April 13, 2008
Profiles in workplace heroism: Courage comes to court
Last year I had a case that I dubbed "Dude, where's my ear?" or, in the alternative, "Al Bundy meets Dirty Harry."
It featured a gangbanger who tried to steal a pair of shoes from the wrong shoe store. As the thug tried to leave with his hot hightops, he and his fellow gangmember were confronted by the store manager and another employee. The manager asked if the thug intended to pay for the new shoes he was wearing.
The thug responded by lifting his shirt and showing the store manager that he had a gun tucked into his waistband.
The manager lunged for the gun and the fight was on; at one point, the gangbanger and the macho manager were grappling on the floor as the other gang member kicked the store's defender in the head.
When the cops arrived on the scene, they noted that there was an individual with blood all over his face and head, a large pool of blood on the floor, and what appeared to be a large portion of human ear in the center of the sticky mess.
The manager not only bit off a chunk of the bad guy's ear, he also succeeded in getting the gun from the thug, then used it to pistol whip the thief and knock out his front teeth.
Which officially makes the defendant the world's worst armed robber and gangbanger: he got his ass kicked by Al Bundy!
Joining the roster of unlike heroes is court reporter Ron Tolkin, who was transcribing the proceedings in a federal drug-related hearing when the defendant went after the U.S. attorney with a razor.
The ordinarily mild-mannered stenographer reverted to his Vietnam-era combat experience and leaped to her defense, the assault captured on the digital recorder Tolkin keeps in his pocket.
Then he transcribed the event, later apologizing to the judge for his intemperate language during the fracas.
The transcript makes for some great, profanity-laced reading.
Posted by Mike Lief at April 13, 2008 10:18 PM
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Comments
Now that's funny, I don't care who you are.
Posted by: sonarman at April 14, 2008 06:09 PM
Whether in an airliner over the Pennsylvania sky or in a crowded courtroom, many people have just decided that they will fight back against thugs and terrorists of all varieties. The police certainly can't protect you, your family and your neighbors from every evil. It's time for people to stand up and fight back by supporting law enforcement and when the time comes, taking responsibility to defend themselves and those around them.
Posted by: Jeb at April 15, 2008 09:56 PM