Good rainy Monday evening to all. Where to begin...
So I am driving home from work down Hwy 28 when I notice a slight backup ahead just past Parkway Products near Paesanos. It looks as if a car has stalled in the right lane directly in front of Plumb Perfect's shop. As I go around to pass, it looks as if the driver is slumped over the wheel. I watch in my mirror to see traffic almost rear-ending the guy. I turned around in CVS's driveway and flew back up there, pulling down the side street and putting on my flashers. Nobody else has stopped to check and see what is going on. I go to the drivers side and beat on the glass, yelling at the man in the car. He is well dressed, around 40-50, and thankfully still breathing. No response though and the doors are locked. Just then a pickup pulls over in the median and a gentleman jumps out. He is off duty Highway Patrol. I tell him I am getting no response and for him to try while I call 911. After giving the specifics to the dispatcher, we both attempt to awaken the man or at least elicit a response. I head to my truck to get a tire tool so we can pry open the door when a first responder pulls up. He has a small tool and the HP guy busts the back driver side window out. The HP guys also notices the car guy reaches up and cuts the car off. A little suspicious now, we look through a bag in the back seat for a name or perhaps any medical alert items. We find a name and it matches the owners name called back for the tag. Yelling his name now. Still no response.
OMH medics arrive and the initial thought is Diabetic problem. As time wears on, it becomes more and more evident that this may not be the case. As the medics try and get the guy out of the car, the first responder says we should try and stop the passing lane of traffic because he might fight the responders. Sure enough, as soon as they try to get him out to put him on the stretcher, mister man goes UFC on the medics. He squirms, kicks, swings as they try and get him on the stretcher, all this and eyes are still closed and not a sound uttered. The medics see now that the guy is probably either high or just being an ass. They try and tell him if he keeps struggling that he may be tasered. The Deputy nearby confirms if he continues and strikes another, that will be considered an assault and he will be tasered and handcuffed. No response from Sugar Ray as he continues to struggle. Finally, the exasperated medic calls for a Reeves Sleeve. Now this Reeves fellow either designed this apparatus or was the first stubborn SOB to require it. It is like a stretcher board with flaps. Everyone grabs an arm or leg and they get him on this board and over come the flaps, strapping him down like shrink wrap onto the board. While I suppose this is utilized more to keep the severely injured stable and immobile, it works like a charm here, too. Since nobody has a broom on their truck or car, another deputy and I try and clear the glass off the road with our feet. As I leave they are searching the car for drugs and other evidence that might explain why Johnny Dumbass was sitting in the road taking a siesta.
My whole point of this ramble is to give Kudos to the medics, responders, and law enforcement. When these people receive a call, they really have no idea what to expect! I have heard stories that would curl your hair but today I witnessed it first hand!!
Also a round of Kudos goes out the employees of the diner in Gaffney that fought back. After being robbed for the second time in just a week or so, the employees opened fire on the robbers as they left, hitting all three and killing one. The family of the suspect who was killed is demanding "justice" and that the employees should be charged with murder. Solicitor Trey Gowdy is standing firm saying that the employees were well within their rights to defend themselves. Hats off to ya' Trey! To the dead suspect's family, I am sorry for your loss. I am also sorry that your 16 year old son put himself in that position by choosing to be a thug and commit an armed robbery. BUT! If you think that your dead son deserves some sort of justice please remember this, HE put himself in that position. Good student. Great Athlete. Doesn't matter when his Dumb ass decided to hang with some thugs and commit a crime. How did those employees know whether or not the thugs weren't going to return with a bigger gun and mow them down? They defended themselves because their lives were threatened. Again, to the parents of the dead suspect, I am sorry but perhaps you should look inward for that justice and see what you could have done different to have prevented your son from heading down this road.
Peace.
Amen............
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