Threatening texts (through a 3rd party) from former employee (Houston: house, purchase)

[schnauzerfriendly]

Hoping someone on this board can steer me in the right direction.

I terminated an employee 2 years ago. Reason was poor job performance. For issues relating to his termination from my company, but not directly (he lied on a job application), he was recently fired from another job.

He has been attempting to communicate with me since finding out that he would get fired from this most recent job(it was a gov't job, so he had some appeals). I ignored his messages and forwarded them to HR. It went quiet for a while, then he tried reaching me through a 3rd party. She is my former assistant, and she was also his assistant. I continued to ignore his requests and told her to block him / not engage. She is free to do as she wishes and did not block him.

Last night he sent some texts to her and asked her to forward them to me. They were threatening. Not sure if threatening physical harm or legal action. Given what just happened in Roanoke, I'm not taking any chances.

I live in humble / unincorporated harris county. Can anyone advise me on how to handle this? Do I file a report with HCSO? Will texts forwarded from the 3rd party be sufficient to issue any kind of restraining order? Is this the best route to go, or am I poking the bear here? I want to make sure my family is protected. This guy seemed ok....he took the termination well...but this behavior is NOT at all normal and you just never know how people are going to react when stressed and desperate. Our HR department sent him an email this morning, but they are out of town....I want some protection here in Houston...

Any advice would be most appreciated.

Thank you

[shortel]

what is considered threating txts? everyone has their own interpretation of what threating is. Unless they are coming to your house or where you work and actually going to harm you I would ignore it.

This is Houston we have a lot of crazy people. You need to own a gun and carry it.

[schnauzerfriendly]

something along the line of 'I need to talk to her. I need her to know what's coming for her down the line'. Could be legal action, or it could be violence. Who knows? I am not really willing to take a chance. I just want to protect my family. Its so easy to find just about anyone these days...I've moved since I was his manager (office moved and I moved house) but still, he could find me.

maybe there's nothing I can do. But if I can get some intervention from police, I think I want that...

[geolvl]

Actually your company's he should advise you since this is work related and a potential liability/risk on their side. Document document. Send it to them in writing.

[Timnwendy]

I'd contact the police, but in a real crisis they probably couldn't show up in time to intervene. IMHO you should take responsibility for your own protection - purchase a gun and learn how to use it.

[Oildog]

Send the info to HR and make a record.
Cyberstalking is a crime, if there is a threat of physical, mental harm, or blackmail, contact HCSO.

Learn how to use a pistol.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by Timnwendy

purchase a gun and learn how to use it.

Sure, that's he way to stay safe

[HookTheBrotherUp]

'Sounds like it is straight out of a 'Forensic Files' episode. These days, in these economic times, people do crazy things. We always hear about it after the fact... so, and so was killed, hurt, etc. In any other circumstance, I'd agree that what I said sounds like taking the wussy way out, but again, read the headlines, do Google searches, this is happening way too often, too recently. Remember the guy in Houston who got laid off, then returned to kill his manager, and he was later arrested at the border?

[detachable arm]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Sure, that's he way to stay safe

It makes people feel better at least. Same goes for talking tough. Although most white collar managers are too flaccid and would drop dead of a heart attack or shoot themselves when confronted in real life.

I know people who got into the same situation as the OP and their lives were never normal again. Nor were their kids. This is why I stay a grunt. Make money like a boss, pay the cost like a boss. I might max out at a paltry $170-180k per year in my field-- but I get to work 9/80 and the only sociopath I need to deal with is my boss.

You can invest in guns and even dark glasses-- but as long as county records are online someone will eventually find you out.

[crone]

My son and his wife were stalked for weeks by a guy terminated in his department. Son had nothing to do with it. The guy once sat in front of his house for hours, sent weird email,etc. They finally told HR. The company was located in Houston. The HPD took care of it.