I was very recently contacted by a friend of mine back in my old town who had been asked my location by someone (let's just call this someone X).

X says he wants to find me to apologize, but he had been very very harmful to me in the past, and harmful to my girlfriend. I thought X was dead, but apparently I was wrong.

Can people change that much? Or is this guy just trying to track me down to hurt me again? I fear for my safety and the safety of my family- the friend of mine that X contacted to try and find me said he sounded very phony in wanting to apologize.

I don't know if I should do nothing, or report this to the police- but if I report it then I'm sure it'll end up bringing past issues up and he will be charged with things, and it'll turn into another court case, etc. I thought X was dead but he's not, and I'm perhaps also scared that he is not sorry for past things and could hurt someone else.

Or maybe he really is sorry? I don't know what to do, this is awful timing for me. What would you guys do?