Support pours in for pizza driver...

[Blinking Dog]

April 2, 2008

Support pours in for pizza driver

By JACQUELINE LEE
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

A Des Moines pizza delivery driver who was suspended after he shot an alleged armed robber last week said Tuesday that he has been overwhelmed by support from people who cheered what happened.

"But no one had contacted me directly about a job offer," said James William Spiers III, 38, who was suspended by Pizza Hut after he fired multiple shots at a man who allegedly put a gun to his head Thursday and demanded money at the Sutton Hill Apartments, 2100 S.E. King Ave.

The suspect, Kenneth Jimmerson, 19, was arrested when he later called for medical help. Jimmerson, who police say suffered at least three gunshot wounds, survived his injuries and faces a first-degree robbery charge. Melanie Stout, 18, who allegedly called in the pizza order, is charged with conspiracy.

Spiers said it was the first time in 10 years on the job that he had been a robbery victim.

"Anytime you're involved in delivery, I suppose you're an easy target," he said. "But crime is random, and it can happen to anybody."

Spiers, who has a valid handgun permit, said he's been "pretty much in the dark" about his job since the incident. Vonnie Walbert, vice president of human resources at Pizza Hut's corporate offices in Dallas, said last week that employees are not allowed to carry guns "because we believe that that is the safest for everybody."

"I just know that, given what happened, it's not likely I'll have a job anyway," Spiers said. "Right now, I'm just taking some time off, trying to cool things down."

Spiers declined to elaborate on what he called "gross inaccuracies" in media coverage of the incident. "I can't correct them right now. It's not wise for me to talk about the case with the ongoing investigation and all."

Police said that when officers arrived, Spiers had both handguns, and the wounded robber had fled.

"The incident wasn't something quick and simple. ... I did not just take the gun out of the guy's hand and shoot him with it. It was a long ordeal, or it felt like it," Spiers said. "My life was, without a doubt, in danger. I wouldn't have shot anybody if I didn't think my life was in danger.

"In my circumstance, there was no way out."

[KC5AV]

At least he has the presence of mind not to elaborate on the details in public .

[Kerbouchard]

http://www.defensivecarry.com/vbulletin ... story.html
Update:
Apparently he gave the robber his money when asked. The robber took off running and hid nearby. When the delivery driver was headed back to his car, he came near the robber who thought he was following him. The robber said he would kill him and that is when the driver drew his weapon.

Also, he has since been fired. I will never order from Pizza Hut again.

[AEA]

Not only will I NEVER order Pizza Hut, but I will NEVER enter one of their stores again........
That won't be hard to do....cause I have only been in one of their stores ONCE in my life (60 years) and I have NEVER ordered a Pizza from them!

[ELB]

My wife and I stopped going to Pizza Hut some years ago, because this is not the first delivery guy who defended himself and got canned for doing it. There should be a Pizza-Hut-Hall-of-Shame website for these reports...

[M9FAN]

Very sad state of affairs when you're penalized for defending your life.

[Wildscar]

Um hello is this thing on.<TAP><TAP><TAP> Did she not read the story and realize what happened. Thats why he had his firearm.

Police: Pizza man turns tables on thief

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/p ... 0329/1001/

An armed pizza deliveryman told Des Moines police that he shot a man who tried to rob him at gunpoint Thursday night outside a south-side apartment building.

When officers arrived at the Sutton Hill Apartments, 2100 S.E. King Ave., the pizza man, James William Spiers, 38, had both handguns, and the wounded robber had fled empty-handed.

The suspect, Kenneth Jimmerson, 19, was arrested when he later called for medical help. Jimmerson was hospitalized Friday with multiple gunshot wounds and faces a charge of first-degree robbery.
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Melanie Stout, 18, who allegedly placed the pizza order, was arrested for conspiracy.

Spiers, who has a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon, escaped injury, although his bosses at Pizza Hut suspended him Friday until police sort out the details of the Thursday-night incident.

"We have policy against carrying weapons," said Vonnie Walbert, vice president of human resources at Pizza Hut's corporate offices in Dallas. "We prohibit employees from carrying guns because we believe that that is the safest for everybody."

Spiers, who drives for the Pizza Hut at 4100 S.E. 14th St., told police that when he arrived at the entrance of the building shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday, a man put a pistol to his head and demanded cash. Spiers said he grabbed the gun, simultaneously pulling his own weapon and opening fire. When the robber ran away, Spiers called police.

Officers found Spiers in the parking lot shortly after 10:30 p.m. They said Spiers immediately raised his hands and knelt to the ground. A police report said Spiers told officers "that he had a gun in each of his front coat pockets."

Investigators said Jimmerson later called dispatchers from a second-floor apartment in another building and said he had been shot. He was taken to Mercy Medical Center in serious condition. Police said he was hit by at least three bullets, one of which struck him in the side. Police said Jimmerson will be taken to the Polk County Jail when he is released from the hospital.

Jimmerson's criminal record includes arrests for carrying a concealed weapon and criminal mischief in 2007, harassment in 2006, and assault in 2004.

Stout, who told jail officials her address is 2150 S.E. King Ave., was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. Her bond was set at $10,000. A representative for Hubbell Apartments, which manages the Sutton Hill complex, said neither Jimmerson nor Stout is listed as a tenant.

Dennis Howe, who has delivered for Domino's Pizza the past three years, said Thursday's incident was a twist on the all-too-typical story. Police do not keep statistics, but a review of newspaper articles from the past few years shows numerous similar holdups in Des Moines, a few that resulted in injury to the driver.

"I hate the thought of what happened, but pizza delivery people are easy targets," Howe said. "This was a bizarre turn of events."

