How would you answer the question when a cop asks," Were you the ones on the roof?"
(I wish I had video of the scenario which took place after we were done for the Day Jamming. Watch the video from national Parkour day to see the fun)
TURNS out that my friend Josh got footage of it. Ill be putting that up when I can.
My response to the cop who ask me this on National Parkour Day was "Yes, We were the ones on the roof." Does my answer portray to the officer that I was on the roof?
There was a group of us who had been on campus for a few hours. Later in the day another group of guys had planned on being there. We had just spotted them near the business building on campus, planned to take a picture, and then head home to get out of the heat.
There were certain guys on the roof Yes, right before our picture moment. They were asked by a kind gentleman to get down, and they promptly did. (He honestly wasn't too kind) After we were on our way and separated from the other group, campus security showed up and asked us if we were on the roof. Out of our group only one of us had been on the roof. (I didn't want to put my friend on the spot) One of my responses to clarify to the cop was that there were others of us in the group nearby who had been on the roof.
The officer asked if I personally was on the roof in which I told him I wasn't on the roof at all. His response was that I had previously told him I was on the roof. I didn't want to pull the I wasn't on the roof, my friends can back me up on it. This is the lamest form of argument to a superior I can think of.
Does my answer that we were on the roof mean that I was on the roof?
The officer didn't press further to find out who specifically was on the roof. He asked me for my ID which I gave to him. Not sure if he could give me a ticket. He left us with a warning, which I will promptly take I guess. He said something about entering private property and breaking locks, and if we were ever caught it wouldn't be good to start a record with how young some of us were.
This experience makes for a good story but lets me emphasis not to get on buildings while doing parkour. Jumping on roofs and being on buildings doesn't have to be a part of parkour, especially since in most places it is illegal and can be dangerous. I've climbed on a roof or two, to rescue a ball over the years. I can do it.
There have been times where, after climbing to the top of a roof, I thought to myself. "Ok... now what?"
There shouldn't be a good reason to be climbing roofs to do parkour. Don't do it, especially at larger parkour gatherings. Ill give you permission to climb a roof on your own time, but not while I'm around.
Respect yourself, Respect your environment.
Eric Higgins
(PS, Thank to my friend for apologizing to me on the matter. He was on the roof. )
