MWAG in Walmart
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 5:44 am
This could have ended much worse. Great job by Lufkin PD.
Lufkin Police officers used a Taser on a shoplifting suspect three times after he pulled out a gun while being taken into custody at the Walmart store in Lufkin, according to a police department spokesperson.
The suspect, 31-year-old Matthew Haak, who was believed to be a Lufkin resident, was being charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and theft, according to Jessica Pebsworth, the police department's public information officer.
Police responded to Walmart for a report of theft and found the 6-foot-3, 350-pound Haak in the women's clothing section talking to a loss prevention employee about shoplifted items he had just "returned," the police department stated in a media release Monday night.
"He denied stealing anything, but then came clean and offered to give the money back," the release stated. "He initially seemed cooperative in following Cpl. Randy Brooks, Officer Ethan Edwards and the store employee to the front office. While rounding the jewelry counter, Edwards noticed Haak reaching into his pants pocket. Edwards ordered Haak to stop, but he refused.
"After being pinned against the jewelry counter, Haak continued to struggle and reach deeper into his pocket, so Brooks drew his Taser and stung the man on the back of his arm without deploying the Taser’s prongs. Haak then broke free and turned to face Brooks, pulling a Talon .380 from his pocket. Brooks yelled 'gun' and deployed his Taser prongs, striking Haak in the chest and stomach.
"Haak fell backward to the ground, taking Edwards with him. When Haak reached for the gun’s slide and attempted to rack it, Edwards drew his weapon. Officer Jeremy Nettles, who had just arrived, got on top of Haak and pulled at his right arm in an attempt to free the weapon from Haak’s grip. The officers yelled at Haak to drop the gun, but he did not. After being stunned a second time, Haak dropped the pistol, but continued with to struggle. Following a third round from the Taser, Haak stopped fighting and allowed the officers to handcuff."
A shopper said she was in the self-checkout line when people started yelling for everyone to clear out, then more police officers began running into the store.
Police took Haak to CHI St. Luke's Health Memorial to have the Taser prongs removed before they took him to the Angelina County Jail, according to Pebsworth.
The officers estimated that there were roughly 50 people in the immediate area during the struggle, including two employees working behind the jewelry counter, according to the LPD release.
Assistant Police Chief David Thomas said he was thankful no one was injured during the incident.
"Thanks to the officers’ training and confidence in their skills, they were able to take the suspect into custody with no injuries to them or any witnesses,” Thomas said in the release.
Haak does not possess a handgun license, according to the police department.
Lufkin Police officers used a Taser on a shoplifting suspect three times after he pulled out a gun while being taken into custody at the Walmart store in Lufkin, according to a police department spokesperson.
The suspect, 31-year-old Matthew Haak, who was believed to be a Lufkin resident, was being charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and theft, according to Jessica Pebsworth, the police department's public information officer.
Police responded to Walmart for a report of theft and found the 6-foot-3, 350-pound Haak in the women's clothing section talking to a loss prevention employee about shoplifted items he had just "returned," the police department stated in a media release Monday night.
"He denied stealing anything, but then came clean and offered to give the money back," the release stated. "He initially seemed cooperative in following Cpl. Randy Brooks, Officer Ethan Edwards and the store employee to the front office. While rounding the jewelry counter, Edwards noticed Haak reaching into his pants pocket. Edwards ordered Haak to stop, but he refused.
"After being pinned against the jewelry counter, Haak continued to struggle and reach deeper into his pocket, so Brooks drew his Taser and stung the man on the back of his arm without deploying the Taser’s prongs. Haak then broke free and turned to face Brooks, pulling a Talon .380 from his pocket. Brooks yelled 'gun' and deployed his Taser prongs, striking Haak in the chest and stomach.
"Haak fell backward to the ground, taking Edwards with him. When Haak reached for the gun’s slide and attempted to rack it, Edwards drew his weapon. Officer Jeremy Nettles, who had just arrived, got on top of Haak and pulled at his right arm in an attempt to free the weapon from Haak’s grip. The officers yelled at Haak to drop the gun, but he did not. After being stunned a second time, Haak dropped the pistol, but continued with to struggle. Following a third round from the Taser, Haak stopped fighting and allowed the officers to handcuff."
A shopper said she was in the self-checkout line when people started yelling for everyone to clear out, then more police officers began running into the store.
Police took Haak to CHI St. Luke's Health Memorial to have the Taser prongs removed before they took him to the Angelina County Jail, according to Pebsworth.
The officers estimated that there were roughly 50 people in the immediate area during the struggle, including two employees working behind the jewelry counter, according to the LPD release.
Assistant Police Chief David Thomas said he was thankful no one was injured during the incident.
"Thanks to the officers’ training and confidence in their skills, they were able to take the suspect into custody with no injuries to them or any witnesses,” Thomas said in the release.
Haak does not possess a handgun license, according to the police department.
The responding officers showed an incredible amount of restraint. That could have gone south in a hurry.
