“Chops” Disputes Aspiring Cop’s Civilian Arrest

by Thomas MacMillan | Apr 3, 2013 8:21 am

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Posted to: Legal Writes, Whalley

An AutoZone security guard moved closer to his dream of being a cop when he made his very first arrest—and received his first accusation of putting cuffs on the wrong guy. James (pictured), a 25-year-old security guard who declined to give his last name, last week made a “civilian detention” of 20-year-old Ankoma Wells. James said he saw Ankoma and four other guys attacking a man outside the auto parts store where he keeps watch. James held Wells for the cops, who arrested him on nine different charges, including robbery, assault, and larceny and held him on $25,000 bail. Police said James is being considered for a commendation for his role in the arrest; Wells said he got the wrong guy. He said that he saw the assault and walked the other way, then found himself in handcuffs. Besides, he claimed, he’s too fat to have committed the crime. “Knock It Off!” On Tuesday, a week after he made the arrest, James showed up for his evening shift at AutoZone in the Stop & Shop Plaza on Whalley Avenue. For about a year, James has worked from 5 to 9 p.m. there as a supervisor for Aron Security. The job is the latest of several that James has pursued to prepare himself for a career in law enforcement. He said he’s been a judicial marshal and worked security in malls, hospitals, and office buildings. He carries his own 9mm Glock on his hip, along with a baton, cuffs and OC pepper spray. “I’ve always wanted to do something with law enforcement,” James said. He said he’s looking to get into a police academy and already speaks with the clipped formality of a cop giving a report. Here’s what he said happened on March 26: Just after 9 p.m., the shop was closing up. James looked out and “noticed a scuffle” in the parking lot, not far from where his white Chevy Impala was parked. “It was a five to one ratio,” he said. “Five kids on one kid.” He saw the five guys kicking and punching. They threw a bike at the kid on the ground. He told a clerk to call the police and opened the door to shout, “Hey! Knock it off!” The five kids ran toward the corner of Whalley and Orchard streets. He saw one of the attackers, a “heavyset youth” in baggy jeans and an “orange-in-color hoodie,” head up Orchard toward Goffe Street. James ran over and checked that the victim was OK. “I’m also an EMT,” James aid. The victim told him that the muggers had taken his cell phone. James then jumped in his Impala. “I took off after the heavyset kid, who was lagging behind.” James looped around on County Street and found his target walking at the corner of Orchard and Goffe streets. “I let him know I was security,” James said. “I let him know I was making a civilian detention.” The heavyset guy didn’t resist, but he did argue with James, who put him him handcuffs. The man questioned James’ authority to detain him. “He said I’m nobody.” Within three or four minutes, the police arrived at the scene and took over. They arrested the man and thanked James, who later went to the police station and told cops what he’d seen. “Physical Agility” As James was recounting his story on Tuesday outside AutoZone, former Dixwell aldermanic candidate and Democratic Town Committee member Cordelia Thorpe (pictured) pulled up. She said she stops at AutoZone often because her silver 2001 Cadillac burns so much oil. Thorpe disputed James’ story. She said her nephew, Ankoma Wells, was the man arrested, and she had bailed him out with $2,500. Thorpe said she had spoken with victim of the mugging, who she claimed said Wells wasn’t involved. However, reached by telephone, the man Thorpe named as the victim said he was the wrong guy, that he had been robbed later Tuesday evening at the liquor store nearby. Thorpe said Wells couldn’t have been involved anyway since he weighs over 300 pounds. “To do that kind of crime, you’ve got to have physical agility,” Thorpe said. “He don’t fit the type.” James said he is absolutely sure he saw Wells throwing punches. “I am 100 percent certain that that’s the individual,” James said. “If he’s not guilty, why would he run?” “I Don’t Deserve That” Wells (pictured) said he wasn’t running. “What am I going to run for? I’m lazy. I weigh 350. I ain’t gonna run for no reason.” Some skinny guys wearing black jumped the victim, Wells said. “But a fat guy wearing orange goes to jail. I find that kind of shocking.” Wells, who has the nickname “Chops,” said he recently returned from Maine, where he completed a Job Corps program in culinary training. He has no criminal record and said he’d never before been arrested. Here’s what Wells said happened on March 26: He was walking to his sister’s house on Day Street. He was about to cut through the Stop & Shop parking lot. At the gap in the fence by the bus shelter near the corner of Whalley and Orchard, Wells spotted several people beating someone up outside AutoZone. “I was walking down the street and I seen them attacking the guy,” Wells said. “I turned around. I didn’t want to be a part of it.” Wells said he started walking—not running—the other way. “I just walked away. If I would have did it, I would have run.” The muggers ran past him. “I was on the corner of Goffe and Orchard when the security guard jumped out,” Wells said. “He told the police I was the first person to hit [the victim] and I led a big gang to do this, and that really wasn’t the case.” Wells said he didn’t think he was going to get bailed out; he thought he might have to spend weeks in jail. “I went to jail. I really went to jail on Whalley Avenue,” he said. “It was crazy. I was in this big cell with a bunch of criminals talking about how they shot people.” “I’m very confused. I don’t know how this is happening to me,” Wells said. “That was legit the first time I ever seen the inside of a cop car, the first time I’ve had handcuffs on me. I don’t deserve that.” Wells is due in court on April 17 to answer to nine charges, including four felony charges.

