Should this homeowner have held these teens at gunpoint?

[Walleye Hunter]

Wonder if spike strips installed after the first time would have worked?

That's what the guy with the creepy stalker needs. But if I did that I'd forget about them and run them over myself.

[Mitch10mm]

Again, from where do the police derive their power if not from the people, who hold it in perpetuity.

I am not talking "legalities" here, but more philosophically.

Does a citizen have the authority to stop a felony in progress?

A professional repair of a couple of donuts can easily run into the thousands of dollars.

I'm not shooting someone over a torn up or even destroyed lawn. If I look out the window this moment and see a guy pouring gasoline on my car and getting ready to light it, I'm not going to draw my firearm or shoot him if he ignites it. How the cops would handle it if they magically appeared and public and legal opinion would undoubtedly be different than me doing the same. Regardless what the same is

[bogey1]

Wonder if spike strips installed after the first time would have worked?

I think that's illegal (booby trap).

[2DogsBarking]

How large is the back yard??

S
S
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[chp1911]

Would the police have used a gun in capturing the criminals?
Not kids, not teens, CRIMINALS.

Police get their authority from we the people, as does all of government. I never understood the whole, "that's a police matter" argument. If we the people, hire police to do the jobs we don't have time for etc, do we relinquish those rights and powers or do we just transfer them to the police yet still retain them? The police, as all government is, are in place to serve the people, but I fear that simple reasoning has been muted by the constant barrage against our rights and freedom.

If a police officer can justify walking up to a traffic violater with a drawn gun during a routine stop, I think it is perfectly reasonable for a citizen to approach several criminals who are in the process of committing felony destruction of property with a several thousand pound machine.


Anyone who has ever worked for or hired a landscaper, knows a couple of donuts in the lawn is a lot of money for lawn repair.

I seriously doubt that tearing up a yard with a car is a felony.

[Walleye Hunter]

I seriously doubt that tearing up a yard with a car is a felony.

I agree but...pointing the car in my direction when I catch you tearing up my yard may well be.

[WCMG]

The mantra police often use for themselves is "I used the least amount of force necessary to control the situation" and it should be your answer to anytime you have to use force against anyone, then shutup until you have your attorney beside you.

Was holding the teens at gunpoint the least amount of force necessary, apparently it was to the police because he wasn't charged, but that least amount of force is different for different people. If my 100lb 5'8" daughter is attacked by a 6' 200+lb male, her least amount of force may be ventilating the guy 3 times in the chest with her Glock, but for an equally-sized male the least amount of force may be a punch or two.

Throwing a brick at the car which could smash a window and hit a teen in the head, probably wouldn't qualify as least amount of force.

What would I do in the same case: I used the least amount of force necessary to control the situation

[Sparks]

You've said get the plate number, get some video too. Now you have proof to take to court.

I'd say what he did was lawful. If they tried to run, he'd have to let them go though.