Driving Through An Active Crime Scene

13 July 2026

1186

R. Linda:

Today, I took a personal day to do some errands and take the dog for his wellness check. I drove to a town just below the New Hampshire border in Massachusetts (Gazuntite, always sounds like a sneeze when I say that State's name). I unexpectedly encountered an active FBI search for a bank robber. Driving past the cordoned-off area with agents hiding behind cars left me nervous, though I tried to remain calm. 

The beginning of the cordoned-off area

They had arrested one person a day or so ago, and now believed (this is me surmising) there had to be another, or more, holed up in a house off the main drag. The authorities were crouched down with guns drawn, and here I am driving next to them, and I'm going to be ok if someone shoots at me? Honestly?

At first, I was fascinated. Then it struck me, THEY weren't safe either. Here, they created an elaborate security perimeter that somehow leaves the agents themselves completely exposed to random passersby. I mean, ordinary traffic was still moving through the scene. I have to question why the FBI is hiding from the bank robber, but apparently trusts every random driver passing behind them. 

Here, me mind started to go into analytic overdrive. I was imagining increasingly mundane threats the authorities didn't plan for: like a delivery driver, someone taking a wrong turn, a teenager texting while driving, a guy angry about being stuck in traffic, crap like that.

This all made me come to the conclusion that the safest person in the entire situation is probably the bank robber, because at least everyone knows where the FBI is looking. That brought me addled-brain, to thinking about risk-management policies. Like, if I worked at a bank and the management told me, "There's an armed criminal over there, so crouch behind our company vehicle while strangers continue driving past you," I'd be on the phone with HR.

This sent me into a befuddled conversation with meself, it did. I was thinking I could propose that FBI agents put up signs saying "ACTIVE SHOOTOUT," or that a second group of FBI agents whose only job is to protect the first group from people the first group isn't watching, be put in place. Then I realised the second group would need protection too.

Then I realised the infinite absurdity of all that wasted thinking: it came down to this: You need FBI agents watching the bank robber, FBI agents watching the people watching the bank robber, and then FBI agents watching those FBI agents. At some point, the whole country is under FBI surveillance except the bank robber. Does that make sense?

I'm not saying I could run the FBI. I'm just saying I wouldn't make 'hope nobody comes from behind us' the main security policy, but something akin to that.

But I am saying I wasn't merely observing a flaw in FBI procedure — no, I was realising I WAS participating in the flaw! Because another thought struck me. It was like "Wait a minute. Why am I allowed to be here?"

The FBI was hiding behind cars because someone nearby had a gun. Yet, they're allowing ME — and presumably dozens of complete strangers — to drive directly through the area. It was then that I realised there are two equally insane possibilities. 

1. Either the FBI has carefully investigated meself and determined that I be harmless…

or,

2. Nobody has any idea who I am.

The second possibility is terrifying, and I realised, they don't know I'm not the bank robber. And I don't know if the bank robber is driving the car behind me. THIS makes me increasingly nervous, ABOUT EVERYONE! Here I was looking at the FBI, the FBI is looking at the bank robber's house, nobody is looking at the guy in the Honda behind me. Who's watching the Honda Guy? I wanna know!

I also realised I be exposed too: these guys, have bulletproof vests. They have guns. They have backup. I have a seat belt and half a Diet Coke.

I feel offended that the FBI has involuntarily recruited me into the operation! Here I be trying to get to the Veterinarian's office, and suddenly I be part of the perimeter. What's up with that, I ask you. None asked me if I wanted to participate in a federal manhunt. There should've been a sign: ARMED BANK ROBBER AHEAD. CONTINUE IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT."

The FBI is crouching behind cars because they know enough to be scared, while me, Gabe O'Sully here, is driving upright in plain sight because he wasn't given the necessary information. 

Exposed I be

That's what bothered me. Every person knew what was happening, and they were hiding. The only ones standing up were those who were unsure what was happening. 

So, I drove through as fast as I could. Then I realised speeding past the FBI during a perpetrator held up in a house makes me look suspicious. So I slowed down. Then I realised driving unusually slow past the FBI during a stakeout also looks suspicious. At that point, I was trying to drive at the exact speed of an innocent person. Nobody tells me what that is. 

Later, when I was home, away from all this, and had time to think rationally, I was somewhat amused by the FBI's vulnerability. Then I realised I'm vulnerable because nobody knows whether I'm dangerous, which left me paralysed, trying to behave like an innocent civilian, but not sure how to do that exactly. 

I tell ya!

Gabe

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