Howe's co-worker Kimberly Babis said Spiers should not have been armed on the job, no matter what the safety concern. She said most drivers have the right to refuse a delivery if they feel it could pose danger.

"I don't understand why the pizza delivery guy had a gun," she said. "And even if the other guy was trying to rob him, it's a measly 20 bucks. At least that's how much our drivers have on them."

And some more good news.

Iowa Senator to Stop Buying Pizza Hut if It Fires Delivery Man Who Shot Robber

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,344608,00.html

An Iowa state senator has vowed to stop buying Pizza Hut products if the chain fires a Des Moines delivery man who shot a teen who tried to rob him last week.

Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, told other lawmakers that he supports the delivery man, James William Spiers, according to a report in the Des Moines Register.

"I think what he did was the right thing," Zaun said Tuesday. "If I was in a situation to protect my family, protect myself, to continue being a father, I would’ve done the same thing."

The chain has suspended Spiers pending an investigation, the Register reports.

"We have policy against carrying weapons," Vonnie Walbert, vice president of human resources at Pizza Hut's corporate offices in Dallas told the paper for a March 28 story. "We prohibit employees from carrying guns because we believe that that is the safest for everybody."

But Zaun thinks Spiers, who had a permit to carry the concealed weapon, was well within his rights when he fired the shots March 27, so Zaun is "going to be watching Pizza Hut."

Kenneth Jimmerson, 19, who was hit with three bullets, called 911 for medical help and subsequently was arrested on a charge of first-degree robbery.

[lrb111]

Now, remember, anytime you order a pizza from now on use the name "William Spiers".

[lawrnk]

We need to start a defined way to voice our thoughts to pizza hut. All due respect, saying we wont buy from them on here means nothing. Lets get the number for Vonnie Walbert and let them know why. I am starting to not know where to buy anything from now on. I already have wal-mart, taco cabana, Pizza hut and many others on my bad list.

[78641]

Boycott Pizza Hut if you want, but most, maybe all, of the major pizza delivery companies have the same policy. I drove for the other two, and at that time anyway, they both prohibited any kind of weapon. A 4-D maglight and a big pocket knife were ok.

As far as this: Howe's co-worker Kimberly Babis said Spiers should not have been armed on the job, no matter what the safety concern. She said most drivers have the right to refuse a delivery if they feel it could pose danger.
I don't think you'd keep that cushy pizza driving job long if you refused to deliver when you felt "unsafe" more than once or twice.

Most big name pizza places are franchise operations, and the owners do not have much say in policies like this one. FWIW.

[Venus Pax]

April 2, 2008

Support pours in for pizza driver

By JACQUELINE LEE
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

A Des Moines pizza delivery driver who was suspended after he shot an alleged armed robber last week said Tuesday that he has been overwhelmed by support from people who cheered what happened.


Vonnie Walbert, vice president of human resources at Pizza Hut's corporate offices in Dallas, said last week that employees are not allowed to carry guns "because we believe that that is the safest for everybody."



"In my circumstance, there was no way out."

How was not having a gun safe for Mr. Spiers?

[Glock 23]

April 2, 2008

Support pours in for pizza driver

By JACQUELINE LEE
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

A Des Moines pizza delivery driver who was suspended after he shot an alleged armed robber last week said Tuesday that he has been overwhelmed by support from people who cheered what happened.


Vonnie Walbert, vice president of human resources at Pizza Hut's corporate offices in Dallas, said last week that employees are not allowed to carry guns "because we believe that that is the safest for everybody."



"In my circumstance, there was no way out."

How was not having a gun safe for Mr. Spiers?

i think she meant specifically safer for the armed BG's

[KC5AV]

April 2, 2008

Support pours in for pizza driver

By JACQUELINE LEE
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

A Des Moines pizza delivery driver who was suspended after he shot an alleged armed robber last week said Tuesday that he has been overwhelmed by support from people who cheered what happened.


Vonnie Walbert, vice president of human resources at Pizza Hut's corporate offices in Dallas, said last week that employees are not allowed to carry guns "because we believe that that is the safest for everybody."



"In my circumstance, there was no way out."

How was not having a gun safe for Mr. Spiers?

i think she meant specifically safer for the armed BG's

No no no. She meant safer for her and the rest of the folks at corporate, so they don't have to worry about the bad guys (or their surviving relatives) coming back and suing. She has to protect her paycheck. That's really what it's all about.

[Lodge2004]

April 2, 2008

Support pours in for pizza driver

By JACQUELINE LEE
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

A Des Moines pizza delivery driver who was suspended after he shot an alleged armed robber last week said Tuesday that he has been overwhelmed by support from people who cheered what happened.

Vonnie Walbert, vice president of human resources at Pizza Hut's corporate offices in Dallas, said last week that employees are not allowed to carry guns "because we believe that that is the safest for everybody."

"In my circumstance, there was no way out."

How was not having a gun safe for Mr. Spiers?

i think she meant specifically safer for the armed BG's

It's safer for the criminal AND the company. The BG is free to engage in his trade and the company, should anything happen to the driver, can blame the BG to escape liability. The only person at risk is the driver. The company would probably argue that:

* If the driver felt he was at risk, he should have refused to make the delivery.
* If confronted by a BG, he should have complied with his demands and he would have escaped injury.
* If the BG injures the driver, it's either due to the criminal actions of a third party we cannot control or because of the inproper decision of the driver to go against our policy and fight back.

[jpierce30]

I carry my weapon every day. If I were to lose my job because I chose to protect myself or others, then I needed to find another job anyway. I support the guy and if someone can come up with the address I will send a letter to the Pizza Hut corporate office. We have to stand up for our rights, just not buying from the chain will not do anything, but massive quantities of letters to the corporate office may help change their policies.