Don't mess with our security guard.

Hmm! I just realized that I never described the debacle of last Tuesday afternoon, which resulted in a new security policy for the entire building! It's entertaining.

Around 4:15 PM, dressed in a black suit, my usual black 3-inch work heels and a black and white polka-dotted top, I took the elevator to the lobby intending to walk to my car, as usual. I exited the building past the security guard and stood on the corner, waiting for traffic to clear so I could cross the street.

Somebody down the street was shouting, but I paid no attention - people downtown are always shouting. The shouting got louder, I turned to see what all the fuss is about, and noticed that there was a man staggering toward me, yelling. He bellowed, "YOU A DAMN FINE WHITE WOMAN, DAMN FINE," among other more lascivious things. I was itching to cross the street to escape his notice and put a few fast-moving vehicles between us.

I crossed the street, and he turned and crossed to intercept me on the other side. Alarm bells went off in my head and I was about to take my heels off and bolt, pretty sure I could easily outrun him, when my co-worker (we'll call him Sam), who is standing outside on his phone, notices the unfolding drama and hears the inappropriate obnoxiousness that this dude (he was obviously intoxicated) was spewing forth at me. Sam starts shouting at the drunk: "NO WAY, NUH UH, NUH UH. DON'T YOU DARE!"

The drunk's attention turned to my co-worker, who waved me off. I wisely removed myself from the scene as they started shouting at each other. As soon as I got into my car, I called my mom, feeling guilty for getting Sam into a nasty situation, but aware that the situation could have been a lot nastier if Sam hadn't been there.

The next morning, I immediately went upstairs to thank my co-worker for rescuing me, and found a huge crowd gathered around his desk! Everybody shouted when they saw me, saying things like, "he was just discharged from the hospital!" and "stab wounds aren't too deep" and other alarming things. I ran up to Sam and asked him if he was okay, gave him a big hug and called him my knight in shining sports coat.

Apparently, after I left, their argument escalated to the point of pushing. The drunk eventually got tired of arguing and went raving up the street, but came back to Sam and picked another fight. At some point, somebody went into the building and told the security guard about the fight, so she came out and told the drunk to back off. He threatened her, and she took him DOWN. She had him on the ground with her sidearm to his temple! A whole flock of capitol police converged on him, searched him (he was armed!!!) and arrested him. Sam had to go down to the police station and file a report. The drunk guy was obviously not in his right mind. Who knows what would have happened if he had reached me.

Now all outside doors are locked, all visitors must declare themselves with the guard and have employee escorts, and all employees must present their badges in two places!