If an irate customer threatens me and physically comes at me what are my limitations for defending myself?

Question

I live in San Diego, CA and I sell cell phones. Sometimes I come across tweakers and I have been threatened before. What can I use to protect myself and to what extent. Can I keep a bat under the table, a big can of mace or what? I want to make sure I can neutralize the situation before the cops come. And this a**hole is not going to get away from me if he attempts to assault me.

Answer 1

As soon as he verbally threatens you, then ask him to leave or you'll call the cops. Keep a can of pepper spray in your pocket (preferably one designed for civilian use, with a wide spray pattern so it's hard to miss your target when you're under duress). If he menacingly approaches you or invades your personal space for any reason, then back up and reach for it, but don't pull it out or use it unless he's behind the register area or tries to touch you. As for your last sentence "this a**hole is not going to get away from me if he attempts to assault me", that could get you in legal trouble. Once you successfully stop an attacker and he flees, you cannot keep trying to hurt him or at that point you will have stepped over the line and might be deemed the aggressor.

It also wouldn't hurt if your employer installs security cameras in the store, and you could point out to any irate customer that his actions are being recorded before the shi+ gets too deep.

Answer 2

Well I used to work at a 24 hour convenience store (4-12midnight) and we kept various things that could be used as weapons behind the counter just incase as there were a lot of drug addicts in the area. I was never physically assaulted and even managed to lecture a guy who attempted to rob me hehehe and we sorted out our problems and the next week he landed in prison for robbing the store across the road. I think it is perfectly reasonable for you to keep a baseball bat with you, just make sure you keep a baseball also so that it will be classified as sporting equipment rather than a weapon (in Australia we are allowed to have a baseball and a bat in our boot but not just a basball bat) and if he attempts to assault you you have the same rights as you would if you were defending yourself in any other situation. Call the police if he is really scaring you. I had some creepy guy telling me that he was going to kill me all the time, obviously he didn't.

Answer 3

IF this is a real problem, and you like your job. #1--don't use mace, bats, foreigh objects, etc. I'm a guy. I've been to the expensive wrestling school. Get a girl friend, or guy friend. Exerercise, and practice rough housing. In a CONTROLLED enviorment. Build some hard core self confidence. It's totally doable. You'd be surprised how much confidence you could build. Once you get some proper rough housing, and practice, you can over any of those situations, then calmly call 911. I don't want to give way my age, but my daughter, young and size 2. I'd buy the pay per view, and get the drinks. It'd guaranteed be extreme rules.

Answer 4

There are legal implications in everything you do. I always advocate only "reasonable force". You cannot kill a person for just touching you without your consent and expect no repercussion from the law. I guess you could knock him out, not with the bat, and you cant keep on laying into to him when he's on the ground until he's on the brink of death. the mace is a good control mechanism if he tries to get at you, a couple of handcuffs if you really want to hand him to the police if he tries to get away (sweet revenge eh?).

Answer 5

If you use a bat, aim for his legs but make sure you hit him hard enough to injure him. If this doesn't stop him, it will slow him down then you have the advantage on him. Don't stand there and finnish him off, run to the nearest place where you can get to a phone and call the police. Stay at that place until the police has apprehended the other guy. If you got mase, use it and well, you know the rest.

Answer 6

1. ID customer from files & do online search.
2. Carry Mace & pepper spray.
3. Hide that club or Iron club.
4. Get a gun?????
5. Learn Judo & Karate??
6. Have cameras record your locale in store etc.
7. Install hidden camera if needed.
Kick BUTT Big time.
Godbless & Win.

Answer 7

Use Mace or Pepper Spray...Burns like a SOB and will stop that MF cold without resorting to a physical attack.

Ask the local cops if there's any problems with that, BEFORE you buy it though. I'd call the police NOW and confirm this before you have to go back to work!!

Answer 8

If you are attacked, you can defend yourself. However, the force you use must be proportional to the force used against you. If a guy yells at you, you cannot beat him with a baseball bat. If he punches you, you cannot stab him. Especially in the business situation, you would best off calling the police. If the force you use is disproportionate, you will be liable for battery, both civil and criminal penalties.

Answer 9

You can use whatever force is required to quell the attack and protect yourself, but no more, if he stops the attack. For example, you knock him to the ground and he quits. You cannot go over to him and start kicking him. This is no longer self defense. This is now an assault initiated by you, and you can be arrested .

Answer 10

I live in SD too. Hello neighbor. Anyways, if he comes at you, you have every right to defend yourself. If you were to go after him first, then that could cause problems. Just make sure you prevent an attack from occuring by setting up better security for yourself and your products.