Thank You Harris County Sheriffs Department!

[Kawabuggy]

I had a run in with some bad "actors" last night. No gun-fire. No violence. The potential was there however. I work at an auto repair shop. Last night I had a group of 8 "people" (I use that term loosely. Dog, dirt-bag would be more appropriate) force their way into my office and basically hold me hostage. No weapons were displayed by the "actors", however threats of violence, and physical displays of aggression were shown. I had my gun with me in my top desk drawer with ample opportunity to get ahold of it. I sat quiet & motionless while the verbal onslaught and physical gesturing was taking place. I dialed 9-1-1 and as soon as I heard them answer, I hung up hoping to get someone there quickly to de-escalate the situation.

Basically, we fixed their car, now the bill was due and they did not want to pay. 8 grown animals showed up at my office and they all came en-masse into the office and surrounded me while I was sitting at my desk. I had no escape. They made their demands clear "Give me car right now!" Give me the keys!". The largest of the group was on my right physically pressing against my body. He is the one that was asking if I wanted to fight, and if I was ready for the "whipping of a lifetime". I explained that the car was off-site and that I would have to call to make sure I could get it released. That's when I dialed 911.

Harris County Sheriffs showed up and really took control of the situation. I am so thankful that it ended the way that it did. I honestly felt that I was going to have to take some drastic action to get out of the situation, but luckily, I remained calm, did not speak, and just kept planning my actions in case I had to take it to the next level.

It's pretty sad that I have to endure stuff like this at my job. I love what I do, it's just one ethnic group that is making the problems. This is the 3rd time this year that I have had to have the cops over at the business. This time was the closest I have come personally to having to do something I would probably regret today. I know I should find another job in a better area of town. But really, are there any "better" areas of Houston anymore? I work off FM 1960 and things have gone from bad to drastically worse in the past few years. We are the new Acres Homes.. Those of you that don't know this area-just trust that you would not want your car to break down there.

So, my reason for posting is to THANK the Harris County Sheriffs Department for saving my back-side! The officer was E. A. Lopez and I will be writing a letter to his boss letting him know how professionally he handled the situation, how quickly he took control, and thanking him that it ended as well as it did. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

There has been a sharp increase in violent crimes on this side of town, and I see it getting a lot worse in the future. God as my witness, as soon as the kids are off to college-I'll leave this town and NEVER, EVER, look back.

[Beiruty]

Good you are OKay. If it was me, 8 BGs is enough reason to draw and hold them at gun point till 911 is on site. Regardless, could you tell us what happened when LEO were on the scene?

[casingpoint]

This time was the closest I have come personally to having to do something I would probably regret today.

I don't think you would be regretting it now, and I believe you should have done it, and needlessly endangered yourself by not doing it. Do you have any real appreciation of the physical danger you were in??? You were skating on some very thin ice, buddy. That kind of situation is the reason the law is written the way it is. You got out of that not because you did the right thing, but because their stones were weak despite their overt threats. With the right people, it could have well been all over long before the cops got there to find you laid out cold. You'd better take a rain check as to whether or not you're actually prepared to use a gun in such a situation. That said, they had you by surprise, so you were at a disadvantage. Don't let them get you like that again. In your situation, and in that neighborhood, I'd carry a gun, probably two guns, on my person during business hours.

You should make it a point to read the accounts of armed shop owners and employees in Chris Bird's "The Concealed Handgun Manual." It will clarify the position you should take in running a business where people can just come in off the street unscreened.

[srothstein]

I am glad you are OK and that Harris County was smart enough to respond to the 911 hangup that way. Since you are OK, I cannot say you handled it incorrectly, and I certainly can understand your reluctance to push the envelope further. You would be regretting it if you had been forced to defend yourself, even when you are 100% in the right (as it sounds like you would have been). This is real live proof that the average CHL is not looking for the excuse to kill.

But, in one way, I have to agree with casingpoint. In this case, you survived because the BG's were not willing to go further than threats and intimidation. Obviously, the best solution is to find a better job but we all know how hard that can be. Instead of depending on a 911 hangup getting deputies on the scene (and it is unlikely you could have explained why you wanted them there, that was good thinking), have you considered asking your boss for a good alarm system. Most of the convenience stores now have ones that have body alarms that you can wear. Press the button on the body alarm and it is a robbery alarm sent. From your description of the recent past, this would be a very sound investment on the company's part.

