Pepper Spray Plus Quick Thinking Cornered Unruly Guest

Pepper spray proved its worth once again when a couple of women unwilling to be victimized dealt with a houseguest who broke their rules.

One morning last week two Hayward, California women entertained a guest. When he left they discovered that the young man did not leave empty-handed. He had de-camped with all their cash.

The ladies caught Joseph Gary, twenty-three year old resident of San Francisco, as he was climbing out an apartment window. They tried to restrain him, but he managed to get free. As he ran to a nearby discount store, the 99 Cent Store, the women, who are in their twenties and remain unidentified, chased him all the way.

They caught up with Gary inside the store where they cornered him and blasted him with pepper spray. Once Gary was subdued, the local authorities were called. The women held him until deputies arrived to make the arrest. As if he weren’t in enough trouble, the suspect also provided false identification to the police, thus adding to charges of petty theft and battery.

Lieutenant Bernie Licata said, “[The pepper spray] was effective. It provided the advantage needed to give the women the leverage they needed to get him under control and restrain him until authorities could take over.

While the store was not damaged, overspray did affect several other patrons in the store. They were all treated by the Hayward Fire Department before being released.

Hot Tip: When using pepper spray, aim carefully, stay upwind, and confine the chemical to target area as much as possible.