Kelso teen held in theft, knife attack on Sears security guard

[UtahProtectionForce]

A Kelso teen was arrested Sunday afternoon after allegedly attempting to stab a security guard at Sears in the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso.

According to Kelso Police Sgt. Darr Kirk, officers responded just before noon Sunday to a weapons complaint at Sears. Security Officer Terry Cook told police that he had caught the 17-year-old Kelso boy attempting to conceal a pair of pants and a package of socks while inside the store. The retail value of the items is about $30.

According to the police report, Cook detained the youth and escorted him to the store's office. The boy asked to use the restroom. When he came out, he started running toward the west exit of the store.

Cook told police he chased the youth and attempted to detain him between the interior and exterior doors. A man who was shopping in Sears rushed to assist the security officer. Although he was kicked in the chest several times by the boy, the man helped Cook force the boy to the ground.

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According to Kirk, the teen struggled to his feet and pulled a folding blade "tactical knife" from his pocket, unfolded the blade and twice attempted to stab Cook in the leg.

The boy broke free and another customer who was entering the store from outside tried to close the door and pin the youth, but he pointed the knife at the man as if to lash out at him, according to witnesses' statements. The boy got through the door and fled toward Grade Street.

Kelso police arrived and witnesses directed Kelso officers to a Dumpster behind the Three Rivers Cinema. An officer kicked open the top and yelled, "Police, stand up and show me your hands." A male matching the description of the suspect stood up inside the Dumpster. According to the police report, witnesses identified the boy as the person involved in the assault. A silver knife with a stainless steel folding blade was also found in the Dumpster.

The Kelso teen was booked into the Cowlitz County Juvenile Detention Facility on suspicion of first-degree assault and first-degree robbery.


http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/06/...ews/news11.txt

[LPGuy]

Sears, if I understand correctly, has a "hands off" apprehension policy.

Stories like this is why I never have, and never will support such policies. They are created to make liability-scared executives sleep a little more soundly at night, but they only hinder and place the safety of the loss prevention officer at risk.

A suspect, once in custody, should be immediately patted down for weapons.

[N. A. Corbier]

Especially since this could of been dealt with. What if the security officer, since this was a deadly force situation, responded in kind with a makeshift weapon such as a blunt object? Or if one of the patrons who assisted drew a firearm and shot the kid?

Or if one of the patrons, maybe a police officer or a PI or a CCW holder, were armed and saw the deadly threat, then engaged?

[Charger]

WOW... This was right here in town, and this is the first I heard of it! Shows what happens when you work M-F, eh?

I drive through there every day while working... Kinda funny how close to home things can be, eh? Just shows that we should never be letting our guard down for anything...

[Investigation]

Sears, if I understand correctly, has a "hands off" apprehension policy..

Not when I worked there, but that was several years ago. We used to chase SL off property as well. Things might have changed over the years.

A suspect, once in custody, should be immediately patted down for weapons.

Yes. What were they thinking? And, we never let anyone use the restroom till the police arrived (if they were called at all).

[LPGuy]

Not when I worked there, but that was several years ago. We used to chase SL off property as well. Things might have changed over the years.

I've heard over the last couple of years about such a "hands off" policy at Sears. However, it may be a regional policy or even just a store-by-store decision. The Sears next door to the department store where I worked chased a shoplifter through our store and through our parking lot. I caught up to them outside where they had him pinned on the ground. No one seemed to have any handcuffs so I offered them mine. That was about a year ago, so that store didn't seem to have such a policy, at least...

And, we never let anyone use the restroom till the police arrived (if they were called at all).

Yep, I never fell for the ol' bathroom trick. If they wanted to use the restroom they could wait several minutes until the police arrived. When the police arrived, they always told them to wait until they got to jail.