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posted by: THREEFIFTHS on April 3, 2013 9:10am “I’ve always wanted to do something with law enforcement,” James said. He said he’s looking to get into a police academy and already speaks with the clipped formality of a cop giving a report. Sounds like a police buff.

The five kids ran toward the corner of Whalley and Orchard streets. He saw one of the attackers, a “heavyset youth” in baggy jeans and an “orange-in-color hoodie,” head up Orchard toward Goffe Street. James ran over and checked that the victim was OK. “I’m also an EMT,” James aid. The victim told him that the muggers had taken his cell phone. James then jumped in his Impala. “I took off after the heavyset kid, who was lagging behind.” James looped around on County Street and found his target walking at the corner of Orchard and Goffe streets. “I let him know I was security,” James said. “I let him know I was making a civilian detention Hoodie? Sounds like New Haven could have had another Trayvon Martin.I think This guy is just a police buff and he did lock up the wrong person.

posted by: Curious on April 3, 2013 9:46am Why the hell is a security guard leaving his job site and chasing someone down in his car? That’s messed up. This security guard sounds like a wanna-be, and I personally hope he does not end up on the police force, because people like that have the worst attitude. I think James’ statement here sums that up: “If he’s not guilty, why would he run?” Isn’t there security footage? Also, I was pretty sure that AutoZone did not allow weapons on the premises, from this article. http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/12/04/autozone-employee-and-veteran-fired-for-using-his-gun-to-ward-off-armed-robber/

posted by: HewNaven on April 3, 2013 10:35am This is a dangerous precedent to allow a security guard the power to pursue and detain suspects for these types of allegations (i.e. an incident in the parking lot of a private business). I would argue that his “jurisdiction” should end at the property line. This overzealous and ambitious security guard should have phoned the police and notified the attackers of that fact, instead of jumping into his car and putting innocent residents at risk of injury and potentially wrongfully detaining Wells. While I acknowledge that youth violence is problematic and should be addressed, the solution is not to broaden arrest powers to ordinary citizens like James the security guard.

posted by: CityWatcher on April 3, 2013 1:43pm AutoZone hired Armed Security. They have it in place at multiple Connecticut locations.

posted by: Bruce on April 3, 2013 2:45pm Is a citizen’s arrest or “civilian detention” legal in this case? According to the ultimate legal resource (Wikipedia) this is only permissible in the case of a felony or when specifically directed by a real policeman. Assault isn’t a felony unless it involves a deadly weapon. Maybe he has some special rights if an event occurs on AutoZone property.

posted by: CityWatcher on April 3, 2013 3:22pm Robbery, is a felony.

posted by: Curious on April 3, 2013 4:54pm Bruce, check the statue quoted in blue…. http://apublicdefender.com/2010/01/16/a-citizens-arrest/

posted by: Edward_H on April 4, 2013 2:16am “Police said James is being considered for a commendation for his role in the arrest; “ Who in the NHPD is considering this security guard for a commendation? Curious “Also, I was pretty sure that AutoZone did not allow weapons on the premises, from this article.” Autozone has a zero tolerance policy for their employees. This guy sounds like contracted security. http://wtkr.com/2012/11/30/autozone-employee-fired-after-taking-action-against-fake-beard-bandit/

W

posted by: carlos on April 5, 2013 9:51am Cant believe theyre giving this mess some credence! Wheres the videotappe? Isn’t the victims statement worth naything anymore? Too often people are at the wrong spot at the wrong time. If he did run, ints not uncommon to do that, esp out of fear of being associated and knowing how crooked cops are. But this young man said he turned away and walked, just like the guard said when he saw him. walking, a contradiction to me. Goffe and whalley is a very short distance. This young man is trying to do something with his life, with aspiration of being a Chef. Why shatter th the dre

posted by: carlos on April 5, 2013 9:55am the dreams of a young blaack man for the upliftment of a wannabe cop? Mistakes are commonly made. Jails are full of them. Nothing wrong to say that a mistake has been made. This guard knew what an arrest would mean for his inflated ego. I clearly see outright blataqnt discrimination and injustice. If this situation is given any credibilty then it will be a mockery of justice. Lets not waste the taxpayers money by sending this young man to jail whole those who deserve it runs free unpursued.

