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Saint
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| Joined: | Wed Jul 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Eagle, Idaho USA |
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 07:15 am |
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I was assaulted tonight with two friends at Tablerock. Police arrested the suspect. Details will come tomorrow when I calm down enough to write.
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Saint
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 08:01 am |
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Tonight, myself and two of my friends (one guy, one girl) were relaxing at my house and came upon the idea to go up to Table Rock and look at the skyscape of Boise. At approx. 11:30 we got in my car and proceeded to drive up Table Rock road. As we approached the summit, we passed a brown Ford F150 that was attempting to drive up the side of the hill.
We passed by and continued driving up the hill to the summit where I parked my car and myself and my two friends exited the vehicle. My friends went to walk closer to the cross and I walked back to move my car closer so we could turn on some music.
I pulled my car closer to the cross and as I turned it off the F150 pulled up alongside me and motioned me to roll down my window. I complied and asked if I could help the guy inside.
It was immediately apparent that he was intoxicated and he began to verbally threaten me with such statements as "You talking @#$% about me?" and "You want a problem?"
I attempted to defuse the situation by assuring him that I did not want a problem and that I was unsure of what he was talking about.
At this point he turned into his truck, reached onto the seat and retrieved a handgun which he then pointed at me and threatened me again. I instantly went into Condition Red and opened my drivers door to exit my car.
I then stepped out of my car while placing myself in a ready position (weaver stance, car between the two of us, hand on side arm ready to draw.) He also got out of his vehicle and started moving towards me while gesturing with his gun.
My two friends noticed the disturbance and came over to see what was going on. As they approached he pointed the gun at both of them and told my male friend to "stay the @#$% back"
I continued to talk to him and defuse the situation. He moved closer to me while my female friend went to a safe position behind the car and my male friend moved behind him. After about 40 seconds I convinced him to lower his firearm.
At this point he tucked the gun behind his back in the waistband of his pants and began talking to the girl I was with. I moved slightly behind him so I could take his weapon and positioned myself accordingly. He then began to get aggravated again at which point I drew my sidearm (Glock 19 in IWB holster) placed my hand over his gun and informed him that I was armed and was going to remove his gun.
He innitialy resisted but upon realizing that I had a firearm he relented and allowed me to remove his firearm. I then handed it to the girl I was with (who is current National Guard) and instructed her to clear the weapon. As she attempted to do so she discovered that the gun was a BB gun and not a real weapon.
I then instructed the man to get in his truck and leave. He returned to his truck after a couple mins of dialouge and began to drive away. At this point I pulled out my phone and called 911 and explained that I had just had a gun pulled on me and that I had a weapon on me as well. My guy friend went to take possesion of the BB gun while my girl friend went to tell some of the other people up at Table Rock what was going on.
At this point the man turned his truck around and drove back to where I was while I was on the phone with the 911 dispatch. He began yelling at me and telling me to give his gun back and then got out of his vehicle and approached me. My male friend and two other guys came up and stood next to me as we attempted to convince him to leave.
After approx. 6 mins of discussion he got back in his truck and I believed that he was leaving. Instead, he pulled farther forwards towards a group of people standing next to the cross and continued to yell at us from the truck. He then said he was going to drive off the cliff and sped towards the edge before braking approx 3 feet away.
He then repeated the procedure several times, gunning the engine loudly. I called 911 again and informed the dispatcher of the change in situation while maintaining my perimeter and keeping everyone away from him.
The suspect then parked his car alongside the cliff and got out where he opened the hood of his truck and began tinkering with it. Within 30 seconds of this, three squad cars pulled up.
BPD quickly took ahold the situation and handcuffed the suspect. They then brought all the witnesses together, removed my firearm from me and patted us down quickly.
Everything else was fairly routine. Myself and my two friends were interviewed extensively and wrote out witness reports. The police also obtained reports from at least 6 other people. About 45 mins after the police showed up the officers returned my firearm to my car and asked me not to re-arm myself until I was ready to leave. I finished my witness statement, thanked the officers and went to calm down.
