Local Resident Fights Back Against Alleged Carjacker

[Sly Dog]

http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/7948297.html


Local Resident Fights Back Against Alleged Carjacker
There have been 2 comments posted
Posted: 8:08 PM Jun 11, 2007
Last Updated: 10:37 PM Jun 11, 2007
Reporter: Kristen Ross
Email Address: ross@kbtx.com

A Madisonville resident fought back after he says a man and a woman tried to carjack him about a mile from his home.

It was an evening Mike Woycheshin will never forget. On Saturday, the Madisonville resident was on his way to a wedding when he came upon a car sideways in the southbound lane at the intersection of Old State Highway 75 and Spur 104, where a man was bent over in the street.

"I proceeded, got close to the car, and rolled my window down six inches," said Madisonville Resident Mike Woycheshin. "The man was in the road as if he was crippled or had been hurt. He jumped up and stuck a 38 mm gun in my face through the window and said, 'you white so and so get out of the car. I want the car.'"

Woycheshin says he then leaned back in his seat, stepped hard on the gas, and called 911.

Only minutes later while driving past the same intersection, about a mile from his home, Woycheshin says he was shocked to see the same car up to the same routine.

"I was very irritated when I went back and saw him in the spot. I didn't want the individual to get away," Woycheshin said.

Madison County Sheriff Dan Douget says the suspects recognized Woycheshin's vehicle.

"Whenever they saw him they fled, he followed them and he called his stepson and the stepson came out," Douget said.

Woycheshin then proceeded to follow the vehicle, and the chase began.

Woycheshin says the pursuit continued down back roads in the area until the two suspects in the car came to a dead end, abandoned their vehicle, and fled on foot. Woycheshin says he remained on the phone with 911 to let them know his location.

"It dead ended into a field and he waited until police got there," Douget said. "His stepson then went back to Highway 90 and observed them coming out of the woods, and at the point had a weapon with him and held them at gunpoint until the police officers got there."

David Ray Bratcher, 21, and Tara Vatrice Pitts, 18, both of Houston were arrested.

Local law enforcement say they weren't the only ones interested in questioning the two.

"Their car was reported as stolen and so apparently they are involved in something else in the Houston area, and so the Houston police department is investigating that part of it," Douget said.

The Madison County Sheriff's Office says David Bratcher is wanted in Houston for attempted murder, several counts of carjacking and one count of kidnapping. Bratcher was out on parole. No bond has been set.

Tara Pitts was released Monday afternoon on a $30,000 bond.

Officials say both face charges of attempted aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.

[Idjut]

38 mm? Yowza!

[NcongruNt]

Wow. I don't know if I would have gone through all that trouble chasing them. The article doesn't mention the original victim being armed, and if he wasn't, that's a scary situation to thrust yourself into headlong like that. Had the last part turned into a shootout, I don't know if the stepson would have had a defense to prosecution. There is the hot pursuit clause, though I don't know if it would have been applicable after the period of time it took to get there. The timeline in the article isn't specific enough to make a call. Get the wrong jury in that kind of shooting, and you could be labeled a vigilante. Its not that I don't admire these folks... they knew there was a threat to their community and acted to make sure no one else had to face the same threat. Legally speaking, it's just shaky ground IMO.

[pbandjelly]

I dunno, car makes a pretty good weapon...

[Paladin]

It's not particularly comforting to know that Tara Pitts is already back on the streets. She's dangerous and was caught red handed. I'm sure she's more deserving of a cell than many.

[NcongruNt]

I dunno, car makes a pretty good weapon...

The BG had one of those too. AND a gun. He also had an an accomplice, therefore the potential to use both simultaneously.

[Drifter]

This brings to mind an incident that occurred in Humble, TX early last December.

"Steven Jackson, 47, was shot and killed after he followed a man who police said robbed a Shell gasoline station on F.M. 1960 near North Avenue H on Dec. 5.

Jackson followed the robber while he talked to a 911 operator, officials said. Investigators said the robber got out of his vehicle on the Eastex Freeway near Townsend Boulevard and shot Jackson twice, killing him.

Police said the person of interest was captured on another convenience store's surveillance video. They do not know the person's identity. Police plan to release the surveillance video on Tuesday morning."

