The following is a video transcript. This is a reenactment and dramatization of an actual member’s story. This video does not and is not intended to depict or replicate the actual persons, places, or circumstances involved in the incident.
Our member, David, is a bail-bondsman and retired police officer. On the Sunday before Labor Day, David and his family were at the neighborhood pool when he and his neighbor started a verbal dispute that quickly and unexpectedly turned into a dangerous physical altercation.
“I asked to speak to this gentleman separately from his family about the rule he was breaking. We spoke probably 20 to 30 feet away from his family and from my wife. While we were talking, he became very confrontational, and I could tell he was impaired. That’s when his wife walked up and began to yell at me. I didn’t like the way this was going, so I took my phone out and started recording it on video.
Then the man’s wife knocked the phone out of my hand. When I went to pick up my phone, the man took a swing at me and actually punched the side of my head. At that point in time, I knew I was going to have to defend myself. I was able to punch him in the face twice before he was able to grab hold of me, and then we both landed on the ground. That’s when I realized my shoulder was broken.”
Initially, David thought his shoulder was dislocated. However, a trip to the hospital that night would reveal that his arm had been shattered in five places.
“After I was able to get him off me, I ran straight to my vehicle. I knew I had a taser attached to a tactical vest in the back of my vehicle. During this time, several people had shown up and essentially formed a barrier between us.
At that point in time, I was standing next to my vehicle with the taser in my hand and my wife by my side, when the attacker’s wife broke through the barrier of people, and the attacker came around the side of the barrier. Even though my arm was broken, I was able to use my hand to deploy the probe and tase my attacker.
Seconds later, my wife dialed 911 and informed them of the incident. She also gave them a description of my clothing, and informed them of the following: she told them where we were; that I had a taser; and that as soon as we saw the blue and red lights, I would put the taser on the ground. Then, she hung up the phone.”
The police arrived but made no arrests at the scene. Instead, they advised David to file a complaint, which he did, immediately. The neighbor and his wife were arrested the next day. That same day, which happened to be Labor Day, David contacted U.S. LawShield and advised them of the incident.
“I joined U.S. LawShield on September 1st, 2017; 47 hours later, my incident occurred. I did have some concerns that I would not be in the system yet since I had signed up on Friday, and it was Labor Day weekend. But when I called and gave them my name and my address, there were no hiccups.
They immediately put me in touch with Mark Edwards (Independent Program Attorney for North Carolina). When I called U.S. LawShield, no warrant had been issued for me at that point in time. Mark Edwards told me not to worry about it, and that we would handle it if something comes up.”
Unfortunately, something did come up. When the neighbor and his wife were released from jail, they filed a complaint against David, and David turned himself in that Tuesday.
“After I was charged and arrested, we did seek a meeting with the District Attorney to show him a video that was taken of the incident. After watching the video, the District Attorney informed us that they would not drop the charges because the magistrate had found probable cause. They tried to get us to work out a plea deal, but we decided against it and went to trial.”
At trial, the video of the incident was played for the court. As a result, David was acquitted of both charges, and the neighbor and his wife were convicted.
“Had I been convicted, I may have lost my bail bonding license, so I had a lot at stake in this trial. Mark was very confident that we were going to win. It’s easy for him, as an attorney, to feel that way, but it’s different for me knowing everything that’s on the line. These guys are really solid at what they do.”
But David’s trouble was not over yet. The neighbor and his wife began making threats concerning David’s children.
“After I was acquitted, my attacker and his wife warned our neighbor that my wife and I better watch our children and not let them out by themselves in the neighborhood. At that point in time, we obtained a restraining order against the attacker and his wife. They tried to countersue us for their attorney’s fees. North Carolina Independent Program Attorney Mark Edwards represented us in that action, as well.”
The court again sided with David, signing the restraining order and dismissing the countersuit, but David’s journey with U.S. LawShield was only beginning.
“After I was out for surgeries for my shoulder, I could no longer bail bond, so I had to find a way to make money for my family. Fortunately, the U.S. LawShield manager at that point in time for North Carolina offered me a representative position in Charlotte, and I took it.
I’m currently the North Carolina district manager for U.S. LawShield, and I’m also a LEO guest speaker. Now, here’s the best part, I signed up on Friday, the incident happened Sunday, I was arrested Tuesday, but U.S. LawShield did not charge my credit card until Thursday. They hadn’t even charged me for my membership dues yet, and they still covered me!
My name is David Harrington. I’m a proud member and employee of U.S. LawShield.”
Good for you David! That is the kind of news I LIKE to hear, especially in these troubling and troubled times. I wish you fair winds and following seas!
Wow. Deep story and it shows some people are complete lunatics.
Hope your well and hope you can get so.e restitution from your attackers.
What an incredible story!!! I hope I never need you guys but I trust if I do, you will help. Additionally, I know my money is working for our 2nd Amendment rights. Thanks!
I am a private investigator a member of IPIU and member U.S. Law Shield also. I travel with my 9 mm and a licence to carry(LTC) used to be concealed licence to carry. But I have never experienced such situations. However, after reading David’s statement, I am really convinced that U.S. Law Shield can help victims very honestly. I was going to cancel my membership, but I will keep it for now. Hopefully, I will not hear/see anything against U.S. Law Shield that makes my mind change. Anyway, I walk with confidence with my U.S. Law Shield IDs.
cool video!
