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  • Report:  #525819

Complaint Review: Stephen Porter Plumbing

Stephen Porter Plumbing - Mark Porter Trespassing and Threats Waltham, Massachusetts

  • Reported By:
    Elsie — Newton Massachusetts United States of America
  • Submitted:
    Thu, November 19, 2009
  • Updated:
    Sun, December 13, 2009
  • Stephen Porter Plumbing
    41 Cheryl Lane
    Waltham, Massachusetts
    United States of America
  • Phone:
  • Category:

Mark Porter of Stephen Porter Plumbing in Waltham, Massachusetts is unstable and a threat to the neighborhood. Last week I heard men shouting in my backyard followed shortly by the sound of pounding on the back door and breaking glass. I ran downstairs to investigate and found two men at the kitchen door. The force of their "knocking" had caused photos hung on the wall to crash to the floor and broken glass was everywhere. They quickly came around the front of the house. I had the phone in my hand at this point to call 911. 


I opened the front door and saw the Porter Plumbing van parked directly outside. I knew this van from the neighborhood and was very confused. The two men came around the house at this point. The leader, who I now know was Mark Porter, started to come up the front steps. I asked him if that was him in my backyard. When he replied that it was I said that it was extremely inappropriate for him to trespass on our property. That really set him off and he started screaming that he had every right to be in my yard because "your mother has my dog!" I had no idea what he was talking about then or now. I gather that he lost his dog and thought that this somehow entitled him to raid random strangers' yards. I repeated again that he is not allowed in our yard and told him that no one here took his dog or knew where his dog was.

My elderly father then came down the stairs and told Mark Porter to leave or he would call the police. At this point Porter started screaming at my father and challenged him to a fight. My father told him to go away and I called the police. When the two cowards from Porter Pluming saw me on the phone they jumped into the van and sped away. It was pretty easy for the cops to track them down as they were driving around in the Porter Plumbing van.

We filed a police report and are now considering a restraining order. In addition to breaking three photo frames, Mark Porter also broke one of the latches on our fence when he forced his way in. 

Friends and family have used Porter Plumbing in the past, but never again. I can't imagine letting someone this violent and disrespectful into your home. As for his dog, I assume wherever it is, it's probably much happier than with this psycho!

3 Updates & Rebuttals


Elsie

Massachusetts,
United States of America

It isn't slander if it's true

#4Author of original report

Sun, December 13, 2009




I was there, you were not. I suggest that you contact the Newton Police department if you would like to clarify the details of the incident. Your husband may have told you that he caused no damage, but I had a kitchen floor covered with picture frame glass and a broken gate latch that tell a different story


To my knowledge, your husband never knocked on our front door or rang our doorbell. The latter would be especially difficult as we do not have a doorbell. The first time I became aware of your husbands presence was when I heard the pounding and crashing glass in the kitchen downstairs. I immediately came downstairs to see what was happening. Are you trying to imply that if someone doesnt answer the door immediately it gives your husband carte blanche to trespass on private property and cause damage while doing so?


My exact words to your husband when I opened the front door were It was extremely inappropriate for you to be in our backyard without permission. How is this a verbal attack? He then started to scream over and over It is appropriate because your mother has my dog! Do you consider screaming to be a part of this neighborly behavior you extol? He was screaming so loudly that other neighbors came out of their houses. My father heard the commotion in the shower and came downstairs soaking wet to see what was going on. At that point your husband started screaming at my father to come out and fight him. How neighborly is that? I notice you didnt address your husbands threats of violence in your rebuttal.


I didnt even know your dog was lost, because your husband never communicated that fact. He just kept screaming over and over Your mother has my dog!  and I have every right to be in your yard! If he had calmly and politely stated that his dog was lost I would have been happy to help him. My family has also lived in this neighborhood for a long time, over 100 years in fact. When there is a strange man screaming at you on your front porch and threatening to fight your father one is inclined to be neither neighborly nor sympathetic. If your husband expects to be treated with neighborly friendliness and help I would suggest that he conduct himself with a modicum of politeness and respect.


I wasnt even going to post this report at first. I thought I would just let it go and attribute his crazy and aggressive behavior to concern over his dog. A few days after the incident your husband ran into my mother in the neighborhood. Instead of apologizing, he blamed his actions on me and on his Irish temper. He still could not admit that he did anything wrong that day. When my mother told him about the property damage he caused he just shrugged his shoulders. No apology. No remorse. The fact that he, and evidently you, seem to think that he is the victim in this situation and did nothing wrong is deeply concerning. Losing a dog does not give him the right to terrorize others. Your husband is not allowed to trespass on private property. He is not allowed to break others possessions. He is not allowed to threaten people with violence. If he does not realize this then the community should be warned, as should anyone who is considering letting him into their home to do work.


By the way, the reason that you havent heard anything else from the police is that we declined to press charges. Youre welcome. And your husband owes my family an apology. 


Anna

Waltham,
Massachusetts,
United States of America

This is Slander

#4General Comment

Sat, December 12, 2009

Mark is a life long resident of this community who has a fine reputation and is a good citizen and caring man. On Wed 11/11/09 (Veteran's Day) our 12 year old son accidentally left a door open (it was a windy day) and our dog got out of the house. He called me and my husband in desperation to please come home and help find her.

It was a neighbor who thought that our dog was found by a woman who lives at the home mentioned here. That is the only reason Mark rang your doorbell and knocked at the door shortly after noon time that day. Evidently you and an older man were at home but did not answer your door for some time.

Once you finally did come to your door the verbal attack towards him for being on your property was excessive. He merely was explaining that he was looking for our lost dog. He never once accused your family of stealing our dog but for some reason you kept carrying on in defense of that and threatened to call the police. Not very neighborly or sympathetic I must say. Maybe because we have grown up here ourselves and are raising children...we are accustomed to answering our door (in the middle of the day) and helping our friends and neighbors on the drop of a dime.

There was no property damage as you described. Why defame yourself by making these false accusations? You appear to be quite angry, paranoid and unstable yourself by carrying on with these slanderous remarks.

As for Mark running away like a coward...he just continued to look for the dog as I, my son and a few neighbors were also doing at the time.

In regards to the police call...Newton Police did contact my husband for a statement weeks ago and that was the end of the story.

Our dog is a rescue mutt that we adopted and nursed back to health over several months and whom we love very dearly. To say she would be better off elsewhere is further evidence of your vindictiveness.

By the way...it was aother woman who happened to out walking her two dogs that found our dog and reported her to Waltham Police. She was concerned for the dog's safety and wanted to be sure she was reunited with her rightful owner. Our thanks and gratitude to her and the Waltham Police department.



Elsie

Massachusetts,
United States of America

Not only is Mark Porter crazy but he's also incompetent

#4Author of original report

Sat, December 12, 2009

Mark Porter strikes again. He set an apartment building on fire with his plumber's torch yesterday. Here's the article: http://www.dailynewstribune.com/news/x1669484644/Plumbers-torch-sparks-fire-at-Waltham-apartment


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