Topic: Table Rock Standoff

[Saint]

I posted this right after it happened on Wednesday, August 20th over on opencarry.org. Figured I'd put it over here for anyone that wanted to see as well.

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Tonight, myself and two of my friends (one guy, one girl) were relaxing at my house and came upon the idea to go up to Table Rock and look at the skyscape of Boise. At approx. 11:30 we got in my car and proceeded to drive up Table Rock road. As we approached the summit, we passed a brown Ford F150 that was attempting to drive up the side of the hill.

We passed by and continued driving up the hill to the summit where I parked my car and myself and my two friends exited the vehicle. My friends went to walk closer to the cross and I walked back to move my car closer so we could turn on some music.

I pulled my car closer to the cross and as I turned it off the F150 pulled up alongside me and motioned me to roll down my window. I complied and asked if I could help the guy inside.

It was immediately apparent that he was intoxicated and he began to verbally threaten me with such statements as "You talking @#$% about me?" and "You want a problem?"

I attempted to defuse the situation by assuring him that I did not want a problem and that I was unsure of what he was talking about.

At this point he turned into his truck, reached onto the seat and retrieved a handgun which he then pointed at me and threatened me again. I instantly went into Condition Red and opened my drivers door to exit my car.

I then stepped out of my car while placing myself in a ready position (weaver stance, car between the two of us, hand on side arm ready to draw.) He also got out of his vehicle and started moving towards me while gesturing with his gun.

My two friends noticed the disturbance and came over to see what was going on. As they approached he pointed the gun at both of them and told my male friend to "stay the @#$% back"

I continued to talk to him and defuse the situation. He moved closer to me while my female friend went to a safe position behind the car and my male friend moved behind him. After about 40 seconds I convinced him to lower his firearm.

At this point he tucked the gun behind his back in the waistband of his pants and began talking to the girl I was with. I moved slightly behind him so I could take his weapon and positioned myself accordingly. He then began to get aggravated again at which point I drew my sidearm (Glock 19 in IWB holster) placed my hand over his gun and informed him that I was armed and was going to remove his gun.

He initially resisted but upon realizing that I had a firearm he relented and allowed me to remove his firearm. I then handed it to the girl I was with (who is current National Guard) and instructed her to clear the weapon. As she attempted to do so she discovered that the gun was a BB gun and not a real weapon.

I then instructed the man to get in his truck and leave. He returned to his truck after a couple mins of dialogue and began to drive away. At this point I pulled out my phone and called 911 and explained that I had just had a gun pulled on me and that I had a weapon on me as well. My guy friend went to take possession of the BB gun while my girl friend went to tell some of the other people up at Table Rock what was going on.

At this point the man turned his truck around and drove back to where I was while I was on the phone with the 911 dispatch. He began yelling at me and telling me to give his gun back and then got out of his vehicle and approached me. My male friend and two other guys came up and stood next to me as we attempted to convince him to leave.

After approx. 6 mins of discussion he got back in his truck and I believed that he was leaving. Instead, he pulled farther forwards towards a group of people standing next to the cross and continued to yell at us from the truck. He then said he was going to drive off the cliff and sped towards the edge before braking approx 3 feet away.

He then repeated the procedure several times, gunning the engine loudly. I called 911 again and informed the dispatcher of the change in situation while maintaining my perimeter and keeping everyone away from him.

The suspect then parked his car alongside the cliff and got out where he opened the hood of his truck and began tinkering with it. Within 30 seconds of this, three squad cars pulled up.

BPD quickly took ahold the situation and handcuffed the suspect. They then brought all the witnesses together, removed my firearm from me and patted us down quickly.

Everything else was fairly routine. Myself and my two friends were interviewed extensively and wrote out witness reports. The police also obtained reports from at least 6 other people. About 45 mins after the police showed up the officers returned my firearm to my car and asked me not to re-arm myself until I was ready to leave. I finished my witness statement, thanked the officers and went to calm down.

My friends and I left a few mins later with an entirely new perspective on violent crime. Both my friends are now very interested in getting more firearms training and acquiring their CWP's.

I am very glad that the confrontation ended without anyone getting hurt and that I made it home tonight safe.

[DefensorFortis]

I commented on your actions in another post on this matter.  I want to commend you for handling yourself so well.  Be safe.

[Nomad]

A job well done...

[badgerdog]

I thought they closed off that road over 10 years ago.

[Norton1]

I'd say you must have known it wasn't a real gun. Or at the least sensed it somehow. Or didn't believe your life was in danger.

One look at the muzzle should tell you that - but then again it was dark, he was drunk, and stupid, and well -

zona has a couple of valid points there -


Naw the road is open so they can service the towers and lights -

[JollyRoger]

Snip

Agree 100% Zona.  I'm glad the situation ended without any bullets flying, you and friends are safe and the other guy is in jail.  But, you need to watch what is said regarding the incident. 

This incident, the library incident and the OC thing in general could make it easy for others to paint the picture that you're looking for a fight or just a chance to say "hooray, gun owners saved the day!"  One wrong move, word, statement, etc. and it could easily backfire (no pun intended).

[pv74]

I'd say you must have known it wasn't a real gun. Or at the least sensed it somehow. Or didn't believe your life was in danger.

One look at the muzzle should tell you that - but then again it was dark, he was drunk, and stupid, and well -

zona has a couple of valid points there -


Naw the road is open so they can service the towers and lights -

I am not going to ridicule the actions of a crime victim.

A lot of times it is hard to tell from a distance. If a drunk guy starts waving a pistol at me...I am going to draw my gun.
I am not going to look twice and check if it is a BB gun. I have a drunk guy waving a gun at me...things could turn very ugly very quickly...At that point, I don't give a shit about politics, gun owners saving the day...or trying to be some Texas ranger, yada yada...I am woried about protecting my life, and the lives of my wife and daughter (who are usually with me). As soon as I can remove myself and my family from the situation, I am getting the hell out of Dodge and calling the cops. Hopefully, no one gets shot.

Their is no way to predict the behavior of a drunk...especially if he has been taking some sort of drugs in addition to the alcohol. People under the influence of drugs AND alcohol are totally out of control...I have witnessed such behavior and it is fucking scary. Get the hell out of the situation if you can. Don't stick around as things WILL get ugly.

Encounters with drunk people are not uncommon in the woods...I have had more than a few such encounters...one such encounter, the guy was well armed and totally shitfaced. He was in a good mood...so things stayed civil. Hopefully he drove off a cliff and did the world a favor. Assholes get on the back roads and think they can do whatever the hell they want...including drinking and driving with loaded guns in the car.

Hopefully, asshole gets some jail time and becomes a prison bitch for some sweet little bubba in general population. I have no sympathy for such people.

[Norton1]

pv74 - there was no attempt to ridicule the man. None at all.

I have pulled, and used, weapons on people and on at least two occasions I should have fired, and didn't, as I sensed something was amiss. Both times it was good I did not fire. This is what I figured happened with Saint. It's why I said what I said to him.

And he isn't a crime victim. He is, and was, a well prepared citizen that took action as he saw fit.

Sorry - but I don't believe in the "victimology" theory for adults.