Should I have dialed 911?

[Pat Mustard]

Several months ago I was walking on the street, minding my own business.  I was in the area of the street that is part of the curb, the little off-white area of the street where the curb meets the road.  A car drove approached (I was walking facing the traffic, common advice, at least as I understand it), and a man opened his window and extended his head and shoulders out of the moving car and hit me in the head with his fist.  I believe that he did so, because, he recognized me as being a transgender female.  I wasn't injured, but, his wack smarted.  I decided to call the police non-emergency number; it took the police where I live a full 10 minutes to send a single officer, and then, only after I called the non-emergency two more times, as the car continued to approach me.  (I think that they were afraid that they were going to be arrested.)  The police never called me back; I just saw a patrol car in the area, which, I believe was in response to the incident, although, I am not sure.

Of course, if it happened once, it can happen again; been thinking about what I should do next time?

Most definitely yes. It was an assault, and quite probably a hate crime if your state has the appropriate legislation.

Oh, and dangerous driving.