AITA for forcibly removing and calling the police on a guest from our Halloween party?

One Redditor wonders if they were in the wrong for calling the police on a guest who refused to leave their Halloween party after a heated political argument. Despite being asked multiple times to leave, the guest persisted, forcing the host to physically remove him and eventually involve law enforcement.

Now, the host is questioning whether their actions may have jeopardized the guest’s career, especially since the man is a lawyer with a new baby at home. Read the full story below.

‘ AITA for forcibly removing and calling the police on a guest from our Halloween party?’

For context, our town has an unofficial Facebook group for “adult trick-or-treating”. You can sign up in the group offering to provide a**oholic beverages to adults that show up requesting a “tipsy treat”. People make a real effort to find creative cocktails to offer, and our block is exceptionally awesome (in my not humble opinion).

This year, we and a few of our neighbors decided to participate and we all set up in our driveway, both to allow us to hang out together and to reduce the effort required by “tipsy treaters” to visit several homes.

All was well until my wife and another neighbor’s partner decided they needed to see what the other participants in the event were offering. They went around the neighborhood to visit other homes, and returned with two guys in tow.

One of the dudes was a homebrewer (like me), so we immediately had something in common to discuss. I invited them into my home and offered them several of my personal creations. All good, everyone is having fun, and I offer them to help themselves to whatever they want from my personal stash.

After a few hours, one of the guys politely excuses himself and heads home. By this point, there were close to a dozen people hanging out in the kitchen and enjoying increasingly inebriated conversation. No big deal, everyone lives within walking distance, we are all neighbors. Drinks are flowing, and everyone is having fun.

Well, eventually two of the guests, one of which being the stray my wife brought back, start having a conversation about the upcoming election. It gets heated, and the stray cat alternates between crying and becoming aggressive with the other guests.

I was out of the room when it started, but as soon as I returned and saw what was happening, I tried to end the discussion in the interest of everyone’s good time. This is a party, not the place for political nonsense.

Well, stray cat would not let it go, despite repeated attempts. When it was clear he would not move on, I asked him to leave. He refused. At least 15 times. At one point I had to stop another guest from physically removing him, as I was hoping for a peaceful resolution that let everyone continue enjoying their evening.

Well, long story short, after I announced everyone needs to leave because of this foolishness, he continued to stay and refused to stop forcing a conversation about politics. He accused me several times of supporting a candidate I loathe, and I finally had enough. I told him for the last time he had to leave or I would remove him. He refused, so I pushed him several times until I finally got him out the door.

For none of this do I believe I’m an a**hole. I avoided striking him, I avoided him being struck by any other guests (definitely a non-zero probability), and he was trespassing for at least 30 minutes after being asked to leave. Minor physical contact to remove him was the kindest option, and I’m proud I chose it.

However, after he was out of my house, he absolutely refused to leave my property. He felt compelled to continue his argument for an hour in front of my house. I finally threatened to call the police to make him leave, and he refused to believe I would do it. He kept on with his rant and threats to my neighbors.

Where I MIGHT be the a**hole, is that he works as an attorney. Police reports about his behavior could affect his status with the bar, and he claimed to have a new baby at home (probably why he was at my house drunk and being stupid).

I obviously don’t want to ruin his career over a drunken mistake, but I feel like he left me no choice. But I understand the fact people do very stupid things when they are drunk. I’ve been there. I’ve done that. And I’m fortunate that few of my dumbest inebriated moments led to greater consequences.

That said, his behavior was unhinged to the point I felt like I needed a public record of his behavior in case he decided to damage our property (or worse). So, AITA for calling the police on a drunk attorney and father and risking his career because he refused to leave my property?

Here’s what the community had to contribute:

AccioAmelia −  NTA. It does not matter what his job is. He wouldn’t leave your private property after being asked multiple times. Of all people, he knows the law AND the potential consequences of his behaviors. It was HIS choices that led to this point.

Individual-Foxlike −  NTA. As an attorney, he should be more aware of how he handles himself and not get sloshed enough that he won’t listen to reason.

icorooster −  OP if he was that concerned about his career he would not have engaged in a public political argument which led to a party ending nor would he refuse to leave your home or stand arguing for 1 hour. he should not have the privelage of being an attorney

Usual_Bumblebee_8274 −  Nta. In my opinion, you waited far too long. Not only giving him more time to get worked up but to also put everyone else at risk as well. Sounds like it was on the verge of hysteria for the majority of the time

Pandoratastic −  NTA. The fact that he’s an attorney should make you hold him to a higher standard, not a lower one. He made his own choices and you gave him very many chances.

do2g −  NTA. A bar card is not a get out of jail free card.

Relative-Act5470 −  He was being rude, obnoxious, and overstayed his welcome. If someone doesn’t want their career to be affected, don’t do s**t that can negatively affect your career. NTA

ThatWhichLurks782 −  NTA you should have called the cops when he originally wouldn’t leave your house.

learningprof24 −  NTA. I recently had a similar situation where I had to make a report and really struggled with it because I know I’ve absolutely had my dumb moments and am incredibly grateful they haven’t harmed my career or reputation so I felt awful that I was possibly not giving the grace I’ve received in the past, but sometimes people just don’t give us a choice. It sounds like you went above and beyond to resolve this every other way possible before resorting to a police report.

Square-Minimum-6042 −  Of all people he knew the likely consequences for his foolishness.

Was it reasonable for the host to involve the police, or was the situation mishandled in a way that might have been avoided? Should the host have shown more restraint, or was calling the police the only option left? Share your thoughts below!