Officer Survives Teen with Gun

**Cidp24** · 11-04-07, 02:08 PM

KOB.com

Posted at: 11/04/2007 08:40:47 AM
Updated at: 11/04/2007 09:21:54 AM
By: Gadi Schwartz, Eyewitness News 4, Matthew Kappus, KOB.com

http://kob.com/article/stories/S246056.shtml?cat=500 <-- Newscast Video

Officer survives bout with gun-wielding teen Albuquerque police say they train day in and day out for the moment when a suspect will pull a gun on them. That is exactly what happened Saturday when officer Mike Meisinger approached a teenager thought to have been involved with a burglary.
Meisinger approached the suspect, 19-year-old Ryan Vargas, near a school. The officer said Vargas matched the description of a burglary suspect and was acting suspiciously.
The officer said the teenager took off running when he was approached.
Chasing the suspect, Meisinger said the situation took a drastic turn when Vargas pulled a 9 millimeter Smith and Wesson handgun on him.
"As he was running, he turned around and looked at me and pulled the gun from the pocket of his hoody sweatshirt," Meisinger said.
Meisinger was able to jump on Vargas and cuff the suspect instead of shooting him.
Upon arrest, police say they found a 1-pound bag of marijuana and the gun pointed at Officer Meisinger. The weapon contained hollow-point bullets.
Meisinger's boss said he could hardly believe what happened.
"It was a sense of relief that my officer is going home and the bad guy is going to jail," Capt. Conrad Candelaria said.
Meisinger said he looked forward to returning home and seeing his family again.
"Today when I go home, I'll just be happy about it," he said. "I'm going to kiss my fiance and call it a good day."
Vargas, on the other hand, will be going to jail. While police say he had nothing to do with the burglary, he faces other charges related to Saturday's chase.

**HotTamale** · 11-04-07, 02:12 PM

How close was he to be able to tackle the suspect.....I probably would have ended up shooting the indiviual, but I guess the academy will train me not do act on those urges so quickly.

**BigDawg** · 11-04-07, 02:46 PM

I get so sick of the news calling 18 and 19 year olds as teenagers. Its nothing more than sensationism (?) to make a buck.

Other than that good job on the officers side.

**Doc_Holliday** · 11-04-07, 02:47 PM

Agreed. Hell I will go one step further, you want to pull a gun on one of the heros with a badge, I dont care if you are 19 or 14, pull a gun get carried out as an "adult"

**Ducky** · 11-04-07, 06:35 PM

I'm going to assume the officer gave the interview after changing his shorts. And damn, a full POUND of pot, near a school. Gee, think he was in possession with intent to distribute??

**JLK** · 11-04-07, 07:20 PM

personal use.

good job on following rule #1.

**jmur5074** · 11-04-07, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by JLK

personal use.

It always is.

Kudo's to the officer.

That 19 yr old ADULT is lucky he didn't end up a few grains heavier.

**armsmaster270** · 11-04-07, 08:51 PM

I wouldnt play cuff the dummy with him.

**Ender** · 11-04-07, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by BigDawg

I get so sick of the news calling 18 and 19 year olds as teenagers. Its nothing more than sensationism (?) to make a buck.

Other than that good job on the officers side.

agreed.

that, and, "the weapon was loaded with 'cop killer exploding dummy round hollow points that will take out an entire city block' bullets in the clip."

glad the Officer is okay

**Ender** · 11-04-07, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by jmur5074

That 19 yr old ADULT is lucky he didn't end up a few grains heavier.

the 19 year old ADULT is lucky, but society as a whole is not

people don't seem to understand that bullets fired by a 9 year old, 15 year old, or 50 year old can all kill the same. i get sick of this "he was just a kid!" shit.

**gozling** · 11-04-07, 11:11 PM

i am happy he is going home

Badge212 · 11-04-07, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by HotTamale

How close was he to be able to tackle the suspect.....I probably would have ended up shooting the indiviual, but I guess the academy will train me not do act on those urges so quickly.

Well it's more or less a matter of the parameters of the situation. I mean, if you can effectively and safely neutralize the threat without resorting to lethal force, then by all means, pursue that route. It's better the suspect stand before a judge than before the medical examiner.

**Ender** · 11-04-07, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Badge212

It's better the suspect stand before a judge than before the medical examiner.

the suspect will stand before the judge more often than not, its just a matter of when, imo.

its better the suspect stand before the judge than the ME as long as the cop can safely take them into custody, is my motto

Badge212 · 11-05-07, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by Ender

the suspect will stand before the judge more often than not, its just a matter of when, imo.

its better the suspect stand before the judge than the ME as long as the cop can safely take them into custody, is my motto

Cheers to that.

**Twan007** · 11-05-07, 12:38 AM

Originally Posted by Ender

the suspect will stand before the judge more often than not, its just a matter of when, imo.

and depends on which "Judge" you're referring to =)

great job by the officer, excellent job following rule #1

**Ender** · 11-05-07, 03:21 AM

Originally Posted by Twan007

and depends on which "Judge" you're referring to =)

i guess that goes both ways.

the "law" judge...statistics dictate that he'll stand before him/her. and be judged by society's law.

the real judge....he will stand before God and be sent to hell. another victory for us

**Trojan 42** · 11-05-07, 03:38 AM

Originally Posted by Ender

that, and, "the weapon was loaded with 'cop killer exploding dummy round hollow points that will take out an entire city block' bullets in the clip."

What? Are you a journalist? The article just said ''hollow points''.

**abelism** · 11-05-07, 04:46 AM

Dude would've been a smokin hole......my philosophy is, you pull a gun on a cop you must wan to die so why not grant you your wish. Plus I get 6 weeks off.

**Trojan 42** · 11-05-07, 05:08 AM

Originally Posted by abelism

Plus I get 6 weeks off.

And the rest of your life thinking about it.

**abelism** · 11-05-07, 05:30 AM

While I know I would never forget shooting someone I would never regret it because I didn't let a perp with a gun stop me form going home to my family.