Story time with Kevthenurse

[Kevthenurse]

I was on my clinical rotation last weekend, and the hospital where my group is working is in an unpleasant part of Minneapolis (Hennepin County Medical Center for those of you familiar with the area). I use public transit, and I was on my way to the bus stop, a good 2 blocks away from the hospital when some stranger--early 20s by the looks of him--yelled at me from across the street "you are a bitch and a faggot." He was very nonchalant, and spoke clearly. He was well groomed, and his clothes were clean, he did not have the look of some vagrant. There were no other people around, so I know for sure he was talking to me.

Anyway, I have dealt with these types before, and I found the best response is to ignore them. They are fishing for a reaction so the worst thing you can do (from their perspective) is to dismiss whatever they have to say. We both crossed the street, he waited until he was a good 8 to 10 feet behind me, and said "if I see you again, I'll kill you." Again, very nonchalant, speaking calmly, clearly.

I picked up my cell phone and called the cops. I think he was onto what I was doing because I was looking in his general direction and noticed that he kept looking back at me. At one point, he even started walking in my direction, so I started to speak VERY LOUDLY SO HE COULD HEAR THAT I WAS TALKING TO A 911 OPERATOR while simultaneously walking backwards towards my bus stop--ready to take the first bus out of Downtown Minneapolis regardless of whether it brought me home.

He turned and looked in my direction one last time and moved on. I told the 911 operator which direction he was headed as well as the best description I could. I kind of doubt they found the guy or even responded; I mean how many kids wear hoodies these days, right? He didn't brandish a weapon, and he didn't make any gestures or even move towards me in a threatening way, so retrospectively, despite feeling shaken up over the experience I felt a little silly dialing 911.

Here's my question, was calling the cops the right move?

Incidentally, I don't carry any weapons because statistics favor perpetrators using the victim's own weapon against them. I never did any martial arts, and I didn't get into fights as a kid, so I don't think I would be a very challenging opponent if there was a physical altercation. I spoke with my professor and she suggested that hospital security might be able to escort me to the bus stop if I don't feel safe, and I will probably take them up on that.

I grew up in Minneapolis, but it no longer feels like home.