A man broke into a Washington state airport for unknown reasons, but he did try to steal a box of peppermint patties and caused quite a bit of damage.
The suspect, 25-year-old Christopher Wirshup, broke through the window of the main office at Columbia Gorge Airport around 2am on Friday and entered the building. While one person called 911 after hearing the glass break, another person in the area went to investigate the noise.
That person, Darren Lacock, came upon Wirshup as he was stuffing his pockets with candy from the office. Wirshup was so startled after he saw Lacock with a drawn firearm that he threw the peppermint patties up in the air and laid down on the floor in compliance.
“I just started praying to God that he wouldn’t do anything stupid that would force me into having to make that decision” to fire his weapon, Lacock told the Chronicle.
The photo above was taken by the person who dialed 911, and clearly shows Wirshup on the ground with Lacock’s firearm trained on him.
Lacock said that Wirshup made at least two moves that were indications he was thinking of trying to escape. If he had, the outcome could have been much different.
“I was keeping enough distance between me and him so I could react.”
At one point, Lacock could see the man was again thinking of making a move. “He started shaking really bad and he pulled his arms and legs in close to his body and I looked at him and said, ‘You’re about to make a bad choice. I need you to spread your arms and legs out.”
When the Deputy arrived, Lacock began to withdraw his firearm that was pointed at Wirshup. “No, no, no. Keep on pointing it”, the Deputy said as he began to search Wirshup.
Lacock has his concealed carry permit in both Washington State and Oregon, and he says he regularly carries his firearm.
“I’m a personal believer in being prepared.”
It seems that breaking into the airport office for some candy wasn’t the smartest decision this man ever made. It was noted that Wirshup has a history of run-ins with the law, including an arrest for threatening to shoot someone. Wirshup was arrested on charges of second-degree burglary, third-degree attempted theft and second-degree malicious mischief.
