NV: Open Carrier Makes Citizens Arrest on Hit and Run Driver (video)

Gun Watch ^ | 15 July, 2016 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

 Link to image source

On 11 July, an open carrier, Brandon Francis, made a citizens arrest on a hit and run suspect.  Francis had just seen the driver hit a pedestrian and drive away. Francis drove after the suspect, cut him off, then ordered him out of the car at gun point.  It is clear from the video that Francis was open carrying his pistol.  Nevada has always been an open carry state.  In the video, you can see Brandon's holster on his right side.  In interviews with two television stations, he is open carrying. From lasvegasnow.com:

Matthew Shaykin, 31, is facing felony hit and run charges after allegedly hitting a pedestrian near Maverick and Smoke Ranch, but the only thing on everyone's minds today is his takedown.

In the dramatic video taken by a bystander before it was posted to Facebook, Brandon Francis could be seen pulling his gun and making a citizen's arrest of Shaykin. Francis says what you don't see on the video are the moments leading up to the confrontation.

(snip)

Metro police said every situation is different when it comes to citizens arrests, but in this case, the officers on scene determined Francis would not face any charges. Metro Police says the 24-year-old man who was hit suffered multiple broken bones but is recovering from non-life threatening injuries.

Francis said the man's family reached out to him to thank him for his efforts last night.

Link to video

The pistol that Brandon is carrying appears to be either the Taurus 111G2 or 140G2.  The Taurus has recieved some good reviews.  The caliber of the pistol was not mentioned, but it would be a 9mm or a .40 cal.

It is hard to argue with success.  There is not doubt that Brandon successfully stopped the hit and run driver, survived the encounter with the police, and did not get into any legal trouble.  No one was shot, and the hit and run driver's victim's family thanked Brandon.

It is easy to make tactical decision from the comfort of an Internet keyboard hundreds of miles away from the action.  I expect that Brandon will seek additional training.  He seems to be a pro-active kind of guy.

While the hit and run driver had demonstrated that he was an existant threat to the community, another possibility would have been following him while on the phone to police.  Having tried something that once, only to have the irresponsible driver (not a hit and run) speed up, I know it does not always work.  High speed chases in a privately owned vehicle are generally a bad idea.

This is another case of an open carrier using his firearm for the benefit of the community.

©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

[marktwain]

There were other options available, but choices had to be made fast. It worked.

[Pontiac]

I agree with Brandon

In that situation I don't want to be messing with my phone. If he had another person with him in the car that could have called 911 that would have been different and he could have just followed but that was not the case.

Putting a stop to the situation is the best course of action.

[imardmd1]

Might work in Nevada, but I doubt it here in Delaware, where open carry has been on the books for many, many years, but mightily discouraged by the establishment's officers.

[Libloather]

Bluetooth is amazing stuff.

[Doogle]

in Joisey,both the driver and samaritan would have been wounded along with the deaths of three bystanders, a cabbie,two dogs,and a parakeet three blocks away in a retirement home. Rookie officer took
control by shooting both suspects upon arrival on the scene.

[Dr. Sivana]

If he had another person with him in the car that could have called 911 that would have been different and he could have just followed but that was not the case.

I cannot speak for the driver, but some of us do not carry a phone with us everywhere.

[RKBA Democrat]

Heard the same thing in VA 10-15 years ago. I started open carrying. It hasn’t been a problem.

Either it’s legal or it isn’t.

[eXe]

And this right here is why I love living in this state. Good for him. I get REALLY tired of hearing the same old line of “it would have been safer if he just called 911”

[Stentor]

LOL.

[i_robot73]

>Either it’s legal or it isn’t.

The 2nd A?

[imardmd1]

It can be legal but be offensive and invite harassment by the police if that’s the way they’ve been trained. Were you aware that DE is solidly blue? Even the Republicans are more purple than red. My dear state representative just got a bill passed into law that allows the villages and towns to forbid carry open or concealed in certain buildings or at town meetings that were previously matters of state preemption. Not that I agree at all, and am rather put out about the situation of letting localities begin to infringe, but I doubt that chasing and stopping a non-fatal violator might get one into serious trouble. The Far West has a different heritage and culture. Just sayin’.

[RKBA Democrat]

Far west? I live in Virginia. And yes, I open carry frequently in my very blue city. It’s not a problem. Virginia has an issue every now and then, but the price tag for a false arrest generally keeps the cities in line.

When you allow leftscum to get the upper hand, you will never get it back.

[imardmd1]

Well, for those who can be licensed and legal (or sometimes even "illegal") for concealed carry, I think it's really stupid to advertise.

But it's still considered a free country. Do it your way. That's fine with me.

[imardmd1]

By Far West, I was referring to the state under consideration in the initial topic — Nevada.

[editor-surveyor]

.

>> “Metro police said every situation is different when it comes to citizens arrests...” <<

Really?

The only power of arrest that exists is the citizen’s power to arrest. That is where the police power to arrest is based.

No state’s citizens have extended any other power of arrest to their government.
.