Posted on 05/13/2006 2:08:29 PM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
When a shabbily dressed man ran out of a Westfield Annapolis jewelry store followed by an employee screaming for help, Erik McInnis didn't think twice.
"Anybody sprinting out of a store like that is guilty until proven innocent," the 39-year-old Marine major said.
He immediately left his two children, ages 9 and 2, in the mall's play area and chased Timothy A. Laboard, 40, of Baltimore, through the back corridors of the mall.
Jonathan Neff, another father in the play area, said Maj. McInnis "hurdled the row of seats and hit the ground at an all out sprint behind the thief ... He was through the doors in hot pursuit before anyone else knew what was happening."
Maj. McInnis followed Mr. Laboard back into the mall, grabbed his collar, and put him in a rear figure-four choke hold on the ground.
"It was kind of surreal. There I was laying on top of this guy and everyone just kept walking by like nothing had happened," said the Naval Academy math instructor.
After a few moments, an off-duty FBI agent walked up and handcuffed Mr. Laboard.
Mr. Laboard was charged with theft over $500 after the incident on Monday. Police allege he snatched a $28,000 diamond ring out of a person's hand inside the Helzberg Diamonds. After Mr. Laboard was arrested, police said he pulled the ring from his mouth and handed it over to an officer.
"I'm a drug addict and I need help," Mr. Laboard said, according to a police report.
Officials at Helzberg Diamonds were not available for comment.
While Maj. McInnis might teach calculus during the day, he's still a Marine. He said he also teaches martial arts at the academy and is the officer representative for the school's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club. That, he said, is where he learned the submission and grappling moves he used at the mall.
"I've been teaching the stuff to midshipmen for years. I had a better than average chance to catch him," said Maj. McInnis.
Of course, once he caught Mr. Laboard and found himself lying on top of the man, the major started wondering if he had done the right thing.
"I was like 'I really hope he's guilty of something,' " he said, explaining at the time he didn't really know what happened or why he had tackled him. He just knew something bad had happened and he had to help.
When he found out the man was charged with stealing a ring that costs more than his Hyundai though, he was pretty shocked.
"I had no idea you could buy a $28,000 ring at the mall," he said.
That said, he's not expecting a reward.
"As hokey as this sounds, I consider apprehending scum bags to be an unwritten statement in my general job description of being a Marine," he said.
Don't use "get off" and "Kennedy" in the same sentence, please :-)
Cheers!
Great job Major!
Semper Fi'
Jarhead
Semper Fi bump.
After a few moments, an off-duty FBI agent walked up and handcuffed Mr. Laboard.
In the play area, nit wit. Those areas are supervised and generally populated by a group of parents watching on the side.
Oh, it's so good to see gentlemanly courtesy alive and thriving on Free Republic. Such a breath of fresh air from the crass ways most people nowadays belittle those whose questions and comments they dislike.
Those areas are supervised and generally populated by a group of parents watching on the side.
Yes, I realize that. It was quite courageous of the man to risk his life to catch the jewel thief, and I'm sure the store owners are grateful. All I did was momentarily question the wisdom of leaving one's young children with complete strangers over an impulse that doesn't involve saving another life; or defending one's own self, family, or property. A drug addict knocking over a jewelry store could very likely have been armed. I'm glad it all worked out well.
They are the children of a Marine, I'd worry more about the other children.
Expected Reuter's Headline
Bush's Imperialistic War keeps thousands of marines from patrolling the nation's malls.
"In the play area, nit wit..."
an apology should be your next brilliant post, that was uncalled for... lighten up
I'm willing to bet that his 9 year old knows how to take care of it's self and it's sibling.
The Marine did good but a 9 year old can't stop a grown man that grabs a 2 year old and runs out the door. Looking back he might feel the same. Sad, that we have to worry about stuff like that now days.
"Clearly, this kind of thing can't be allowed. When Hillary gets in she should disband the Marines."
1. You forgot the /sarcasm tag.
2. Over my dead body
That would be Ooh-Rah.
re: your post #26: very nicely put. Leading by example.
O come on now, you should lighten up.
I second cobra's comment, about the children.
However, you are completely right about volunteer tackling of a criminal. It was only a jewel and not worth a Marine's life. People have been killed to stop the theft of a few cans of soda or something like that.
Unfortunately, someone can lose his child or children in a few moments at a mall. You are right about that. I was kidding you. My apologies.
Semper Fi. I love the Marines, but they should tackle the Mooselimbs instead.
Very gladly accepted! Thank you.
Semper Fi. I love the Marines, but they should tackle the Mooselimbs instead.
Right on!
... Maj. McInnis "hurdled the row of seats and hit the ground at an all out sprint behind the thief ... He was through the doors in hot pursuit before anyone else knew what was happening."
Jack Bauer Deux.
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