bdickens wrote:Txfire409 wrote:What would you have done? I am a firefighter for a local dept and on my way to work this am I made my usual stop at wally world (in uniform) for some groceries for the station. I always carry my sub compact .45 and as I exited my truck I noticed a rather large black male standing near the entrance to the store. Something didnt seem right so I watched him while I headed for the entrance. He walked over to and got in a parked vehicle with a black female in the drivers seat and before I entered the store he was wailing on her. She was screaming and attempting to fight back but he was obviously getting the better of her. I almost pulled my pistol but something told me not to so I called 911. While on the phone with dispatch she managed to exit the vehicle. He got out, went around, and got in the drivers seat. She went in the store as he pulled off but I stayed to watch where he went as I still had 911 on the phone. He circled the lot but returned and parked the car and headed for the entrance. I started to follow but as he got to the entrance several employees stopped him and wouldnt let him enter. Apparently she went in and told people inside what had happened. Police arrived at that time and started questioning him while she stayed in the store. The store employees said he must have beat the heck out of her judging by her face. He denied doing anything other than pushing her with an open hand at which point I told the police I was a witness and saw everything. I filled out a statement and they arrested him. I have felt bad most of the day for not acting but everyone tells me I handled it right
You did the right thing. As soon as you tried to intervene, they both would have turned on you.
Domestic disputes are a really touchy thing and they can turn on you in an instant.Myself and another officer responded to one where it was clear the wife had been physically attacked by the husband. Back then they had to agree to press charges. She said she would. When I went to cuff the husband, the wife jumped on my back and started screaming 'You cant arrest him!!' My partner arrested her as well. Both had been drinking heavily. After they sobered up in jail they decided not to press charges on each other, but the wife now had a charge of assaulting a police officer on her hands.