Would-Be Cop-Killer Stopped by Good Man With Gun

SPRINGVILLE, UT — A man with a concealed carry permit was able to save the life of a police officer ambushed by a man who was raiding a donation near the side of the road, reports KSTU.

The man not only stopped the assault, but he ended the engagement without a single shot needing to be fired.

As KSTU reports:

Just before 2 p.m., an officer spotted a pair of feet dangling from a Tabitha’s Way donation bin along Main Street in Springville. He pulled over and asked the person to get out of the bin. That person was Paul Douglas Anderson. Anderson eventually got out of the bin, leaving clothes and shoes on the ground, but he kept his hands in his pockets.

Springville Police said that officer asked Anderson multiple times to remove his hands from his pockets, for fear he had a weapon. When Anderson finally removed his hands, he used them to punch the officer in the face… Derek Meyer said he was driving north on Main Street when he spotted the police lights. He said when he looked over he saw Anderson punching the police officer.

Surprised at what he was seeing, Meyer said he made a U-turn and pulled up behind the police car, intending to help… “I carry a gun to protect me and those around me, but primarily I carry a gun to protect my family first and foremost,” Meyer said. “Outside of that, if I were to use my gun to protect anyone it would be law enforcement or military personnel.”

He told Fox 13 he got out of his car, drew his weapon and pointed it at Anderson, yelling at him to get off the officer and stop assaulting him.

Meyer said when Anderson saw the gun, he stopped and ran off.

Funnily enough, KSTU headlined the news story “Good Samaritan with concealed firearm comes to rescue of Utah police officer during assault” which is about as close as we’ll get to “good guy with gun saves the day” in a mainstream media source.

You gotta appreciate the little things.

If Meyer hadn’t made the call he did to help that officer, he may well not have come home to his family and friends that day.

Law enforcement is here to help us. It’s only right that when we can and when they need it, we return the favor.

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