And, for the record, this was a robbery in progress when they demanded their car back without paying for it. I hope the deputy made the arrest, though I can see how he could be write it off as a civil dispute over the bill.

[KFP]

Leaving the phone off of the hook so that it would allow for the situation to be recorded and given a higher priority by the dispatcher. Luckily the incident ended without injuries - as has been stated, the odds were stacked against you.

[Kawabuggy]

To answer the questions-when HCSD pulled in the parking lot, the actors all immediately left the office and headed outside where the officer had pulled in. Of course, when the cops got there they started telling the officer that THEY had called for them because I would not release their car! The officers got everyone out my office, including the 3 females, and then came and talked to me. I told them what happened, and he asked me what I wanted to do. I told him that I wanted to be paid for our work, they could have their car, and that I never wanted any of them on the property again. I told the officer about the verbal threats and identified which one was causing the problems, but said I did not want to press the issue. My thoughts were if I were to press the issue, these guys may come after me later in retaliation and the cops would not get there in time to help me out. I by no means think that I could have handled all of them even with a gun. Too many of them, and I don't know that they didn't have a gun either.

I agree that it definitely could have gone bad quickly. I got away with it this time, and I pray there is never a next time.

And as someone mentioned above, I DO NOT WANT to ever have to take another life. I sat there in silence while being cursed at, & screamed at, thinking that if this escalates any further than it is right now, I'll do what I have to do. I had already made up my mind, and drawn that line in the sand. Had they crossed it, I would have reacted. The cursing, name calling & insults don't bother me. I can take it.

Luckily, it turned out the way it did. If I think about what I learned, it's that I can't effectively protect myself in that environment. Had they been serious, and came in gunning for me, I'd not be here. By luck, or chance, it turned out the best way that it could have. I was thankful to come home last night to the wife and kids. Yes, my nerves were shot last night, and even today, but I can live with that.

[A-R]

kawabuggy, can you give a better description of where this happened? I grew up along FM 1960 in Houston and my mom and step-dad still live there (in fact, just got back to Austin area tonight after staying with them Friday night and going to HGCA gun show at Reliant Center).

Obviously not asking you to reveal definitive details, but generally what cross streets of FM 1960 are nearby? Curious how close this area is to where they live (FM 1960 is a long road).

[sss]

I used to think that Highway 6 here in West Houston was sleazy -- then, I went north and saw 1960. All I can say is "damn".

[T3hK1w1]

+1 on a little more detail on location. Not asking for anything definite, but a general part of would be nice.
1960 goes by fairly near where I live. Parts of it are just fine, and parts of it I'm not too happy going near.

[jsimmons]

So did they eventually pay you?

[KD5NRH]

There has been a sharp increase in violent crimes on this side of town, and I see it getting a lot worse in the future. God as my witness, as soon as the kids are off to college-I'll leave this town and NEVER, EVER, look back.

Y'know, I should be getting a commission from some of the surveillance system companies at this point, but I'm not. I'd still say you should spend the $350-500 to set up a camera system. Since most of them have only one audio channel, route that to the office, and try to have all customer conversations in there. You really can't ask for a more impartial witness than a recording.

[bauerdj]

You might want to give some thought to redoing the office layout so that customer transactions are handled at a window rather then allowing customer access to the office.

DaveB

[arnoldstrong]

That's scary stuff...Glad to hear it ended up ok

[Abraham]

The cost of redoing your office and having security camera's make good sense. Plus, highly visible signs stating you have security cameras located off premises might be helpful too.

However, moving to a new, less volatile/violent prone climate make more sense to me.

When my old neighborhood went into decline that's what we did. We saw the decline and just didn't want to move and pay the costs of doing so, but it was highly worth it.

The immense reduction in stress is worth it.

Stress kills.

P.S. No, there's no such thing as a completely safe neighborhood for residence or business, but there are areas where far fewer violent types will be encountered as a whole.