It's been a long, long time coming, but I finally lost my patience with my dad over xmas breakfast.
I'm not going to go into detail, because it's years of crap that just came to a head, but the problem I'm having right now is that I borrowed a ladder from him a while ago, which he dropped off for me because it wouldn't fit in my car, and now he's saying that if I don't bring it back to him by the end of the year, he'll report it stolen. I'm pretty sure that won't stick, because I'm not actually trying to keep the ladder, but he used to be a cop, so he could potentially make things difficult for me if he can get some of his cop buddies to come around and harass me. Because it wasn't enough to disrespect and control me; he had to make life difficult for me while I was literally walking out the door.
Put it outside. Tell him you have done so. Tell him he can have it if he gets to it before someone else does. Do this in writing.
I told him I would do exactly that, and he spouted off some crap about misuse and neglect of his property (basically implying that he could still get me arrested for it. I don't remember exactly what he said because I was still very angry). I don't know if it's actually true or not, but I'm sure the point was to scare me either way. And like I said, because he used to be a cop, he could potentially make real trouble for me.
This is not a legal sub and this comment is not legal advice.
That said, in many jurisdictions the police answer to that type of complaint is, "that's a civil matter." A prompt message to him in writing to document your actions and the reason (the ladder won't fit in your vehicle), along with a photograph of its location, could possibly CYA if he decides to follow up.
If you're worried he would really use the legal system to harass you, then it could be savvy to check out prepaid legal services. That costs about as much as a streaming service per month, and it gives you a real lawyer to give meaningful guidance on what to do. It often works wonders to have a lawyer send the reply to legal threats.
Tell him to take you to small claims then. Call him on it. Bet he's all bark with no bite. And if he does? The judge will laugh him out of the courtroom.
He's using that fear to control you, flip the script 💜
I'm so sorry. My brother is a cop, so I understand about the bullying and threats.
Police work attracts a type.
You do not owe him a delivery. Send him a message with the details of when you will be putting the ladder out, and when he can pick it up.
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Text him a picture of it not fitting in your car, then text him a picture of where he can pick it up in your yard, and a text stating he can enter your premises only to pick it up and anything further will be considered trespassing. Document everything, even if it seems insignificant.
Call your local police station and explain your side of the situation. Just in case this escalates.