My friends and I left a few mins later with an entirely new perspective on violent crime. Both my friends are now very interested in getting more firearms training and aquiring their CWP's.
I am very glad that the confrontation ended without anyone getting hurt and that I made it home tonight safe.
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Ohio Patriot
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 09:04 am |
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You showed a lot more restraint than I would have.
Saint wrote:
He also got out of his vehicle and started moving towards me while gesturing with his gun.
Sorry, but at this point I would have taken cover and shot him. I mean, I’m glad everything worked out O.K. But if someone pointed a gun at me while in their car, and then proceeded to get out of their car w/ gun in hand, I would have popped them as soon as they exited their car.
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BrianEMT
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| Joined: | Wed Dec 12th, 2007 |
| Location: | Boise, Idaho USA |
| Posts: | 250 |
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 10:29 am |
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Wow...and to say this kind of thing doesn't happen around here...especially to one of our own!
You should join BoiseShooters and I at pizza tomorrow (Thursday) at 6:30PM at the Idaho Pizza Company on Fairview, east of Cole, northside of the street. They would be interested in hearing your story too...
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IndianaBoy79
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| Joined: | Thu Dec 13th, 2007 |
| Location: | Eagle, Idaho USA |
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 11:28 am |
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Wow Saint, I agree, amazing restraint. I probably would be in counseling right now trying to deal with the fact I just took a human life. With the information we have in hindsight, I'm glad no one was injured including the perp. Glad you were able to handle yourself calmly and protect those in your care.
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ChinChin
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 11:49 am |
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Ohio Patriot wrote: You showed a lot more restraint than I would have.
Saint wrote:
He also got out of his vehicle and started moving towards me while gesturing with his gun.
Sorry, but at this point I would have taken cover and shot him. I mean, I’m glad everything worked out O.K. But if someone pointed a gun at me while in their car, and then proceeded to get out of their car w/ gun in hand, I would have popped them as soon as they exited their car.
Gotta go with Ohio on this one. Rummy already proved he was the primary aggressor by driving up and running his mouth, once he stepped out of the cab with a gun in hand, you needed to end him then and there. No debates. There is no doubt in my mind had that gun not been a airsoft toy, you'd be dead now.
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Hubby_MC
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 01:02 pm |
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Great job, good judgement, you obvioulsy took the "totality of the circumstances" into account!
Glad it all worked out
Last edited on Thu Aug 21st, 2008 04:20 pm by Hubby_MC
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Hubby_MC
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 03:09 pm |
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I just got the skinny on last nights incident! nothing but praise for your actions!
Arrested:
Damon G Smith of Boise, Male, 37 years old of Boise
Charges:
Aggravated Assault (Felony) DUI with previous convictions (Felony) Resisting and Obstructing Officers (Misdemeanor)
Here is a wonderful photo for his scrapbook too!!
http://www.adasheriff.org/InmateRoster/wfrmRosterDetail.aspx
Good job!
Look for an article to appear on the statesman in a couple hours!
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Carolina40
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| Joined: | Wed Jan 23rd, 2008 |
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 03:18 pm |
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Hindsight is always 20/20, but suppose it was not a BB gun and suppose he did pull the trigger on you?
Your family would be in mourning.
Did you freeze when he pointed it at you? (I've never been in this situation and hope to never be...)
During my concealed carry class - the most common phrase I heard was: "grave and imminent danger..."
A drunk pointing a weapon at me satisfies that criteria.
Glad you are OK.
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vrwmiller
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| Joined: | Fri Feb 23rd, 2007 |
| Location: | Virginia USA |
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 03:27 pm |
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BPD quickly took ahold the situation and handcuffed the suspect. They then brought all the witnesses together, removed my firearm from me and patted us down quickly.
