Dnaltrop
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Always be aware of your target, and what might be beyond it...
GRESHAM, Ore. -- A man who was trying to be a Good Samaritan was arrested Tuesday after police said he fired his gun twice at a getaway car used by robbers.
Gresham police said two robbers stole about $2,800 worth of cell phones from the AT&T store on NW Division St. near NW Eastman Pkwy. at around 7:45 p.m. As the robbers were driving away, a customer inside the store stepped out, pulled out a gun, and fired two rounds at the car, aiming for the tires, according to Sgt. Rick Wilson.
Sgt. Wilson said Roger Witter, 48, had a concealed weapons permit but he was at fault for firing the shots in a public area, even though no one was injured in the shooting.
Wilson said Witter fired in the direction of a TriMet bus stop while trying to stop the robbers.
The robbers escaped and police arrested Witter on several charges, including unlawful use of a weapon and reckless endangerment. He was released from the Multnomah County Jail overnight on his own recognizance.
"By Witter's own admission, he never felt that his life or anyone else's life was in danger," Sgt. Wilson said. "He was just trying to detain the suspects for police... It is important to remember that no matter how frustrated one may be with crime and the criminal justice system, it is not permissible to use deadly force in this type of situation. Those two rounds could've gone anywhere... in fact, we're still not sure where they went."
Gresham police continue to look for the suspects. They're described as possibly being in their 20s, African-American, 5'10", 150 lbs., skinny, and possibly driving a silver Chrysler car, possibly a 4-door Sebring. They were both wearing blue jeans and hoody-type jackets.
Police believe the suspects are also responsible for another AT&T store robbery at Mall 205 in Portland, which occurred about 30 minutes prior to the robbery in Gresham. An AT&T representative said in a statement that the company is taking the matter very seriously and employees are cooperating with law enforcement
http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Man-arrested-after-shooting-at-robbers-94897679.html
Edit _ More from another local source Added, pared down to the newer bits.
Wednesday morning, a gun lobbyist said he realized that Witter was trying to do the right thing but didn't show good judgment.
"I understand the person's frustration," said gun lobbyist Kevin Starrett, with the Oregon Firearms Federation, a pro-firearms group. "I can understand his desire to be helpful. But it was not the thing to do. You cant shoot someone's tires out; its just not TV."
The two suspects, who fled in a silver-colored Chrysler, remained at large this morning.
Both are described as 5-foot-10 to 5-foot-11 inches tall, and about 20 to 30 years of age.
One was wearing a gray and black horizontally striped hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and white tennis shoes. The other was wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and dark shoes. Their Chrsyler was last seen heading westbound on Northwest Division.
Witter, meanwhile, has been released from jail.
Reached at his Rockwood home this morning, Witter talked to The Oregonian.
"I'm not a cowboy," he said. "I'm not a hero. I was just doing what I always try to do: help."
http://www.oregonlive.com/gresham/index.ssf/2010/05/police_witness_to_iphone_theft.html
GRESHAM, Ore. -- A man who was trying to be a Good Samaritan was arrested Tuesday after police said he fired his gun twice at a getaway car used by robbers.
Gresham police said two robbers stole about $2,800 worth of cell phones from the AT&T store on NW Division St. near NW Eastman Pkwy. at around 7:45 p.m. As the robbers were driving away, a customer inside the store stepped out, pulled out a gun, and fired two rounds at the car, aiming for the tires, according to Sgt. Rick Wilson.
Sgt. Wilson said Roger Witter, 48, had a concealed weapons permit but he was at fault for firing the shots in a public area, even though no one was injured in the shooting.
Wilson said Witter fired in the direction of a TriMet bus stop while trying to stop the robbers.
The robbers escaped and police arrested Witter on several charges, including unlawful use of a weapon and reckless endangerment. He was released from the Multnomah County Jail overnight on his own recognizance.
"By Witter's own admission, he never felt that his life or anyone else's life was in danger," Sgt. Wilson said. "He was just trying to detain the suspects for police... It is important to remember that no matter how frustrated one may be with crime and the criminal justice system, it is not permissible to use deadly force in this type of situation. Those two rounds could've gone anywhere... in fact, we're still not sure where they went."
Gresham police continue to look for the suspects. They're described as possibly being in their 20s, African-American, 5'10", 150 lbs., skinny, and possibly driving a silver Chrysler car, possibly a 4-door Sebring. They were both wearing blue jeans and hoody-type jackets.
Police believe the suspects are also responsible for another AT&T store robbery at Mall 205 in Portland, which occurred about 30 minutes prior to the robbery in Gresham. An AT&T representative said in a statement that the company is taking the matter very seriously and employees are cooperating with law enforcement
http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Man-arrested-after-shooting-at-robbers-94897679.html
Edit _ More from another local source Added, pared down to the newer bits.
Wednesday morning, a gun lobbyist said he realized that Witter was trying to do the right thing but didn't show good judgment.
"I understand the person's frustration," said gun lobbyist Kevin Starrett, with the Oregon Firearms Federation, a pro-firearms group. "I can understand his desire to be helpful. But it was not the thing to do. You cant shoot someone's tires out; its just not TV."
The two suspects, who fled in a silver-colored Chrysler, remained at large this morning.
Both are described as 5-foot-10 to 5-foot-11 inches tall, and about 20 to 30 years of age.
One was wearing a gray and black horizontally striped hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and white tennis shoes. The other was wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and dark shoes. Their Chrsyler was last seen heading westbound on Northwest Division.
Witter, meanwhile, has been released from jail.
Reached at his Rockwood home this morning, Witter talked to The Oregonian.
"I'm not a cowboy," he said. "I'm not a hero. I was just doing what I always try to do: help."
http://www.oregonlive.com/gresham/index.ssf/2010/05/police_witness_to_iphone_theft.html
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