Excellent story with a great outcome. It pays to be prepared and keep a cool head during a situation such as this.
Sounds like you made a decision to protect you and your family in a “timely” manner. I have been a member for a long time and fortunately, have not had a need for legal help. However, the annual money spent on a membership has been money well spent. The peace of mind is hard to calculate a price. In this day and age with all the senseless killing, I carry a weapon daily. I pray to the Lord to help me keep it in the holster…
i was unaware that US LAWSHIELD would cover an incident that was not a firearms related issue. I have to wonder if they did this because he was a Bail Bondsman and a fomer LEO? It seems strange that they would cover this incident.
Anyway thank you US LAWShield.
Well done
I liked that story about the turnout mainly! That’s awesome how they stood up for you with good results due to that. I am happy to be a member
We cover self-defense with any legal weapon — from fists to firearms!
I think the biggest take-away from this story (in my opinion) should be that David is to blame because this whole incident could have been avoided. If someone is breaking a rule(s), the worst thing you can do is confront them. Bring it to the authorities to handle… in this case, maybe the life-guard, or pool manager, etc. That is their job. US Law Shield is not a “get out of jail free card” and being a bail-bondsman and/or carrying a weapon of any sort doesn’t give you any more or less authority over anyone else.
The world is full of idiots and the best thing to do is not place yourself front-and-center to them. Avoid, deescalate, remove yourself from the scene. Yeah it sucks that you’re inconvenienced sometimes but, in this case for example, there would have been a lot less hassle (no broken bones, no threats, no handcuffs, etc) if David would have not put himself in the position to actually cause this. Had someone else gotten hurt… I can imagine all the lawsuits that might have come from that.
Carrying a US Law Shield card (like I do), means that I need to act like a “p#ssy” more than anyone else because it also means I’m carrying a weapon and it could determine the outcome of someone’s life. If you’re wrong, even God isn’t going to help you… let alone US Law Shield.
I pretty much follow the advice and beliefs of that “Active Self Protection” guy on youtube… John something. Do everything you can to avoid trouble in the beginning… early on, before it escalates.
Just my opinion here.
Proud of you….. stay strong
@Alex. US LawShield provides legal protections for all legal weapons (in this case a taser) and has nothing to do with being a LEO, bail bondsman, etc
Good story David. As a retired LEO (not from NC) , I wonder if David sued the Attacker for his injury and/or if the state of NC has a Victim of Crime Compensation Program that provides financial assistance for certain out-of-pocket expenses and lost wages? I also find it hard to believe that the NC court would accept a “counter-charge” against David while the Attacker and wife’s charges were still working thru the court having yet to be adjudicated. Or did the Attacker file a false police report or circumvent the police and go straight to the prosecutor’s office to file a complaint? It was sad to see the responding police officers failed to gather enough witnesses to make the arrest which would have probably prevented the counter-charge on David. My experience leads me to believe that this matter became one of the many “he said-she said” calls that the police see daily and the officers kicked it back to the complainant to file the charges, which David was forced to do.
As already posted, it was pointed out that we should avoid conflict at all cost, so could David had not spoken to the Attacker to begin with? Or could David (and family) run to their car and drove off to end the conflict? Possibly, but David did say the Attacker was a neighbor so one could run only so far… As a Law Shield member, my take away is to ensure I sign up for the 50 state protection membership as I see that though I understand my home state laws, if I travel I surely need the 50 state additional coverage!
@Rick Kosick there is not always the option to just walk away. Sometimes confrontation is needed to control the outcome and potentially thwart further harm to others close by. At the time David felt this was the best course of action, when more often than not is better than doing nothing. Sometimes opinions need to be more maturely and tactfully expressed as well.
This gives me great confidence un U.S. Lawshield. Member now for about 6months and travel many states. I made the call to get information for the states I was traveling g to the response wS same day within hrs of the call.
Thanks
My wife and I have been members for 3 years. We have attended multiple meetings and have always been impressed with the program’s content and the presenters. We have been fortunate not to need any representation to this point but feel much more confident knowing we have US Law Shield on our side.
Rick Kosick hit the nail on the head. I recently took the Texas LTC (and became a US LawShield member) and one of my main takeaways was to “pick your battles”. Anointing oneself the neighborhood pool cop certainly doesn’t qualify as a smart battle, especially if you’re armed. Had David shot and killed the “attacker” and I was sitting on his jury, I’d have voted guilty because he unnecessarily initiated the situation (my LTC class said, and I agree, that you can’t provoke a situation and then claim self-defense). Whether you think that it’s right or not, LTC/CC folks will be held to a higher standard and it’s better to be safe than sorry — always expect the unexpected, be prepared for worst-case and pick your battles wisely.
Regarding conflict avoidance – the sudden escalation of what should have been a simple conversation between adults shows how even reasonable behaviors aren’t respected, or subsequently treated fairly by LEO. The fact the couple pursued David despite his retreat, and others tried to separate them, shows who the aggressors were, yet without a solid legal defense they were trying to keep working the system against an innocent person.
I nearly came to blows with a man and his little girl, merely from trying to corral his wayward dog which had jumped from a parked car window on a 90 degree day. When people behave erratically you can be blindsided no matter what your intentions are.
I believe that David was, in fact, in charge of the pool area and was entirely responsible for enforcing the rules. The woman who slapped the phone out of his hand and the man who punched him quite obviously started the physical altercation.