ZeSpectre
Member
Apparently I just couldn't get out of DC without one more incident.
I'd left work and was headed down to the metro when I hear this female voice yell "Help, help me". I look up to see this big guy right up in this tiny young woman's face about 50 yards up the sidewalk. She's trying to pull away and he's gripping her arm and forcing her up close to him. Now I'm wondering to myself if this is a lovers spat or what but the "signals" are just all wrong for that.
So the woman finally pulls away and I can see her arm is in a sling. She tries to step into a nearby building (a bank) and he blocks her and tries to grab her injured arm again. The woman dodges the other way and he goes for her again. By now a few other bystanders have started closing in and the woman again yells for help. The big dude suddenly steps back and starts walking away down the sidewalk.
I finally get close and ask what happened only to be told that the guy had just mugged the girl as she came out of the bank. There are plenty of other bystanders nearby to watch out for her so I tell them "STAY HERE and call the police, I'll track him" and get out my phone and call 911 as I start following the guy.
So (thank God for good training and experience) I'm able to shadow this guy from a 20-30 yard distance for about 3 blocks without him knowing I'm there when he finally ducks into a shoe store. Meanwhile I'm on the phone giving description and location. FINALLY a cruiser arrives just as the guy is walking out of the store (having doffed his ballcap, untucked his shirt, generally attempted to alter his appearance) and I'm able to let the cops know it's -that guy right there-.
They move to arrest him, he's calm until the first cuff goes on and then OH BOY does he start fighting. Backup arrives and they unceremoniously stuff him into a paddy wagon. I give my statements and I'm free to go on my way (with a nice thanks from the police for being an excellent witness).
You know what, even if I had been able to CCW in DC this incident would have gone down exactly the same way. This was definitely a NON firearms situation.
Okay you think this is quite a story? Here's the REAL punchline. A couple of hours after I get home I receive a phone call from the detective handling the case. Less than an hour before this incident the same guy had attempted an abduction by force of another woman less than a block away. The other woman was able to positively ID the criminal and any possibility of bail was thrown out the window. They also think he might be their perp for at least TWO MORE forcible abductions!
The detective in charge said he wants to put me up for a citizens award of some sort for my involvement in this case.
Wow, and I was just glad to get this creep off the street!
I'd left work and was headed down to the metro when I hear this female voice yell "Help, help me". I look up to see this big guy right up in this tiny young woman's face about 50 yards up the sidewalk. She's trying to pull away and he's gripping her arm and forcing her up close to him. Now I'm wondering to myself if this is a lovers spat or what but the "signals" are just all wrong for that.
So the woman finally pulls away and I can see her arm is in a sling. She tries to step into a nearby building (a bank) and he blocks her and tries to grab her injured arm again. The woman dodges the other way and he goes for her again. By now a few other bystanders have started closing in and the woman again yells for help. The big dude suddenly steps back and starts walking away down the sidewalk.
I finally get close and ask what happened only to be told that the guy had just mugged the girl as she came out of the bank. There are plenty of other bystanders nearby to watch out for her so I tell them "STAY HERE and call the police, I'll track him" and get out my phone and call 911 as I start following the guy.
So (thank God for good training and experience) I'm able to shadow this guy from a 20-30 yard distance for about 3 blocks without him knowing I'm there when he finally ducks into a shoe store. Meanwhile I'm on the phone giving description and location. FINALLY a cruiser arrives just as the guy is walking out of the store (having doffed his ballcap, untucked his shirt, generally attempted to alter his appearance) and I'm able to let the cops know it's -that guy right there-.
They move to arrest him, he's calm until the first cuff goes on and then OH BOY does he start fighting. Backup arrives and they unceremoniously stuff him into a paddy wagon. I give my statements and I'm free to go on my way (with a nice thanks from the police for being an excellent witness).
You know what, even if I had been able to CCW in DC this incident would have gone down exactly the same way. This was definitely a NON firearms situation.
Okay you think this is quite a story? Here's the REAL punchline. A couple of hours after I get home I receive a phone call from the detective handling the case. Less than an hour before this incident the same guy had attempted an abduction by force of another woman less than a block away. The other woman was able to positively ID the criminal and any possibility of bail was thrown out the window. They also think he might be their perp for at least TWO MORE forcible abductions!
The detective in charge said he wants to put me up for a citizens award of some sort for my involvement in this case.
Wow, and I was just glad to get this creep off the street!
This happens WAY too often in DC.
