Unfortunately we were at a location last night that is city property, and they have gun buster signs out. None of us were carrying because of that. We were packing up after an event, and it was about 9:45pm, our our little downtown. Nobody else was around, just us, as we were loading the vehicles up. We had not rearmed yet, since we were making trips in and out of the building.
A late model (guessing 2010) Camry (LE Silver), pulled up rapidly, and stopped across the street from us (two of guys are young, over 6ft, muscular, etc, the other is older but still fit). A gentleman got out of the car, and approached us. He was about 40, shaved head, hoodie, and jeans. The building that we were in front of has good visibility all the way around for two blocks. He said the typical "excuse me sir" as he came up. The three of us were still unarmed (meaning no guns), but we had a tactical flashlight, carry knives, etc. We let him approach, since we were unarmed. My thought process was, I can potentially disarm him. If he was armed, then it would be to his advantage to keep distance. He had his typical sob story about needing to get to the next town to help his girlfriend, and he left his house without his wallet or CC's, etc etc.
About this time another one of my buddies came out, and joined us. The gentleman was talking the the oldest one of us, while the rest of us guys were spread around him. I was a little behind him, ready to take whatever action was needed. My other buddy was on the other side of him, and the third and fourth were in front of him. The guy in our group decided to deescalate the situation, and gave him a couple of bucks.
Here is what we learned. We should have called the police and reported his license plate. As it is, nobody wrote it down. We should have armed up, as soon as somebody was outside of the building (the reality is, I wouldn't have done anything different, except for telling him to stay back).
I have my flame suit on, but keep in mind. We made the decision to ride it out, because there was four of us guys there. We could see he didn't have any buddies in his car, and we could see a solid two blocks in every direction. I felt like he was sizing us up, but when he saw that we were not intimidated, and didn't back down, he decided to move on. The biggest part that didn't fit was his nice car. I know, all kinds of people drive nice cars....
If it was just me alone, when he approached, I would have asked him to stay back. When he asked for money, I would have polity told him I am sorry, but I only discuss that kind of thing if there is a police officer there, and that I would ask them to join us, then we can talk about it. My reason for that is, I have turned enough pan handlers down that on a dark street, just two people at night, things can get ugly quickly. I always want to deescalate situations, and not make them worse.
Any constructive thoughts? And I am not talking about the ones that say "you shouldn't have obeyed the gun buster signs," etc.
Thanks
A late model (guessing 2010) Camry (LE Silver), pulled up rapidly, and stopped across the street from us (two of guys are young, over 6ft, muscular, etc, the other is older but still fit). A gentleman got out of the car, and approached us. He was about 40, shaved head, hoodie, and jeans. The building that we were in front of has good visibility all the way around for two blocks. He said the typical "excuse me sir" as he came up. The three of us were still unarmed (meaning no guns), but we had a tactical flashlight, carry knives, etc. We let him approach, since we were unarmed. My thought process was, I can potentially disarm him. If he was armed, then it would be to his advantage to keep distance. He had his typical sob story about needing to get to the next town to help his girlfriend, and he left his house without his wallet or CC's, etc etc.
About this time another one of my buddies came out, and joined us. The gentleman was talking the the oldest one of us, while the rest of us guys were spread around him. I was a little behind him, ready to take whatever action was needed. My other buddy was on the other side of him, and the third and fourth were in front of him. The guy in our group decided to deescalate the situation, and gave him a couple of bucks.
Here is what we learned. We should have called the police and reported his license plate. As it is, nobody wrote it down. We should have armed up, as soon as somebody was outside of the building (the reality is, I wouldn't have done anything different, except for telling him to stay back).
I have my flame suit on, but keep in mind. We made the decision to ride it out, because there was four of us guys there. We could see he didn't have any buddies in his car, and we could see a solid two blocks in every direction. I felt like he was sizing us up, but when he saw that we were not intimidated, and didn't back down, he decided to move on. The biggest part that didn't fit was his nice car. I know, all kinds of people drive nice cars....
If it was just me alone, when he approached, I would have asked him to stay back. When he asked for money, I would have polity told him I am sorry, but I only discuss that kind of thing if there is a police officer there, and that I would ask them to join us, then we can talk about it. My reason for that is, I have turned enough pan handlers down that on a dark street, just two people at night, things can get ugly quickly. I always want to deescalate situations, and not make them worse.
Any constructive thoughts? And I am not talking about the ones that say "you shouldn't have obeyed the gun buster signs," etc.
Thanks
