I did not want to steal loknload's "Not Prepared" thread (link below), but after seeing it I was reminded of a situation that occurred to me not long ago.

Not Prepared?

My wife and I were traveling south on Scenic Arkansas Highway 7 on my Harley touring bike headed for a long weekend at a bed & breakfast in Hot Springs. We were passing through Russellville, Arkansas, a little before noon and decided to make a rest stop and find a place for lunch. I spied the Western Sizzlin' and pulled into the parking lot and found a parking space near the front entrance.

After lunch, which was pretty good, we headed back out to the bike and started putting on our gear. As sometimes happens, a young fellow in his mid 20's walked up and commented on the "good looking ride".

"Thanks," I replied as I gave him a once over. He was wearing jeans and a Dallas Cowboys T-shirt, seemed to be a typical twenty-something, no alarm bells at first. Then came the spiel about being broken down on his way to Oklahoma City and his wife and kid were down the block at Walmart and they didn't have the money to fix the car.

I asked him if he had a drivers license. No, his wife had his wallet. At this point I swept my wife over to the back of the bike with my left hand as I stepped fully between she and him. My Ruger LC9s was holstered under my denim riding vest.

I asked him if his wife had a phone so we can call and confirm the story? "No, she doesn't" He was starting to get agitated and as I looked at him closer I was pretty sure he was Mexican carrying a handgun just under his T-shirt.

"What's wrong with your car?"

"I'm not a mechanic, it just won't start" he answered. "Look, I just need some money, are you sure you can't spare twenty bucks?" It was then the fool raised his shirt just enough for me to see the butt of a semi-auto.

"Sure buddy, I got twenty bucks for you." He lowered his shirt and I reached for my wallet with my left hand, pulled out a twenty, and as he reached over to take it I took his hand and twisted his arm up behind him and took him to the ground. While I had him pinned I reached around and got the semi-auto from his waist and tossed it over to the curb out of reach.

As luck would have it, a local police office was sitting inside the restaurant watching the entire exchange. He got up and came out the front door as I was kneeling on the young man's back with him pinned down. I was certainly glad to see him.

"Officer," I said, "I'm an off duty sheriff's deputy . . . my badge and ID are laying on the ground there were I dropped it." I nodded towards my wallet. The officer handed me his handcuffs then picked up my wallet, checked out my ID, then handed it to me when I got up after cuffing the young fellow.

As always, there is paperwork to fill out so I completed a supplemental report for the local officer while he identified the young man. Come to find out he had outstanding warrants and, surprise, surprise, he was a local who was not headed to Oklahoma City, was not broke down, and wasn't married.

The whole ordeal delayed our journey about an hour and a half. When we got back on the road I asked my wife over the intercom if she was alright. I heard her sigh as she replied back, "yes, I'm fine, but I don't like it when you do that when we're on vacation."

"I know," I said.



(For the LE nitpickers, this is a very abbreviated version of the story)

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OK Man-where's the pics?

Proud of you.

You get to do what we wish to! In Ohio, even with a CCW permit, brandishing is a felony! That might make to armed robbery, or slightly lesser. What a dumb butt!

Ivan

Wow glad you got him clear of your bike too. Ride Safe Stay Safe Awsom Job.

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Spin The Wheel

Man, an extraordinarily dumb and dangerous move. Makes me shake my head at the stupidity of it. He is plumb lucky he pulled this on someone as self-confident and experienced as Faulkner.

That young man will not live to be an old man unless he changes his ways.

My Latin slogan means "Be prepared for all things."

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In Omnia Paratus

$20 seems like a good deal for not risking getting shot.

Man, when the guy raised his shirt, the $20 didn't matter, it was an armed robbery in progress. The bad guy was the lucky one, all he got was taken down and locked up instead a trip to the ER or the morgue. I would have loved to see the look on his face about the time he hit the ground. Fine job Faulkner. My compliments sir.

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Just a shooter

Good story, great ending!
That is what I was alluding to with my story but it didn’t turn out in a bad way?
I was just caught with my guard down in La La vacationland!

You did just fine!

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Another example of an acute failure of the victim selection process. Well done sir.

When I first read the original post I was not sure that you meant he was brandishing his weapon so as to force you into giving him money.

Are you saying that the raising of his shirt was clearly done in a way so as to intimidate you into giving him money?

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Buy American
Vote Responsibly

I believe he was after more than the $20.

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Just a shooter

Yea - a cheesy attempt to show how 'tough' he was - what the little prik didn't understand is raising his shirt put both of his hands out of action for a split second which could have been his undoing. I hope the next time he tries this he takes one center mass....

Yes, it was clear to me it was a move of intimidation

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I like happy endings... thanks for sharing.

That's what I was thinking too.

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And I have no doubt that's exactly how it came across in your supplemental.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

Will you have to testify in this case, or was your filed statement sufficient?

BTW, I think it was clear to most of us what the intent was.

At least, this guy is removed from the public for a while. The world is a bit safer...for now. I hope he goes away for longer than he probably will.

If he pleads 'not guilty' and it actually goes to trial I would likely have to go testify. That's no big deal, I've sat on the stand many a time in my career.

I doubt it will, though, and I have since found out that the gun I removed from his possession was determined to be stolen. Not good for him.

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