2010 Party In The Park is July 31st - - Speakers Announced! - Get your lunch tickets before 7/29!

[Sparks2112]

So, two nights ago my wife (5 1/2 months pregnant) and I were at the Walmart Super Center on Colerain Ave. right by Ronald Reagan Highway trying to pick up a couple of things for a photo shoot we had the next day.

Anyway, we come out of the store and it's about 11:30 pm. from my 7-8:30 o'clock position I catch some movement and see a guy in an oversized parka kind of moving our direction at about 30-40 yards out. Almost as soon as I notice him (and probably right about when he knows I've noticed him) he shouts something like "Hey can I talk to you guys for a second." At this point my wife notices him and moves from my left side, where the guy was approaching from to my right side away from the guy (I was really happy with her that she did this without being told seeing as I previously thought teaching her to think tactically was impossible.)

I stop, turn to place him at my 12 o'clock, sit down the two bags I had in my weakside hand on the pavement and say "No, you can't." At this point my hands are at my sides and I'm just trying to relax and take everything in in case something actually does happen; i.e. which direction am I moving us, where's the nearest cover, where's the nearest concealment, etc...

He stops for a second and literally turned his head to the side (if you own a dog you know what I'm talking about) like he couldn't figure out that I just said no, and stopped moving. After a second of sizing me and my obviously pregnant wife up he started moving towards us again closing to about 20-25 yards at a fast walk/trot. At this point I moved my coat out of the way, held it back with my strongside arm, and put my hand on my still holstered gun. I carry iwb in an MTAC and still had my cover shirt over top of it, so at this point I'm just indexing with my hand to make sure I know where it's at. Left hand was on the surefire 6P in my coat pocket.

At this point I see the gentleman stop and really look hard at where my hands are at. He looked up at me, down at my hands again, then back up and said "Hey forget it man." He turned around, and got in a sedan that was about 5-10 yards from his position, which I hadn't seen, that had been idling with it's lights off behind a large van. He drove off pretty quick, and my wife and I made it back to our car with no further incident.

So, pay attention guys. I don't think that would have gone well for me had he been able to sneak up on me the way he wanted to.

[Morne]

Well done, sir. I especially like that you had a flashlight weakside - smart for a man going out at night.

He was "bumping" you like a shark to gauge your response. You "bumped" back and predators tend to prefer easier targets.

Just a couple of monday-morning QB thoughts:

1 - He could have had an accomplice. The "mouthy" one distracts while the "fast" one grabs the goods from another direction while you're distracted. Happens a lot, especially around the holidays.

2 - Deploying the flashlight immediately might have been a good idea. Putting a light into a potential BG's eyes not only denies him the ability to see you clearly it helps ascertain your "dominance" in the situation and helps you to assess what level of a threat he might be.

3 - Notice how he looked at your hands and where they were. THAT is the mark of an experienced thug. He knows that hands can hold dangerous things and that is where his attention went. How often do YOU or I look at hands? Start making it a habit.

[Glock Rock]

Dang. Nice job.

[Sparks2112]

1 - He could have had an accomplice. The "mouthy" one distracts while the "fast" one grabs the goods from another direction while you're distracted. Happens a lot, especially around the holidays.

I was thinking that actually. We were pretty out in the open and if he had a second guy they would have had a lot of open ground to cover before they made it to us. I'm pretty sure I would have noticed them, either visually or audibly before they got too close to us.

2 - Deploying the flashlight immediately might have been a good idea. Putting a light into a potential BG's eyes not only denies him the ability to see you clearly it helps ascertain your "dominance" in the situation and helps you to assess what level of a threat he might be.

It crossed my mind, It was next on my list if he had kept moving.

3 - Notice how he looked at your hands and where they were. THAT is the mark of an experienced thug. He knows that hands can hold dangerous things and that is where his attention went. How often do YOU or I look at hands? Start making it a habit.

All the time, it's really the only part of someone that matters in these type situations.

