A concealed carrier in North Carolina stepped in and saved a police officer who was struggling with a violent suspect last week.
The Daily News says Officer Aaron Thompson of the Swansboro Police Department was on patrol when he spotted 32-year-old Michael Lynn Lee Jr. driving erratically on N.C. 24 Thursday morning. He pulled Lee’s U-Haul truck over and received word that Lee had an outstanding warrant out for his arrest.
Thompson ordered Lee out of the truck and took him to the shoulder of the highway. As Thompson was about to place Lee in handcuffs, Lee suddenly grabbed him. This caused both men to fall into a roadside ditch.
Concealed Carrier Intervenes
An area resident named John Babbie happened to be driving by when Lee and Thompson were fighting in the ditch. Realizing what was happening, Babbie pulled his vehicle up behind Thompson’s patrol car. He then got out and drew his .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun.
“I gave the command: Stop resisting, stop resisting,” Babbie told The Daily News. He then ordered Lee to roll over onto his belly.
“When he saw the barrel of my gun, he complied. I’m glad nothing bad happened,” Babbie said.
Police arrived on the scene soon after and arrested Lee. He has been charged with possession of methamphetamine, resisting a public officer, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a revoked license. Police later determined that Lee was using his U-Haul truck as a meth lab. Consequently, he was hit with additional charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance and two counts of possession of methamphetamine precursors.
Lee was placed in Onslow County Jail. His bond set at $5,000.
Babbie, who spent eight years as a correctional sergeant with the N.C. Department of Public Safety, won’t face any ramifications for the incident.
Swansboro Police Chief Ken Jackson said the incident is a prime example of what officers face every day.
“While this was happening, people were at home feeding their children or still asleep while an officer is alone on the side of the road. Nobody knows at that very same time, that police officers are on the job rolling around in a ditch,” Jackson said.
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