The cops aren't blameless here, but let's not lose sight of the real dumbarse here: the downstairs neighbor.

Think this through from the police perspective. They get a call from a guy who thinks a murder's just been committed in the apartment upstairs. They show up and the guy at the door refuses to let them in. Within his rights, but doesn't consider that the police in their "Suspect everybody" mindset assume he's just committed a murder and is getting ready to barricade himself inside.

Who the hell calls the police after hearing a thud in the next apartment? If you're concerned, go up and knock. Otherwise, go back to your own little life.

I had the amazing experience of being an unrelated Stem Cell donor. During college, I took advantage of a sponsored drive by NMDP (free to donors). Several years later, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute tracked me down to inform me that I was a potential match. A few weeks later, I became a stem cell donor for a 59-year-old male with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.

Over the following weeks and months, I received several anonymous (screened by NMDP) letters of gratitude from his family, giving me updates on his progress.

12 months after the procedure, both donor and recipient have the option of disclosing their names and contact information to the other. I received a form through NMDP with my recipient's name and contact information. He was a retired schoolteacher in Southern California.

Long story short: He went on to survive over six years cancer-free. Each year, he celebrated the anniversary of the Stem Cell transplant as his new lease on life. We remained in touch and shared family pictures and updates - I sent pictures of my son, he sent pictures of his grandkids. I even had the opportunity to meet him (and his wife) while on a business trip to that area. Sadly, he passed away last year.

Now given, not every transplant works out so well. But it's an incredible feeling to be given a chance like this.

Moral of the story: I encourage everyone who's eligible to be a donor to register! It could change someone's life... including your own.