Citizen mistakes judo class for hostage situation and calls 911....hilarity ensues

[Terminator]

LIMA, Ohio (AP) - Police responding to a caller who mistook a judo class training exercise for a hostage situation at a gymnasium stopped a passing car and pulled their guns on the driver, her four children, her fiance and a family friend.

The telephone caller saw someone wearing a ski mask enter the class inside the Young Men's Chrisitan Association on Oct. 11 with a toy gun and order everyone down on the floor, police Maj. James Thorburn said Wednesday.

The caller told police the gunman fled in a car with the same description and license plate number as one driven by Petrona Ashman as she left her job at the YMCA that day.

Police pulled the car over about a block from the YMCA. Ashman, 33, was in the vehicle with her two-year-old twins, nine-year-old daughter and five-year-old son, her fiance and a family friend. They were ordered out of the vehicle at gunpoint, and some police officers used profanity, she said.

No one in the car was part of the class, and Thorburn said he doesn't know why the caller thought the gunman got in that vehicle.

Ashman has filed a complaint with the police. The department will investigate, but Thorburn said the officers followed standard procedures in stopping someone suspected of a felony.

Officers took the five-year-old and nine-year-old out of the vehicle because they did not know if they were safe or if they had been kidnapped by the gunman, Thorburn said.

Lima is 112 kilometres southwest of Toledo.

[BigDawg]

Instead of filing a complaint with the police why doesn't she sue the guy who called and set everything into motion to begin with???

[conalabu]

Police have deeper pockets and they were available.

[Jenna]

Gee, how do you mistake a judo class for a hostage situation? Don't most hostage-takers use guns rather than fancy judo moves to subdue their hostages? The complainant clearly has not watched enough TV.

[gozling]

"and some police officers used profanity"

no really??????

OMG

lol

[TXCharlie]

Police have deeper pockets and they were available.

Yep!!!

This almost reminds me of the incident my CJ professor was involved in (he was and still is a local Sheriff):

When he was young & inexperienced, he was in plain clothes and they got a burglary call at a closed store in a strip shopping center he was driving by, so he wheels in, draws his shotgun, and investigates why the front door is wide open.

Well, just a couple of doors down, a martial arts class was letting out just in time to see him going in with his shotgun, so they all pile in behind him thinking that they were going to do some major ass-kicking. But then his back-up arrived, saw these ninjas going in, and immediately thought that they were the burglars, and they damn well nearly all got shot when his backup deputies hollered out "Down on the Ground" to the ninjas

Then the owner came up behind him suddenly and unannounced, thus also nearly getting himself shot - Forgot the alarm code

He said that's the last time he answered a call like that in plain clothes, and before his backup arrived

[TheOldRhino]

Instead of filing a complaint with the police why doesn't she sue the guy who called and set everything into motion to begin with???

Yep, it's called "deeper" pockets. They're going to start with the officer, but when they realize they aren't going to get much money then they move on to the agency who provided that officer's training or procedure, then the state for mandating that training, etc, etc.

I'm all for suing if you've been wronged (I'm currently in litigation myself), but no one was hurt the cops were doing what they are paid to do under those circumstances. i wish the dirtbag "victim" would just accept an apology and move on with her life.

But, I guess she's got bills to pay- so does her ambulance-chasing lawyer.

[Jenna]

When he was young & inexperienced, he was in plain clothes and they got a burglary call at a closed store in a strip shopping center he was driving by, so he wheels in, draws his shotgun, and investigates why the front door is wide open.

Well, just a couple of doors down, a martial arts class was letting out just in time to see him going in with his shotgun, so they all pile in behind him thinking that they were going to do some major ass-kicking. But then his back-up arrived, saw these ninjas going in, and immediately thought that they were the burglars, and they damn well nearly all got shot when his backup deputies hollered out "Down on the Ground" to the ninjas

Then the owner came up behind him suddenly and unannounced, thus also nearly getting himself shot - Forgot the alarm code

Sounds like a comedy of errors worthy of Shakespeare!

[Hannibal]

I've been the subject of a felony stop before. It isn't fun, but I am OK. I survived the encounter and wasn't traumatized by the experience. Come to think of it, the officer used profanity too (OMG!).

I made sure to ID myself and let him know I was armed. I complied 100% with the officer's orders, was cuffed and all. Before you know it, I was uncuffed and on my way. It took about ten minutes out of my day, but I wasn't upset about it. The officer and his back up realized it wasn't me they were looking for (robbery suspect, w/m in a similar vehicle and direction of travel).

After the facts were straightened out, the Sgt on scene apologized. I simply said no problem; you guys have a job to do. We shook hands, I got my gun back and I was on my way.

His profanity was when I told him I was a LEO and armed. He said, "OK, just don't fucking move." My response, Yes, sir. It was obvious that the officer was excited and it was understandably so. Robbery suspect matching my description and I have a gun, claiming to be a LEO. I'd be excited too. Big frickin deal he dropped an F-bomb or two.

I wish these people would quit crying about being stopped and checked out in cases like this. What if they were kidnapped at gunpoint? I bet they'd be happy to see the officers then. I wasn’t there, but I would bet these ass clowns were arguing or yelling at the officers instead of complying and letting the officers sort the shit out.

[10-42Adam]

I wish these people would quit crying about being stopped and checked out in cases like this. What if they were kidnapped at gunpoint? I bet they'd be happy to see the officers then. I wasn’t there, but I would bet these ass clowns were arguing or yelling at the officers instead of complying and letting the officers sort the shit out.

Exactly.

It think it's pathetic that they're planning on sueing. First people complain that there are never any Officers around when they need them, then when they actually do a good job with the information they've been given they get sued for it?! Bullshit. I don't give a shit if they used profanity and upset you or your kids, grow some balls and move on in life. It wasn't even the Police that made the mistake, it was the RP. Makes no sense...

[OFK]

Police have deeper pockets and they were available.

Yeah and then one day, when they need the po po they can look back on this and then decide whether or not they should respond. I am sick and tired people feeling "entitled" to something for every action that is taken.

[Willowdared]

I was working the radio one night when an "armed suspicious" call came in - in a part of town where it's credible.

The "RP" was an off-duty security guard.

When contact was made, the subject was uncoop, and there was a little use of force. The RP was standing by to confirm identity, but when it became clear the man wasn't carrying, he denied mentioning a gun at all.

The deputy requested confirmation from the calltaker, and on review of playback, the RP was on tape saying there was indeed a gun.

[121Traffic]

Gee, how do you mistake a judo class for a hostage situation? Don't most hostage-takers use guns rather than fancy judo moves to subdue their hostages? The complainant clearly has not watched enough TV.

The telephone caller saw someone wearing a ski mask enter the class inside the Young Men's Chrisitan Association on Oct. 11 with a toy gun and order everyone down on the floor, police Maj. James Thorburn said Wednesday.

The caller told police the gunman fled in a car with the same description and license plate number as one driven by Petrona Ashman as she left her job at the YMCA that day.

Hence the call and felony stop scenario.

[Piggybank Cop]

Fine.
Just tell her that her name phone number address and license have all been put on the do not respond list for 911; which includes Fire and EMT.
Wouldn’t want to upset her or pull ourselves in that position again.
Thank you and have a nice day.



I hate scumbag lawyers.