Every night I hear a child screaming literally screaming... but how to call the cops?

Question

Every night I go out to smoke every 1-2 hours. I am a late nighter usually as I have three children of my own and night time is me-time. I live in an apartment building and somewhere in my complex... I think perhaps the building across from mine I hear a little kid screaming at the top of their lungs. My kids never scream like this unless in pain. I realise children scream but this sounds like a painful scream and I can actually hear the "uh huhhh huhh WAAAH uh huhh huhh" of this child. Then I hear a man usually yelling at the top of his lungs though muffled sometimes I hear things such as "shut the F*** up or I'm gonna beat your a**" I almost think this is a child getting either physically abused or sexually abused but either way it's at leat verbal abuse. However I do not know where they are for me to call the police to check this out. It is every night. I feel so bad for the child. It could just be a strung out dad trying to put down a reluctant child. But I have a feeling it's more

How do I do something about it?

The police were called by me at 12:00 Am. They were here by 12:15 and took a brief statement while 2 other police officers searched the noise. At 1:00 AM I saw the man come out in handcuffs and the mother as well. At 1:15 AM the little girl soon followed into another car- a black SUV. At 1:23 AM the police came back to me and thanked me for calling them and said I had made the right decision. And that I would soon be contacted by the City's Prosecuting attory and child protective services to speak about everything I have heard. I am to confirm my statement tomorrow at the police station. They did not tell me WHY she was screaming and what was done to her but I assume since I am a wittness and there will be a trial that I will hear what had happened when that all happens. I only hope this little girl can find a wonderful family to spend Thanksgiving with and treat her with the love and kindness she so deserves.

This goes to show that when you have an instinct to go with it. I thank you all for encouraging me to do this as I was unsure if an innocent man was just trying to put his child to sleep. Obviously this was not the case. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers that she finds a nice home. As for me- I am going to make a bed on my kids' room floor like I do when they are sick as I now am even more grateful that they are in a healthy home. Again thanks to all and thanks to Yahoo answers for keeping my mind off the mess that was happening outside for a few hours. Answering others' questions requires the brain to think of other think and I liked that.

Answer 1

Since your kids are sleeping you don't want to go adventuring to far from your own home. Call the police. Describe what you are hearing, and when they arrive they can search out the noise. Or, have someone (neighbor or friend) hang out with you some night and then they can watch your kids while you go figure out which door it is coming from. Don't just let this sit, if it were your kids you would want someone to call.

Answer 2

Call the cops. Dial 911 and tell them what you hear and what your concerns and feelings are.

Try to imagine for a minute that you didn't do anything about your concerns and then in a few weeks you hear that a child in that apartment was killed. How would you feel knowing that you could have helped them but did not do anything.

And what if the child doesn't get killed but grows up to be an abuser.

They could end up being the parents of your grand-children's friends. Or a teacher in school or whatever. The disease of not dealing with emotions in a constructive way can be contagious.

The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing. Please do something. You are responsible for telling what you suspect.

God Bless you,

Answer 3

Call 9-1-1. I'm sure you're not the only one to hear the screaming. If the cops show up, then probably someone in the other apartment building knows where the screams are coming from. Just think, If you don't call the cops and this continues, then what will happen to that child?

Answer 4

I would call the police when this is happening so they can hear it for themselves...That poor child! I would say if it was just screaming then it may be just a difficult child, but screaming followed by those awful words is indeed at least mental abuse and so uncalled for! No child should have things like that said to them, if you can find out where it is coming from then call your local Child Protective Services.

Answer 5

You need to search for the noise, unconspicus as possible. Take a small walk you know, you should be able to limit the screaming to a few possible homes, & then call the police! And follow up w/ child protective services. Make sure it is looked into, if something happens to this poor child because no one would stand up for them, it will be hard to get sleep

Answer 6

Yea thats true, you DO NOT want your own kids to possibly be abused. Then why let other children? Next time this issue occurs take a walk. But not too far. Then call the police and report what you heard. They WILL help.

God bless and Good luck. :)

Answer 7

YES CALL THE COPS. it cant hurt, and call FIA on the house and have then looked in to.

Just so you know you can also be held responsible if something is happing and you didn't do anything about it

so call for your piece of mind and the safety of that child

BELL

Answer 8

Call department of human resources and report them. Tell them that you don't want to say your name. Tell them what you think is going on over there so they can go an check on the baby.

Answer 9

The next time it starts Dial 911...the cops will find out where it's comming from.

Answer 10

Call the cops now! get them to come and find the house/apartment when it's going on. DON'T WAIT.