the DA's office. The dog incident is a starter.

You could also involve the Children's Services Department or whatever they are called where you live as not only do the parents sound out of control, so do the kids.