[Tweed Ring]

You did just fine.

[Brian D.]

The thug types also know that a potential victim is on the ball when he/she makes a 360 degree scan early on in these encounters. One bum uh, unfortunate downtrodden person saw me do that one time while he approached, and verbalized how rotten he thought it was that I was looking for his possible accomplice(s). Terms of service here forbid me from repeating what he said.

Btw Daniel, your mention of how to use the 'strike' gimmick is grately greatly appreciated.

[Daniel]

Interesting encounter.

This would seem like a perfect opportunity for partner tactics. While you're looking at and engaging the obvious threat, your wife could be looking around for other threats.

[swatpup102]

You know, I am really glad I read this and what you did in this situation. Even while carrying, I am the type of person to give the benefit of the doubt and talk to anyone who approaches for any reason unless they seem like a threat right away. I live right by that area and have been to that walmart multiple times. I have had people do that same type of thing at different places asking for money or different things, but normally I just brush it off and be courteous. If it would have been me in that situation i probably would have seen the raw end of that confrontation, but I after reading this I am going to try to train myself to be more vigilant with these kind of things.

[Tweed Ring]

I stopped being courteous to strangers in such personal confrontations. I am, rather, civil. I like to keep my options open, including shutting down the conversation or not enegaging in same.

LEO's generally have to close to engage in discussion, but I teach 4-6 feet is sufficent if the baton is in-hand.

For a civilian like me, about 30-40 feet is just about right, depending upon a number of other factors.

I teach and like to decide all these questions in my favor.

[Sparks2112]

You know, I am really glad I read this and what you did in this situation. Even while carrying, I am the type of person to give the benefit of the doubt and talk to anyone who approaches for any reason unless they seem like a threat right away. I live right by that area and have been to that walmart multiple times. I have had people do that same type of thing at different places asking for money or different things, but normally I just brush it off and be courteous. If it would have been me in that situation i probably would have seen the raw end of that confrontation, but I after reading this I am going to try to train myself to be more vigilant with these kind of things.

I'm glad it helped, that's why I shared.

[Sparks2112]

Interesting encounter.

This would seem like a perfect opportunity for partner tactics. While you're looking at and engaging the obvious threat, your wife could be looking around for other threats.

I thought that to myself, honestly her SA is so horrible that I would rather do it myself than trust her spotting skills.

[andrew241]

Nice work man. I worry a lot about what my wife will or would do in those situations. We talk at times about things of that nature and this has me thinking maybe it should be more.

[Morne]

Interesting encounter.

This would seem like a perfect opportunity for partner tactics. While you're looking at and engaging the obvious threat, your wife could be looking around for other threats.

I thought that to myself, honestly her SA is so horrible that I would rather do it myself than trust her spotting skills.

The spousal unit is more observant than you think. One time at Wal-Mart during the wee hours of the morning she asked if I had my gun on me and I said "yes" to which she replied "good". Why? Because she had spotted a potential threat while I was oggling .50 cal sabots for my muzzleloader.

[Sparks2112]

Interesting encounter.

This would seem like a perfect opportunity for partner tactics. While you're looking at and engaging the obvious threat, your wife could be looking around for other threats.

I thought that to myself, honestly her SA is so horrible that I would rather do it myself than trust her spotting skills.

The spousal unit is more observant than you think. One time at Wal-Mart during the wee hours of the morning she asked if I had my gun on me and I said "yes" to which she replied "good". Why? Because she had spotted a potential threat while I was oggling .50 cal sabots for my muzzleloader.

She didn't/doesn't even notice I carry/was carrying. For some reason she assumes I just leave it loaded in the car, and I've never seen a need to dissaude her of that belief. She'd give me away.

Though maybe it's that quality product that Comp-tac makes.

[TunnelRat]

I am the type of person to give the benefit of the doubt and talk to anyone who approaches for any reason unless they seem like a threat right away.

I have learned to say: "I don't know you, sir. Don't come any closer."