Pissed links to this story, and related video:
A Disney dream turned into a nightmare for park guests when they had to help restrain an out-of-control man.
A YouTube video uploaded on Saturday opens with a man being restrained by two bellhops from the “Tower of Terror” ride in Disney’s California Adventure theme park, notes LAist.
An elderly security guard then pepper sprays him in the face, and the man throws a punch in response. Park guests step in to throw the belligerent man to the ground and help restrain him until more security arrives.
First up, note the effectiveness of the pepper spray which apparently was the only tool the Security guard had for such a situation. I don’t like Less Lethal, and only like it with security using it as a way to make it easier to hand-cuff and transport a dangerous person who hasn’t yet warranted lethal force. For civilians this is where you should be walking away, and if you are suddenly unable to walk away this is when you should be shooting.
In this case the guard deployed his OC…and that was his trump card. The belligerent man (article says he’s drunk, dunno if he’s drunk, high, or mentally ill) is NOT stopped and does NOT comply. There are people helping from the start of the video, but the guard clears them out.
Finally the man recovers enough when he knocks the guard down. This is where he’s lucky it didn’t turn deadly. An elbow to the trachea, or a boot to the head, or the presentation of something so simple as a pen knife and he could quickly be find himself fighting for his life.
In the end it was some good Samaritans who came to the rescue and restrained the man, and good on them for NOT yielding when the jerk started to plead.
Also let’s note that not only did so much happen with NO Disney security taking decisive action, but Disney is a “Gun Free Zone” that makes sure that every body else is also helpless.
A lot to think about.
Be safe out there!
Shoulda used the pixie dust, Al…
The value of OC is in the shock and surprise at how awful it is. When they sprayed the guy and he went down I was yelling at my screen “GO! GET ON HIM, YOU FOOLS!” but they stood back long enough for him to get himself sorted out, and by then subsequent uses of the spray were much less effective. It would have been VERY easy to grab an arm, flip him over, put one knee on his back and another knee between his shoulders, and hold his arm up between your legs. In that position even the old man could have held him for an hour until the cops got there. But they waited, and it turned into a pretty serious fight.
Those guards appeared to have no defensive tactics training at all. They probably went through an OC certification course, but that only teaches you how to get spray on target, not how important it is to either flee or close to gain control after spraying.
Even before I was an Only One, I carried OC in addition to a pistol. It’s a great way to tip the scales and prevent a fistfight that wouldn’t legally justify lethal force. Now that I’m an ex-Only One, I still carry it. It’s an amazing tool, but it’s not the hammer of Thor. You have to follow through after using it.
I see what you mean, but overall if I’m in a not-quite deadly force scenario, I’m fleeing. If I am unable to flee that very fact makes it a deadly force scenario IMHO.
This coupled with the fact that pepper spray may have a devastating effect, or no effect at all makes it of little value for me (except when I work as a security guard when I indeed may need to jump on somebody who isn’t a deadly threat to protect others)
Its much like the display of a gun. I’ll NEVER draw a gun to scare somebody away. I do note that to some people seeing a gun is scary, and note that that may be an observed reaction (so don’t go shooting as soon as the muzzle clears leather, unless things have gone THAT bad) but I also understand that for those who don’t find the presentation of a firearm frightening, 100% of those will find hollow points expanding to be QUITE jarring!
Also unlike OC, a major artery or organ being destroyed is debilitating to everybody.
Yes, lady, we realize that you’re baffled by the idea of violence…now STFU and help instead of yelping for security every three seconds.
I think it’s interesting, that regular people with no training, when it was obvious that grandpa pepper spray was losing the fight, and against the orders of people giving orders, these regular people jumped in and helped the guy in danger. And they succeeded. Regular folks are usually capable, smart enough, exhibit good enough judgment to help people in need. People who exhibit this kind of good judgment usually meet the requirements for a concealed carry permit, and can be trusted to safely carry a gun as they go about their daily business.
Apparently, even if they live in CA.
Also let’s note that not only did so much happen with NO Disney security taking decisive action, but California is a “Gun Free Zone” that makes sure that every body else is also helpless.
FTFY. 😉
not 100% true. Cali is like Massachusetts, if you live in the right area (in Mass its by town, Cali, by county) you can own and carry guns…but in others it is “No Issue”.