Didn't see this posted yet. Mods, feel free to merge/delete if I missed it.
I'd like to ask some questions about responding to situations similar to those depicted in the video at this link (click on "Featured Video" box at right):
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?s=8810893
Text of the accompanying story (one of many) is below. My questions, to hopefully get the discussion started:
Text of the event:
I'd like to ask some questions about responding to situations similar to those depicted in the video at this link (click on "Featured Video" box at right):
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?s=8810893
Text of the accompanying story (one of many) is below. My questions, to hopefully get the discussion started:
- Would you engage as a bystander before it got to the fistfight, knowing you're in a grocery store with other customers around?
- Better to engage or to bug out a back door/emergency exit, call 911, and take cover against accomplices?
- Once you make the decision to engate (as Stutzman did), what's the value of technique vs. an adversary who has none? (Other than maybe avoiding a busted jaw and 12 stitches.)
- You're a bystander, and Stutzman has just subdued the robber. Do you lend assistance? Thoughts on the guy who jumps in after the robber is down and starts kicking the crook?
- In a crowd, after the crook is subdued, and assuming you haven't up to this point, do you draw your CCW to hold the suspect until police arrive? (I'm guessing no--guy with a gun as cops roll up is probably not a good way to be.)
Text of the event:
Customer Nabs Robber
Posted: Aug 8, 2008 10:24 AM CDT
Updated: Aug 9, 2008 07:21 AM CDT
FEATURED VIDEO
CAUGHT ON TAPE: Customer Takes Down Robbery Suspect
Police arrested 38-year old Tony Cleveland.
The Good Samaritan has a broken jaw and a cut on his head.
Police say a man walks in with a gun, his face completely covered.
Tony Cleveland was booked into the Tulsa County jail on complaints of attempted robbery, shooting with intent to kill and assault.
Tulsa Police express their thanks to a citizen who helped them arrest an armed robbery suspect. The News On 6's crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports police say a 44-year-old American Airlines employee is a hero and it was all caught on tape.
The fight wasn't easy. The good Samaritan has injuries all because he was courageous enough to try to save himself and others in the Food Pyramid store, near 51st and Memorial, from a robber who seemed ready to hurt someone.
The robber walked into the store with his face completely covered and his gun already in his hand. He told the employees and customers to move to the front of the store. When a customer bent down, the robber fired a shot that barely missed the customer's head.
Then, the robber's gun jammed and that's when the good Samaritan, Greg Stutzman, jumped on the robber and the fight was on.
The battle moved through the store, out into the entryway and eventually outside. Despite getting hurt in the process, Greg never gave up.
If it wasn't for Greg, police say they'd have no idea who the robber is, because, just as in previous Food Pyramid robberies, he was masked up and not identifiable.
Stutzman has their gratitude and even though they don't recommend fighting with robbers, they believe he did it just right.
"You have to win the fight. You gotta keep going. You can't quit because it hurts, and this guy proves you can win," said Tulsa Police Sgt. Dave Walker.
Officers arrested 38-year-old Tony Cleveland.
Records show he has a number of robbery and assault convictions from Hughes and Oklahoma Counties, including a 25 year sentence in 1987.
Detectives say it's clear Cleveland isn't going to change his ways, so they hope he gets sent back to prison and they say a conviction in this case, should put him there for the rest of his life