posted by: righty88 on April 5, 2013 3:45pm It seems that once again people are using racism to cast a shadow over the facts. This man witness ed a crime in progress and stepped in to do something about it. Most people would just stand there and watch as the victim is beaten and robbed and do nothing to help. And possibly take video with their phone to gawk at with their friends later. If he did not intervene, the suspects would have been long gone by the time the police arrived. As far as the suspect goes, let the court do their job. This has nothing to do with racism. People throw that word around so much that soon it will lose its meaning. And as for the wannabes, what about the gang banger wannabes? Do you hope that they never succeed at becoming gang bangers? Nobody mentioned that. Everybody is so upset about a white security guard apprehending a robbery suspect, but nobody mentions the gang of black men roaming the streets beating and robbing people. The fact is, some men robbed another man and a man stepped in to help. Be thankful that there are still people left that are not too afraid of what people will say about them to help a victim in need.

posted by: THREEFIFTHS on April 5, 2013 5:01pm posted by: righty88 on April 5, 2013 3:45pm Everybody is so upset about a white security guard apprehending a robbery suspect, but nobody mentions the gang of black men roaming the streets beating and robbing people. Wrong.People want the right person.Check this out.This is what happens to the wrong person. The Pioneer Hotel Fire

March 31, 2013 8:00 PM

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50143931n

posted by: infaithadvice on April 5, 2013 7:00pm I find this story puzzling. In no part of it does the victim say he was even robbed in the packing lot. I am thinking opportunity knocked and “James” just grabbed anyone he saw in the vicinity??? What is most troubling is usually in this case the officers take the victim on a ride to identify the suspects. I know what its like to be a large person and when I was 300 lbs run fight and just moving can be challenging. Where is the victims positive ID??? The last thing we need is another vigilante police officer in Connecticut. Fact check everything. The victim said Wells was not involved but “James” is getting an award for arresting a BMW this turns my stomach and God will be the ultimate judge. Something stinks and when its all said and done I hope Wells is vindicated and awarded when found innocent. Its not a race thing its a right wrong and facts are facts THING.

posted by: marceyljteague on April 5, 2013 7:07pm SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. PLEASE DON’T THROW HIM A PARTY YET AND FOLLOW THROUGH ON FACT CHECK. GET A GOOD LAWYER WELLS.

posted by: HewNaven on April 5, 2013 9:43pm righty88, While I respect your opinion, I noted that only two commenters (including you) mentioned race. You wrote, It seems that once again people are using racism to cast a shadow over the facts…Everybody is so upset about a white security guard apprehending a robbery suspect, but nobody mentions the gang of black men roaming the streets beating and robbing people. This is not just stretching the truth to fit your argument, its outright lying; unless “people” and “everybody” are words you normally use to refer to one individual, which is very confusing for the rest of us. I hope I can speak for the other commenters, when I say, “Don’t put your words in my mouth.” This has nothing to do with race. It has everything to do with police powers - who has them and who doesn’t. Its hard enough for citizens to review and challenge legitimate police officers under the current system. We do not need to add private security guards into that mess. This is a simple matter of one’s political right to a fair and equitable system of justice.

posted by: Junior87 on April 7, 2013 2:44pm Thorpe said she had spoken with victim of the mugging, who she claimed said Wells wasn’t involved. However, reached by telephone, the man Thorpe named as the victim said he was the wrong guy, that he had been robbed later Tuesday evening at the liquor store nearby. People Thrope contacted the wrong victim who had nothing to do with this case. If you read the reporter contacted the victim that was mentioned and he said he wasn’t the victim in this case…that he was robbed at a liquor store. Instead of jumping to conclusions you need to read more carefully.

posted by: Junior87 on April 7, 2013 2:53pm Also, you guys are all complaining about the security guard helping break up a robbery in the AutoZone parking lot but yet Thrope isn’t a law enforcement official or an investigator so she shouldn’t be trying to contact victims and naming wrong people who aren’t involved in this case. But it’s not okay that the security guard prevented a crime from getting outta control . Also there are cameras. If Wells was innocent wouldnt they show it? But no, he’s still facing the charges.