nearly drew/sprayed bum today, LEO saw and intervened

[pcon]

Wow...what a day so far and it's not even 2pm!

I was walking home from the mall today (got a job at a retailer, it's not much...but hey, it's a job. also maybe a 10 min walk) after getting some paperwork filled out. Nearly home, I saw a dirtier looking man, maybe 6'2 180 lbs or so coming towards me. I thought to myself "aw, crap". As I'm walking by him (in orange/red condition the entire time) he says "yo, wassup man". I nodded and kept walking. He stops and says "come here man", so I said "no, no thanks" and kept walking.

"why, you scared dude?" (said with a bit of anger)

I just kept walking, not responding. he was behind me now, so I looked back every few seconds to see where he was. I couldn't cross the road, it was very busy and I didn't want to stop moving.

"dude...quit ignoring me like a sucka, it's rude". I heard him speed up his shuffle a bit. A few more seconds and he says something along the lines of "I may take offense if you don't turn around" said with more hostility. At this point, glancing back, I saw him come up on me quick. I dropped what I had in my hands, spun and said VERY loudly "Come one step closer and we're both going to have a bad day" as I was unzipping the coat I had on. I had my kahr IWB at 3 pm and my pepper spray already in my hand and ready. Thankfully, there was a LEO just leaving a Taco Bell we were in front of that witnessed what I said. I again said "stay there, don't come any closer or I will defend myself"... at the time, it just came out, but now I wish I said something a little less text-book At any rate, the LEO ran over and announced his presence and "escorted" the man to his cruiser. I was shaking so bad. Once the LEO had him restrained, he came to me and asked about the pepper spray (asked if I would reengage the safety). He came over got my name and number. I told him I was also carrying and volunteered my AZ permit. He took a look at it and thanked me for not immediately going for the gun. He said that he was all for civilians protecting themselves, but made a joke about all the paperwork he'd have to do if I had fired. He asked me if I wanted to file an official complaint about the man, which I did and then sent me on my way.

Not sure what he did with the guy. I assume waited until I was gone and let him go.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[WHEC724]

Thanks for sharing, and I'm glad you're safe and it turned out well. Now you have me thinking about carrying pepper spray too. Ugh - I really don't want one more thing to keep track of, but it clearly saved you from having a potentially much worse day.

Hmmm....

[SAMI]

I had to laugh at your comment of, 'aw crap'.. I say that to myself when creeps approach.

Glad you thought on your feet and went for the OC before the boomstick. Coulda made a mess. ;)

Despite the 'text book' warning to the BG, I think you had a very clear and cool thought process, and acted very responsibly.

I applaud you buddy. :)

[rugerlcp]

i highly doubt i came out as text book lol

[Red82]

Great example as to why carrying pepper spray is a good idea. I'm gonna have to look into it.

[Avenger]

Sounds like something I went through recently. Only my attacker was a dog! I am all for people carrying pepper spray, however, during the non-lethal part of my Marine training, we learned that some people are immune to it and that it just REALLY pissed them off! So that and the fact that if I was in that situation and I turned and spotted a gun or knife in his hand, all I have is a can of spray, not much good my gun is doing inside my pants!

Its a personal carry option for me, I recommend to people that pepper spray is a good tool to have. My wife carrys it. I dont, I would rather go for my gun and watch the dude soil his pants. Then, if he trys anything, its just a few ounces on the trigger. Its just one less thing to worry about.

Good job on handling a situation that could have gone really bad. Thanks for sharing.

[BigStick]

Sounds like the bum was luck the LEO was there. Way to keep your head, although, as soon as he changed from the direction he was going and started following me, I would have stopped and faced him. I don't like having my back to people who are acting in a threatening manner, especially after they have initiated contact.

[JoJoGunn]

Great response to a serious threat.

One never knows when danger will strike . You can play out scenarios a thousand times in your mind, and when it happens, it is never like you imagine.

Also good that a LEO was adjacent to the action and could intervene.

[2ndsupporter]

PCON,

Glad it worked out for you and you are okay. Also I hate that you have already run into the scum we have around here. Hopefully the Officer found something on this idiot and was able to take him to jail.

Great job!

Hopefully we can make that range trip pretty soon as the weather around here is getting better!

[9MMare]

Its a personal carry option for me, I recommend to people that pepper spray is a good tool to have. My wife carrys it. I dont, I would rather go for my gun and watch the dude soil his pants. Then, if he trys anything, its just a few ounces on the trigger. Its just one less thing to worry about.
.

I'm pretty sure you'd be hit with at minimum, a brandishing charge, in this scenario. There was no deadly force threatened.

There was still the option to make a real effort to leave the scene too.

I think he handled it well too tho.

[jahwarrior72]

sounds you did everything right. you weren't touched, you didn't have to shoot anyone, and LEOs took care of the rest. you even got to use some of that French you learned in high school.

[shooterX]

Glad that worked out well for you, a job well done I must say. And I don't think what you said was a bad thing, might have looked good if it went to court. Stay safe!

[ldsnet]

I personally don't care for peper spray, I have also witnessed people not react as expected to the stuff (also shooting into the wind, you will have a REAL BAD day).

I this case it clearly gave you an advantage of something between verbal and deadly force! Glad back up was ready to assist you when needed. Glad everything worked out well.

[Janq]

Great example as to why carrying pepper spray is a good idea.

Yep. ^^

This scenario is why I keep and carry OC/CS as in a holster on my body right along side my spare mag.

Some folks speak of having 'combat' knives and debate straight vs. serrated blades. I carry a knife as well but that is a tool option of very last resort.

Having the OC/CS at hand (and not kept in a backpack or some other difficult to access area) is excellent for use as a stand off measure.
It may not neutralize the BG as in make him fall to the ground and cry like a baby or flee. But it will buy me time to beat feet away so as to gain the key item of combat survival, _distance_ as away from the functional range of the threat.

Not every street situation requires or should involve a gun, as noted by the cop.

Good job pcon!

- Janq

[mel5051]

+1 pcon!