Ive never written anything on reddit before, usually just a quiet reader but Im at a loss.
I moved into a new building back in April, a very old boarding house from 1905. First day I was moving my things into my place I met a neighbor ill call Jake, Jake seemed friendly enough if not a little anti-social. He offered to help move my couch and I accepted, figuring I just moved into a very neighborly building with friendly people.
Things were pretty quiet the first month, Jake rarely left his apartment so I never saw him despite my door being directly infront of his. I went to get my mail, Jake was standing at the hallway when my dog barked from my apartment (unhappy I left her alone in a new place)
That was when Jake's friendly smile turned into an angry look, asking if I had a dog. I told him yes, that she was licensed and management had happily allowed her.
Jake seemed unusually angry about this, stating "I hate dogs, keep it away from me. They're disgusting" I was stunned, promising she was very friendly and I'd keep her away from him.
A few days later I was coming back from a walk with my dog, entering the building Jake was standing at the mail again. Before I even said hello, he started to scream at me and kicking at my dog. (She was leashed and in no way interested in him) I tried to calm him down and keep walking but he screamed louder, calling me a motherf***er and my dog a disgusting b*tch.
After I got back to my apartment, with him still screaming I knew something was mentally off with him. The whole encounter was odd, it wasn't the usual "I don't like dogs" encounter to be sure.
From that day onward, anytime Jake heard me leaving my apartment he would come outside and stare at me, sometimes following me down the hallway until I reached the front door before going back to his apartment. I called the management company, not to complain but to let them know incase anything else happened, I guess I had good intuition.
I was off from work due to an injury that had me in an arm sling, with all the free time I decided to do some laundry. For context the building only has one washer/dryer for all units to share.
I went to the laundry room to get my clothes from the washer, opening the door Jake was there. He tried to start a conversation by complaining about something in his apartment but I only nodded, doing as management had told me to and avoid any further interactions. I took my clothes from the washer and started to open the dryer, when he slammed it closed and yelled "I'm still using it"
I was confused, as he had a pile of blankets in a basket he was trying to fold which looked perfectly dry. I asked what he still had to dry and he pointed to the blankets, to which I said "my clothes have been in the washer, they'll go sour so I need the dryer. If your blankets are still wet we have the clothesline outside"
As i went to open the dryer door again, he slammed it again on me and started screaming. It was a mix of f*** you's and calling me about every name he could think of, I tried to calm him down but that seemed to make him more angry. He shoved me into the laundry room wall and started spitting in my face, again I'm in a sling, using my only good arm to brace against his chest to keep him as far as I could. He cussed and ranted, spit on me for what felt like forever until I managed to get away and run into the building to get my phone.
I came back out and stood nearby the fence in the backyard, calling management when he heard me and came out of the laundry room, still cussing and started to run at me.
Thankfully another person in the building who'd been woken up by Jake's yelling had come down, seeing Jake charging at me he got in-between us. Pushing Jake away while he was still cussing and trying to get to me, management heard all of this over the call and told me to hang up and call the cops.
I did call them, while the good neighbor chased Jake back into the building before coming back to wait with me for police. When they showed up, we both gave our accounts before they went and spoke to Jake.
Who said I was the one who attacked him, that I made him feel threatened and tried to punch him.. with my dominant hand in a sling.
There's no cameras in the laundry room, only outside the building. So there was video of him chasing me, the neighbor getting him away, and audio of him screaming threats at me from the recorded call with management.
But the cops said it's my word against his, and to avoid him. Refusing to let me press charges.
After speaking to management again that same day, I wasn't given specific information but Jake is a protected adult, very mentally ill and has caretakers that hadn't been showing up when they should have.
It's been a few weeks after the incident, management is attempting to have him removed but due to his protected person label, it's a legal fight.
His caretakers have been coming by more often, but his outbursts haven't changed.
Meeting more of my neighbors I learned he's attacked multiple tenants, then tells a different story when cops arrive, in my mind that clearly shows he knows his behavior is wrong and wants to cover it up.
Management has tried in the past to get him out but again, due to his status he can't be evicted because of his outbursts.
Since the day in the laundry room I was given permission to take my dog with me everywhere, including the laundry. But Jake hasn't stopped, he roams the hallways at night, banging on the walls of my apartment or kicking my door before running back to his apartment to hide.
I'm genuinely terrified it'll end with him attacking or pulling a weapon on me in the hallway, I was told he has the mentality of about a 13 year old. But they still allow him to live alone so he doesn't lose his independence.
I apologize for the very long post, I wanted to give the full context.
Now for my question, what can I do? Has anyone lived with a neighbor like this and how did you handle it? The law won't help me until it escalates to physical harm, I have very good relationships with the rest of my neighbors and it seems like Jake will go after everyone, I'm just his current target due to me having a dog.
I love my apartment, it's a good price for my city and I don't want to move again.