Man Attempts to Carjack Dallas Police Sergeant - While in Full Uniform in His Squad Car. Guess Who Won.

[TXCharlie]

Dallas officer faces down suspect who demanded gun | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News

Dallas officer faces down suspect who demanded gun

12:00 AM CST on Tuesday, February 3, 2009
By SCOTT GOLDSTEIN / The Dallas Morning News
sgoldstein@dallasnews.com

Yanking open the passenger door of a marked Dallas police squad car, an unarmed 18-year-old man on a carjacking spree ordered the veteran sergeant inside to hand over the keys and his gun, police said.

"This is the day I die," John Lewis Johnson told Sgt. Charles Young, according to police documents. "Give me your keys."

Young, 49, did not comply with the demands. He instead chased down and arrested the man Saturday afternoon in West Dallas, police said.

Johnson of Dallas faces four counts of robbery and one count of retaliation. He was being held Monday at the Dallas County Jail on $25,000 bond.

The events that led to his arrest began in the 5500 block of Bernal Drive, near Loop 12, where Johnson is suspected of trying to carjack a 28-year-old woman, according to police documents.

The woman fought him off, but police said the crime spree continued. Johnson is accused of attempting to carjack two other people and trying to steal a car from a nearby dealership, police said.

Someone called 911, and Young was directed to the 2800 block of Iroquois Drive, where the confrontation with Johnson unfolded.

After Johnson opened the police car door, the 29-year veteran officer grabbed his right arm to keep him from getting the keys, according to police documents. Young turned off the car and got out to arrest Johnson, who put up his fists and repeated, "This is the day I die."

Johnson ran, and Young gave chase, arresting him nearby.

The officer declined to be interviewed Monday, but his boss praised him.

"Needless to say, you just don't find this every day where a suspect comes up to an officer in a marked squad car and says, 'Give me your keys, give me your car, give me your gun,' " said Deputy Chief Rick Watson, commander of the southwest patrol division.

"When you look at him trying to take three different cars from three different citizens – basically trying to fight them to get their cars – that's a good arrest."

[Wolven]

Victim fail.

Apparently the young man wasnt using the ole noggin in the whole car jacking spree....It looks like he failed more than once. LOL A marked unit? What a tool. Too much meth. lol

[Cidp24]

Even though obviously stupid, high, or just plain nuts you have to give him this- he has a big set of brass ones.
Good job for the officer.

[Captain America]

Felony stupid.

[213th]

That's awesome! Even better that the 18y/o couldn't out run someone near 50 My old sgt used to say age and treachery will overcome youth and enthusiasm every time or something like that

[Captain America]

That's awesome! Even better that the 18y/o couldn't out run someone near 50 My old sgt used to say age and treachery will overcome youth and enthusiasm every time or something like that

Experience and treachery , 213th.

[Spartan Cops]

I have to admit. When I go through scenarios in my mind, getting carjacked in a marked squad was never one of them.

As a sidenote, have you ever tried drawing your gun while seatbelted in your squad? An officer at my department had to shoot someone who wanted to commit suicide by cop. The suspect did a 911 hang up in the middle of the night. When the officer was rolling slowly down the street blacked out in his squad the suspect dashed out from a hiding place, opened the squad door and threatened the officer with a knife. Officer drew his gun, shot him once center mass, and then accelerated away all while seatbelted.

[IndianaFuzz]

As a sidenote, have you ever tried drawing your gun while seatbelted in your squad? An officer at my department had to shoot someone who wanted to commit suicide by cop. The suspect did a 911 hang up in the middle of the night. When the officer was rolling slowly down the street blacked out in his squad the suspect dashed out from a hiding place, opened the squad door and threatened the officer with a knife. Officer drew his gun, shot him once center mass, and then accelerated away all while seatbelted.

If that happened on my department, they'd write up the officer for shooting from a moving police vehicle.

[luckyme]

If that happened on my department, they'd write up the officer for shooting from a moving police vehicle.

+2. Same here.

I hate to second guess, since it turned out good, but I would think you'd pull off first. Especially if the car is already in drive.

[armsmaster270]

Can you say DUHHHH

[Jenna]

[pgg]

Thats polluting the enviroment. I'm shocked jenna

[CTR man]

This has got to be one of the worst cases of stupidity from a suspect that I have heard of in quite a while.

The only question I have is this. Why was the officer driving the vehicle with the doors unlocked? Though it may have only slowed the twerp down and not allowed him access to an opened car, it could have allowed the officer more time to take evasive action. Most if not all of today's cars allow the inside door release to override the locking mechanism if needed for the vehicle operator to get out quickly, but the door would still be locked from the outside thus preventing normal access. Seems that I remember that I was always cautioned to lock my doors once in the car and driving so that this kind of problem can be prevented.

Though, who in their right mind would even attempt to carjack a marked unit with a uniformed driver. Someone needs to be locked up in a padded room for a while. Did he actually think that the officer would comply with his desires?

[Jenna]

Thats polluting the enviroment. I'm shocked jenna

Blame the unloader of Fail, not the one who showed you the picture!

[lewisipso]

After Johnson opened the police car door, the 29-year veteran officer grabbed his right arm to keep him from getting the keys, according to police documents. Recorded dispatch shows that the veteran then closed the door and radioed that he would be en route to the jail with one prisoner.

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