Ben Anderson is a man who knows when to take action. He saw a fellow man in need, made a quick and accurate assessment, and didn’t hesitate to act.
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May 7, 2014 Spokane, Washington
Scanning through my Google Plus circle I noticed a post by Ben. After reading about his experience I felt compelled to interview him for The Good Men Project. His direct action represents a type of social awareness and responsibility that we all should consider.
Can you briefly describe what happened?
I was driving down the street at around 9 p.m. when I noticed two men running down the street in the opposite direction from me. At first I thought they were just joggers, but as I got closer I could see the one behind was wearing a polo shirt tucked into khaki pants, unusual attire for exercise, and he was yelling “help me, he stole from me” as I drove by. I turned around at the next intersection and drove back, jumped out of the car and left it running in the street while I confronted both men on the sidewalk. The man in the polo shirt explained that he worked for a nearby restaurant, and that the man he was chasing had left without paying his bill.
At this point I attempted to call 9-1-1, but I had left my phone in my car and my bluetooth headset had disconnected. The two men continued down an alley and at this time I told the man being chased that he needed to stop and wait for the police. He then took off his backpack and began to try to access its contents, but while doing so he tripped backwards and his backpack fell on the ground. A crowbar fell from his backpack and at this time the restaurant employee and I took the opportunity to restrain the man. I took a pair of handcuffs from my pocket and told the man he was under arrest. After a brief struggle I was able to place him in handcuffs behind his back and lying on his stomach.
Don’t like ads? Become a supporter and enjoy The Good Men Project ad freeA resident of one of the houses along the alley came out and asked what was happening, ”and I told him to call 9-1-1 right away. I instructed the restaurant employee to hold onto the handcuffs while I retrieved my vehicle and pulled it into the alley. At this time I also retrieved my cell phone and placed my own call to 9-1-1. Within minutes multiple Spokane Police Department units arrived on scene, placed the man in their own handcuffs and I recovered mine. They took our statements and then allowed us to leave.
A week later when speaking with the restaurant employee, I found out the man we had detained was wanted on multiple warrants from Tacoma.
Why did you choose to act?
When I saw the men running and heard “help me, he stole from me” I had already decided to get involved. I decided a long time ago that if someone needs my help and I can help, I will. This was one such situation and I wasn’t just going to drive by.
As far as the decision to make the arrest, I initially decided to arrest the man when I heard the restaurant employee’s story and found it much more plausible than the suspect’s story. This decision was cemented when the suspect reached into his backpack for something, and when it was revealed that he was reaching for a crowbar, I felt that for my own safety I had no choice.
Did you fear for your safety?
I never felt very afraid for my safety initially because I knew I had help (the restaurant employee) and I also had other options to protect myself if needed. When I saw the suspect reaching into his backpack, I did become afraid, but this didn’t deter me. It only made me more determined to place the suspect under arrest. When the crowbar fell out of his backpack, I felt very scared, but at that point I felt I had no choice but to restrain the suspect in the interest of everyone’s safety.
Would you advise other men to stand up and take this kind of action?
I definitely think that anyone who sees someone in trouble should stop and help if they can. Too many people think that things are “not their problem” or that the “authorities” will handle it. In my case, law enforcement was nowhere to be seen and didn’t even know about what was going on until the person who lived nearby called 9-1-1 at my request. I could have just called 9-1-1 and made a report without stopping, but considering that the suspect was armed with a crowbar and willing to use it when faced with two people, who knows what he would have done if I hadn’t been there.
What kind of response did you receive from people about this event?
My friends and family were very impressed by what had happened, and I received many congratulations. The restaurant employee invited me to his restaurant and gave my girlfriend and me both free meals and desserts. I felt very humbled and honored by all of this, but I would much rather have my actions be considered normal. I’m not a proponent of vigilantism or “Robin Hooding,” but standing up and helping your fellow man in need is something everyone should be willing to do.
One last question: Why were you carrying handcuffs, is this part of your normal “to go” pack?
I always carry handcuffs everywhere I go. I have worked in the security field for a while, so I already had handcuffs because of this. I like to be prepared for anything, so I started carrying them a long time ago. I know it’s not something most people would carry with them, but in their case some self-defense classes would teach them simple submission techniques you could use to restrain someone for a time if it’s really necessary. Where I live, the police department teaches self-defense classes for free.
Crime is not the only injustice that we can stand up to and take action to stop. When we make the effort to be observant and compassionate, we can make our communities better places one action at a time. Notice the situations around you, and step up if the moment calls for action.
Thanks for sharing …. one of many stories of men who put their life in danger.