Everything else was fairly routine. Myself and my two friends were interviewed extensively and wrote out witness reports. The police also obtained reports from at least 6 other people. About 45 mins after the police showed up the officers returned my firearm to my car and asked me not to re-arm myself until I was ready to leave. I finished my witness statement, thanked the officers and went to calm down.
Don't the bolded statements above just seem out of place slightly? I think more information on those two items is crucial.
What did they do with the firearm while they had it in their posession for 45 minutes? Was it necessary to remove it? Was it an illegal seizure of property?
Without more information, it just seems fishy. Of course, the PD knowing it was a volatile situation could have easily been justified in securing it for personal and public safety.
At any rate, glad that noone got hurt. Great job in difusing the situation and keeping your cool.
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Hubby_MC
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 04:19 pm |
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Here is the News Release!!!
http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/Police/NewsReleases/2008/page32112.aspx
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Hubby_MC
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 04:32 pm |
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And here is the article in the Statesman
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/477720.html
and now here it is on KTVB.com
http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-aug2108-guns.1c4bb4be.html
Last edited on Thu Aug 21st, 2008 04:38 pm by Hubby_MC
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Domandred
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 05:14 pm |
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Hate to say it but I would have drawn and shot soon as his attention was off me and onto my friends. You had no idea the gun was fake and he was obviously a problem.
Guy is lucky he is still alive.
Last edited on Thu Aug 21st, 2008 05:15 pm by Domandred
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Dirty_Dinkums
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 05:43 pm |
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Glad it worked out ok.
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Saint
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 07:44 pm |
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Guy is indeed lucky to be alive.
So everyone knows, my decision not to shoot was based on my assessment of the situation at the time. The fact that he had drawn a gun and mine was still in it's holster, the need to exit my vehicle and move into a better position, his intoxication level and the fact that their were no less than 8 other people in the surrounding area put me in a mindset of waiting to obtain the upper hand.
Although I would have been justified in drawing and firing as soon as I saw the gun, I was unsure of what my backdrop was and how many other people might be in the potential line of fire. I also realized that given his intoxication level any threatening gestures might push him over the edge and give him a reason to shoot before I would be able to draw.
Thus I opted to attempt to subdue the situation and bring him into a better position where I could remove his firearm and allow myself access to my weapon. Dangerous? Potentially. But I viewed the alternative of firing shots as too great a risk at that point.
That being said, I have learned several things from the encounter and would probably react differently in similar circumstances. I am just happy that everyone made it home safe and can live another day.
He is currently facing criminal charges and I will be talking with my lawyer to determine if civil charges are warranted as well.
Last edited on Thu Aug 21st, 2008 07:51 pm by Saint
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Saint
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 07:48 pm |
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Carolina40 wrote: Hindsight is always 20/20, but suppose it was not a BB gun and suppose he did pull the trigger on you?
Your family would be in mourning.
Did you freeze when he pointed it at you? (I've never been in this situation and hope to never be...)
During my concealed carry class - the most common phrase I heard was: "grave and imminent danger..."
A drunk pointing a weapon at me satisfies that criteria.
Glad you are OK.
I did not freeze when he drew the weapon. I instantly went to condition red, stepped out of my vehicle and reached for my weapon while moving away from the suspect.
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Carolina40
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 07:50 pm |
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can you tell us what it was that made you decide to not shoot?
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Saint
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 07:50 pm |
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Carolina40 wrote: can you tell us what it was that made you decide to not shoot?
2 posts above I explain
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Tyoung
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 07:51 pm |
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| Glad things worked the way they did. On the flip side why would you ever get close enough to disarm him. That puts you way to close to him. Hold him at gun point get in you car and leave. That's also why I carry pepper spray. As soon as he put his gun in his pants, spray his ass and leave.
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Saint
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 09:49 pm |
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I got off the phone just a little while ago with Patrick Orr of the Idaho Stateman. I have also given my contact info to KTVB and expect them to get in touch with me either later today or early tomorrow.
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