Posted on 08/21/2006 7:18:41 AM PDT by joshhiggins
60-year-old Davenport man (former Marine) beats away would-be teen robber (who was using a fake gun)
DAVENPORT (AP) --- A 60-year-old Davenport pawn shop owner fought off a would be robber less than half his age by beating him up, police said.
Preston Hughes is a former Marine and the owner of P J's Pawn Shop.
Around 11 in the morning Saturday, police said, Michael Anthony Posten, 18, walked into Hughes shop wearing a hooded sweat shirt, gloves and a white fabric over his face with the eyes and mouth cut out. He was also allegedly carrying a hand gun.
Police said Posten demanded cash from the register, but Hughes wasn't fooled.
"This guy's been coming in here for about the last three weeks," Hughes said. "He's been hanging around so much it was making me suspicious."
"I knew it was him," Hughes said. "He pointed a gun at me, although I've learned it wasn't a real gun. But I didn't know that at first. I told him, Michael, I know it's you.'
"But he said, I want the money,"' Hughes said. "I asked him if he just wanted change or what, and he told me to stop screwing around or I'll shoot ya.' "
Hughes said he threw the money on the counter, but then Posten told him to lock the front door. Hughes said Posten then began pushing him to the back room.
"I stopped about halfway to the back and asked him if this was far enough," Hughes said. "He told me that, If you're going to keep screwing with me I'm going to shoot ya.' "
Hughes said he was then struck in the back of the head with the gun.
"That made me mad," Hughes said. "I pulled his mask off with my left hand and gouged him in the face with the keys I had in my right hand."
Hughes then took the gun away from the teen and beat him up.
"I told him, you're not going to try and rob me and think I'm gonna play a game,"' Hughes said. "You just get tired of some of this stuff," he added.
He said that Posten kept telling him he needed the money.
"I told him to get a job," he said.
Both Posten and Hughes were taken to Genesis Medical Center for treatment of injuries.
Posten is charged with robbery first-degree and was being held Saturday night in the Scott County Jail on $32,500 bond.
What a great story:
"I need money"
"Get a job"
Jjaks: Give me the money in the till!!
Gus: Jjaks, is that you??
Jjaks: #$%^!!!
Beat him up? Should have finished him off. Some damned liberal judge will just set him loose, and next time the gun will be real!
What a great American.
A snappy comeback.
"Get a job"
A concept lost on far too many.....
Hughes is my Hero of the Week! Thanks for posting this great story.
This world would be a better place if crooks were routinely beaten within an inch of their lives by their intended victims, or better yet, shot dead like dogs.
LOL
I love these stories. Couple of punks here in town tried to rob an old duffer (guy was 80+) . They had grabbed him and he talked his way loose -- he kicked one kids butt and after grabbing a hiddent weapon, shot another...
The local TV Babe asked if he "was terrified" at the event. His answer - "Lady, I was a RANGER in the war (WWII) -- all I wanted to do was kick thier ass"
Too funny to see the TV Babes' shocked expression.
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