Deseret News | 2 civilians help Salt Lake officer net violently struggling man

Reader comments
2 civilians help Salt Lake officer net violently struggling man

rick | 6:56 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Thanks fellas - You might have literally saved that officer. Being retired LE from So. Cal., I can tell you it can be very hard to arrest someone one on one, if they're resisting. Couple that with trying to retain and control your service weapon, every encounter can end up being life threatening. If you are on the losing end of a physical altercation, and lose control of your service weapon - you are now at his mercy.

People like to think cops are all like Bruce Willis or Sylvester Stallone in the movies. Actually we're just average people with some training and hopefully, some tactical skills. The next time you wonder why a cop seems humorless, stands at a certain angle when speaking, and doesn't want you moving around - remember he doesn't know you or what your motives are. He simply wants to protect his gun side and conduct his contact without incident. Even though you know you're unarmed and harmless, he doesn't. If you're stronger or have better fighting skills, his weapon can be used against him. Officers are killed roughly 20% of the time, with their own weapons.

mlr | 7:23 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Nice job! Great to hear of the police getting this kind of back-up!

Anonymous | 1:37 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Very nice, guys. Glad everyone made it out relatively unharmed.

Comments continue below

Cool | 5:29 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Nice job guys.

Anonymous | 8:24 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

A cop friend of mine told me that you are legally required to help a police officer if called on. I don't know if that is the case in UT.

dtm | 9:01 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Good form Mr. Menlove and Mr. Witt, good form.

blind following the ignorant | 9:13 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Well there we are again... another great example of the sheep helping the wolf. Way to go guys!

Go Citizens! | 9:23 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

That's great that they could help the cop. Isn't it everyones job to help keep this place a safer place. It's the cops job but we still can help.

A different opinion | 9:45 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Do we want to involve citizens in unruly arrests? Seems potentially dangerous for all involved to do so. I commend Menlove and Witt, but not sure the officer should have been seeking their involvement.

Rob | 9:47 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!

country boy | 9:50 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

nice to see that somepeople care about saftey in the community great job guys.

canyon rim | 10:07 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Nice Job Evan and Kyle!! I'm sure Nelson is proud of you and your family also.

Mr blind following the | 10:08 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

ignorant. You are obviously not a law abiding person, therefore you are or think like a crook.
These young men reacted like all Americans should act instead of not wantimg to get involved. If every criminal commiting a crime was mobed by the public, it would not be long before the crime rate would go way down.

BRAVO GUYS!

To: blind following the ignorant | 10:26 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Sounds like you've been on the wrong side of the law on more than one occasion for you to have that opinion of these good men. It would be nice, even if you have been in trouble with the law, for you to realize what a heroic act this was, but I realize through your blind ignorance (tainted by drugs and crime, no doubt), that you are incapable of recognizing a good act when you see one.

scared in Utah | 10:46 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

So did they taser the guy after they handcuffed him and pinned him to the ground? Isn't that what we do in Utah?

Spence | 11:27 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Outstanding! Someone was actually willing to help for a change.... Way to go SLC!

Praise | 11:32 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Having a brother that worked for SLC Police for 30 years . THanks
For helping our community thanks.

wallofvoodoo | 11:34 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Cops are afraid to Tazer people anymore because every time they do they get sued. Better to wrestle them to the ground & avoid the whole lawsuit thing.

Johnny To: A different opinion | 11:45 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Really? How pathetic! Would you just let the officer be over powered? Let the bad guy go free? With that "it's someone else's job" attitude the British would still run the place. It is all of our jobs to do what we can to take care of each other in situations like this however we may be able.

I hope you live no where near me!!!

Forget the taser... | 12:41 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

shoot the guy in the leg, that'll stop him. We've started to treat CRIMINALS way to nicely here in the U.S of A. It's starting to bug me a little bit...

SLC gal | 12:45 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Way to go guys!!!!

Nice work gentlemen! | 1:59 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Scumbags should fear the public as much as they fear the police!

CouginIdaho | 2:26 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

I appreciate the sentiment of "Forget the taser...". While not agreeing with him, I can appreciate that too many people, like the man who was arrested, have a pre-meditated certainty that no one can counter their aggression with anything other than approximately equal force. This thinking is greatly deterred by the "Make My Day" laws in certain states in the case of home invasions and the ability of citizens to use self-defense freely in others. An armed society is a polite society. Mass murderers look for victims that are unarmed and defenseless. Gang members hunt for those who they suspect will not fight back or defend themselves. Criminals are largely a cowardly lot. I offer my commendations to the two young men who helped the police officer. I wish I would have been there to help them.

Good Job Guys | 2:30 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

These two jumped in and helped when the officer needed it the most. They should be commended. With the popularity of MMA this crook was lucky these guys didn't put an arm bar on him and tap him out!

RE: scared in Utah | 2:33 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

If we're not doing it we should start. I don't have to worry about it because I'm an average citzen who realizes the police are there to protect me. It's usually the rich, or criminals themselves who don't want cops around. The rich think they're above the law and don't think rules apply to them. "What, ME, how could I be doing anything wrong, I'm rich?!"

Anonymous | 4:16 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

I know Ivaylo from when he was in school with my kids. He was a sweet great kid. I don't know what's going on with him now but I am glad the officer and boys who helped the officer weren't hurt seriously and didn't shoot or Taz Ivaylo. He must be having some psych issues or something. Good job guys!

anonymous | 5:47 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

good job boys, it's nice to see that there are still people in this world ready and willing to step up and do what is right. well done!

Caution | 2:37 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I hope the "criminal" does not return looking for payback with the helping boys.

Will the police and public be there for their defense? I hope so.

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.