Even more ammo for the Antis

[ericire12]

http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-jul1709-citizen_arrest.4e0b1fd0.html

Two men brandish guns during citizen's arrest in Boise

BOISE -- A bizarre turn of events Friday afternoon in downtown Boise after a man steals another man's duffle bag.

Two bystanders pulled their guns to stop the crime.

Police say what started this was a case of petit theft.

One man is now accused of stealing a bag from a homeless man near the corner of Americana Boulevard and River Street.

 It was after this occurred that Paul Brookhouse stepped in to make a citizens arrest.

He now faces possible felony charges.

"Somewhat confusing when it all was wrapped up," said Lt. Ron Winegar with the Boise Police Department.

On Friday afternoon just before one, Brookhouse says he witnessed a crime.

"The other guy grabbed a bag, a duffle bag and started running across the street. The one gentleman turned around and started yelling, ‘stop hey, stop that's my stuff’," Brookhouse said.

Brookhouse pulled his car over and intervened.

But in the heat of the moment this concealed weapons permit holder made an erroneous claim.

"I pulled my weapon and I told the gentleman, I made a mistake here, I said, "Boise Police. Stop. You're under arrest." So, he did, I asked him to get on the ground, we did all the hands behind your back thing. I frisked him and then held him at gun point until the police department got here," Brookhouse said.

Police identified the man Brookhouse stopped as 46-year-old John Dickey.

But before police arrived another man driving by saw Brookhouse holding Dickey at gun point.

He too held a concealed weapons permit.

"Saw that taking place and thought there was a crime happening and so he intervened, pulling his handgun and trying to detain the first citizen who had pulled the handgun to try and detain the initial suspect," Winegar said.

 When police arrived they had both men put down their guns.

"While this citizen, this subject had good intentions in helping out with the crime, we just want everybody to be careful and realize the consequences of pulling a handgun, even if you have a legal and lawful permit,” Winegar said. ”It's always probably a better idea to be a good witness and call us and let us intervene.”

Brookhouse admitted to police he told the man that he was an officer.

He said it just came out because he wanted to stop him.

Because he said that, Brookhouse could face felony charges of impersonating a police officer.

He and the other man who drew his weapon could also face aggravated assault charges.

That decision will be left to the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

It's important to mention that neither of the men who drew their guns were arrested.

As for the suspected thief, John Dickey, he is charged with misdemeanor petit theft.

Boise Police say they are grateful that citizens jumped in to help stop a crime.

At the same time, they say that the guns didn't need to be involved, especially with this type of crime.

"If a police officer were making an arrest for petty theft or misdemeanor theft and pulled his gun and pointed it at someone with no apparent reason to do so, then we would certainly be under pretty heavy review for doing that," Winegar said.

[Kid Shelleen]

RESPONSIBLE armed Americans will think before they act. At least I certainly hope so. These over anxious gunslingers make the rest of us look bad.   They should lose their permits.

[fightingquaker13]

No good deed goes unpunished. This is however, a useful object lesson. Unless someone's life is in danger (or you reasonably believe it might be) leave it in the holster. Citizen one was a jackass that didn't think. He then caused citizen two to almost make a tragic mistake as he was menacing the thief (that citizen2 didn't know was a thief). I hope they don't prosecute him, but he should have his permit suspended for a few months to think about it.
FQ13

[twyacht]

One man is now accused of stealing a bag from a homeless man near the corner of Americana Boulevard and River Street

Caught my eye,...WTF of value could a homeless man have,...?

Anyway, Brookhouse was an idiot, and even more of an idiot to impersonate an officer. His life was NEVER at risk from a fleeing thief.
The road to disaster has good intentions.

2nd Armed citizen who intervened should have called 911, and laid back, his life was also NEVER in danger since he didn't know either people.

Undercover police officer in Wilmington, NC was shot by Uniformed Officers who "thought" a crime was being committed. The officer survived to teach CCW courses in the area.

He was involved in an "undercover sting" operation with New Hanover COunty Detectives that didn't "share" any info with Wilmington City LE.

Either way, Brookhouse failed to exercise restraint, and the gun in his possession went to his ego.
Probably true to some extent with citizen #2.

[kmitch200]

One man is now accused of stealing a bag from a homeless man near the corner of Americana Boulevard and River Street

Caught my eye,...WTF of value could a homeless man have,...?

Everything in the world that means anything to him.
What he has to avoid freezing to death at night, what he has to stay dry when it rains, literally *everything* that is of value to him.
Even if it would be used, dirty crap to you and I, the homeless don't have anywhere to put anything to keep it safe.

BTW, I don't believe the second guy mentioned in the original post would face charges in my state.
He was displaying/using his weapon to protect a third party that had a weapon pointed at them - a legit use. (for now)
 

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[r_w]

Everything in the world that means anything to him.

+1

[tombogan03884]

"Everything in the world that means anything to him. "

I have on occasion lived out of a back pack for months at a time. If it had been stolen I might not have survived.

[bbbean]

Crux of the matter=CCW is not a badge. You are not a cop, and it is not your responsibility to stop all evil in the world.