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Written by Tim Gobble, Sheriff
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Thursday, 22 October 2009 |
I have long been a proponent of a citizen’s right to defend themselves and their property. I believe in the universal right of law abiding citizens to self defense and support their right to keep and bear arms for their personal protection in almost all locations where a police presence is not dedicated for that specific purpose. For example, unauthorized guns should not be allowed in courtrooms, presidential and vice presidential venues, and inside schools, because a law enforcement presence is already dedicated to those locations.
Since becoming sheriff, there have been several occasions where I have defended law abiding citizens who have used a firearm to protect themselves from criminals. Today, is another such occasion.
I have known Councilman George Poe for a number of years. I served with him on the Cleveland City Council and know him to be one of our most caring, dedicated and conscientious public servants. He is a great individual, a family man, has a caring heart, and throughout his lifetime has helped others and made Cleveland and Bradley County a better place to live. George also has a gun carry permit.
A few months ago, George was in his yard when he noticed an unfamiliar vehicle pull up next door to his son’s residence. At least one of the occupants got out and began looking around and acting suspiciously. George then observed the thieves load his son’s lawnmower into the back of their vehicle.
According to George's account of the incident, he approached the thieves to get their tag number and yelled for them to stop what they were doing. The thieves then slammed their car in reverse and began backing at a high rate of speed toward him. George had little opportunity to get out of the way and found himself forced against a fence near the driveway. The thieves turned their vehicle sideways in the driveway and George said he feared they were maneuvering to run him down or get out of their car and attack him.
All this happened within seconds and, defensively, George pulled a small pistol from his pocket and fired several rounds, one of which lodged in the rear of the thieves' vehicle. The thieves fled the scene. George ran to his car in order to follow them and report their location to the 911 Communications Center. During their attempted escape, the fleeing thieves wrecked their vehicle and were apprehended by city police.
As it turns out, at least one of the thieves has a prior criminal history and was wanted on outstanding warrants in another jurisdiction. In essence, George stopped a theft in progress and helped get a fugitive criminal off the streets. How was he rewarded? He was cited by the state with Aggravated Assault and Reckless Endangerment and his case has been bound over to the Grand Jury.
The world we live in is a dangerous place. Everyday, we are bombarded on the news with all kinds of acts of violence occurring against innocent people. This community is far from immune to this type of violence. These acts can happen quickly and without warning. George, like every law abiding citizen, has the right to investigate and intervene in suspicious activity on his or his son's property and, if he so chooses, attempt to stop the theft of his son’s possessions.
He also has the absolute right of self defense if he perceives himself to be in danger of serious bodily injury or death, as he did on that day when two thieves suddenly came at or very near him with their vehicle (a weapon). George did not just immediately and indiscriminately open fire on the two; it was only after he perceived the threat of death or serious bodily injury to himself that he did so. In my experience as sheriff, any thief with a criminal record who is brazen enough to steal someone's property in broad daylight and drive a speeding vehicle toward or near a witness who is attempting to intervene, is obviously a danger ~ a danger to that witness and a danger to the public.
So, instead of using the law to go after a good citizen who was forced to make split second decisions in a fast changing, dangerous situation, without any formal law enforcement training, let's use the law as it was designed: to protect innocent citizens and lock up known criminals when they are caught in the act of committing yet another crime.
If some think there is a doubt as to when George should have stopped firing his weapon or should not have fired it at all, remember, George is not a trained law enforcement officer, he is a senior citizen, can't move as quickly as a speeding car, was outnumbered, understandably a little nervous and certainly didn't ask to be placed in a difficult and dangerous situation by the reckless actions of the criminals he caught in the act. He had the right to be there. Any citizen, including you, confronted with the same situation might have reacted similarly. In the end, no one was hurt and the bad guys were apprehended.
It is a travesty of justice for George Poe to be brought up on charges and placed by the state in a similar category as the thieves. If he is prosecuted, we the people who stand against crime are prosecuted. I commend George's bravery and courage. He deserves the support and respect of this community, not prosecution. Any and all judicial proceedings against him should cease and his charges dismissed. If doubt remains for some, give the benefit of that doubt to George, not the criminals caught in the act with a prior criminal history and outstanding warrants. The criminals bear the complete and total blame.
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