Mr. Jackson was a local firefighter, as I recall, and the suspected killer was apprehended in early 2007.

I'm very happy that the two carjacking perps were caught (but am wondering why one is roaming the streets already); however, these two stories have to make one seriously think about what one would do if faced with a similar situation. As I recall, Jackson's killer stopped, came back to Jackson's car and shot him at point blank range.

[pbandjelly]

I dunno, car makes a pretty good weapon...

The BG had one of those too. AND a gun. He also had an an accomplice, therefore the potential to use both simultaneously.

riiiIIIIiiiight, when they were coming out of the woods, on foot.

and when he was standing in the road, you know, not in the car.

you make it sound like the old man was helpless. apparently he still had his #1 weapon, his brain.

[Venus Pax]

It's not particularly comforting to know that Tara Pitts is already back on the streets. She dangerous and was caught red handed. I'm sure she's more deserving of a cell than many.

And people that carry guns must be paranoid.

[stevie_d_64]

38 mm? Yowza!

Its German...

The 38mm Ochmygodenwefferflamengroupenpopper...

You can get them on Cheaper than Dirt for $29.95 minus S&H

[Lucky45]

NcongruNt wrote:
Had the last part turned into a shootout, I don't know if the stepson would have had a defense to prosecution.

That's why we have to remember when this section applies.

PC §9.51. ARREST AND SEARCH.
(b) A person other than a peace officer (or one acting at his direction)
is justified in using force against another when and to the degree the
actor reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to
make or assist in making a lawful arrest, or to prevent or assist in
preventing escape after lawful arrest if, before using force, the actor
manifests his purpose to and the reason for the arrest or reasonably
believes his purpose and the reason are already known by or cannot
reasonably be made known to the person to be arrested.

(d) A person other than a peace officer acting in a peace officer's
presence and at his direction is justified in using deadly force against
another when and to the degree the person reasonably believes the
deadly force is immediately necessary to make a lawful arrest, or to
prevent escape after a lawful arrest, if the use of force would have
been justified under Subsection (b) and:
(1) the actor reasonably believes the felony or offense against the
public peace for which arrest is authorized included the use or attempted
use of deadly force; or
(2) the actor reasonably believes there is a substantial risk that
the person to be arrested will cause death or serious bodily injury to
another if the arrest is delayed.
(e) There is no duty to retreat before using deadly force justified by
Subsection (c) or (d).
(f) Nothing in this section relating to the actor's manifestation of
purpose or identity shall be construed as conflicting with any other law
relating to the issuance, service, and execution of an arrest or search
warrant either under the laws of this state or the United States.
(g) Deadly force may only be used under the circumstances
enumerated in Subsections (c) and (d).

[NcongruNt]

I dunno, car makes a pretty good weapon...

The BG had one of those too. AND a gun. He also had an an accomplice, therefore the potential to use both simultaneously.

riiiIIIIiiiight, when they were coming out of the woods, on foot.

and when he was standing in the road, you know, not in the car.

you make it sound like the old man was helpless. apparently he still had his #1 weapon, his brain.

He started a chase long before they bailed and went into the woods. At that time they had their car and were armed with a handgun.

The point where they came out of the woods was not with the original guy, it was with his stepson who was armed.

[Skiprr]

The 38mm Ochmygodenwefferflamengroupenpopper...

You can get them on Cheaper than Dirt for $29.95 minus S&H

For you purists:



Despite the low price, the size--and recoil--makes the 38mm an inefficient daily-carry pistol...

[lrb111]

The 38mm Ochmygodenwefferflamengroupenpopper...

You can get them on Cheaper than Dirt for $29.95 minus S&H

For you purists:



Despite the low price, the size--and recoil--makes the 38mm an inefficient daily-carry pistol...

Do they make that in a "compact", and an IWB holster?

[stevie_d_64]

Ok, I ask forgiveness for my silly post there...But ya gotta admit that was purty funny there!

Butt seriously...I believe its really getting sad that scumbags play on the genuine, compassionate people who see things like this and really desire to help out, and then this happens...

Now we wonder why people who see a body on the road, swerve to miss hitting it, and keep right on a truckin'...I think I saw a video of that on YouTube...It was in Israel I believe...