Handcuffs??

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DP03

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As a precaution in the event of an intruder in my house, I have the thick "wire tie" type of plastic handcuffs.

Here's my (hope this isn't a stupid one) question - is it foolish to try to cuff the individual? I would think getting too close to be dangerous, but at the same time you want the perp to be subdued. Now I realize that most intruders will flee if he sees a gun and he doesn't have one. I am asking this question for the scenario where the perp is stationary due to the fear of getting shot.
 
I don't recommend it unless you are trained and proficient in cuffing techniques and have a cover person.
 
Yes. Simply yes.

Detaining someone is a serious no-good mess of a situation. If he refuses to leave and is not clearly a threat, keep the gun on him and KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.

If you're close enough to cuff him, you're close enough to be killed by him.

Police officers do this in pairs (with their backup officer keeping a gun on the perp while the cuffing officer approached) unless they have absolutely no choice. And they have a lot of training in how to do this with great-er safety. Even then it is the most dangerous moment.
 
In addition to the tactical problems, there are probably legal ramifications for detaining people if you're not wearing a badge.
My guess would be to just let them go and get them out of your house.
Without your stuff, of course.
Let the real cops deal with them if you decide to call them.
 
Thanks guys. That was my gut feeling, especially since my cover would most likely be my wife, who shoots guns but not often.
 
I think even if you have cover you would not be "covered" legally from a possible wrongful detention charge. Handcuffs pretty much always a bad idea unless you are on-duty police.
 
Take a picture

I have decided if I were in this situation I would try to get a picture with my cell phone (or have my wife take the pic) then if they are inclined to leave let them. That way there is no argument that the person was there, and a positive ID of that person.
 
Attempting to cuff someone if you aren't trained is a foolish and dangerous act. Any police officer can relate a number of incidents where a perfectly calm suspect decided to fight as soon as steel hit the wrist.

There is no need for a private citizen to ever get that close to a suspect. If you are holding a suspect and he decides to get up and run away, let him.

Cuffing is dangerous. There is nothing to be gained by attempting it.

Then if you add in the additional civil liability you take on, along with possible criminal charges for unlawful restraint it becomes an even worse idea.
 
I echo what the others said. What would you do if you got into a wrestling match on the ground? What if he refuses to pull his arms out when you mount? These things take training, an extra person, and sometimes other tools.
 
One of the worst ideas I've heard.
If he's a threat, you should have a gun. If he stops being a threat after he notices the gun, feel free to tell him to get on the ground, then call the police while keeping the gun at him. Ideally you should be at the other end of a hall during this. If he decides to run instead, get a good description.
Under no circumstance should you be close enough to touch him with handcuffs if you threw them. Your job is your safety, not risking it to do the cops' job.
 
As all above, no cuffing, especially with flex-cuffs or similar devices (I hated tham as a cop; they don't engage automatically with a one-handed strike like metal ones do.)

Legal ramifications? Not likely in Florida, as long as it is clear you are placing the subject under arrest, a provision for which exists in the state. But extremely unwise from a tactical point.

I wouldn't, and I'm former LEO.
 
Me,
cuffs dont enter into it. I am no longer a LEO, a retired badge means nothing.
I hear a noise, I hunker down and cover the choke point
Wife calls 911 and covers me
perp enters choke point
I turn on the flashlight
He raises a weapon, I shoot
He runs, good bye moron
he drops the weapon I tell him to freeze
He runs, good bye moron
cops come They CUFF him
Good bye moron
 
Sound advice, period. You haven't lived until you foolishly try to handcuff someone by yourself and they decide to resist about halfway through the process.... if you survive that is...

Leave that sort of stuff to the movies (where every good guy never misses and the bad guys always lose....).
 
A freind of mine was working as a security guard, and he wanted to practice cuffing someone. I surprised him with a 15 minute fight, at the end of which we both were wearing one cuff. I actually could have ran off almost any time before he got the one cuff on me, (that took five minutes) until I cuffed him with the other one.:) He also lost his key in the fight; good thing I had one on my keychain.... :uhoh:
 
There is a situation where it may make sense. One is shot and down and you have to leave them behind you unsecured to go find a child etc. and can't immediately leave the area. Narrow circumstance, but plausible.

I agree with all the above re: cuffing an un-injured person to detain them for police.
 
Even without the handcuffing, is it really a good idea to hold or detain someone, even an armed intruder, at all? What I'm afraid of is the distraction of holding a phone in one hand and a gun in the other, trying to dial 911, might be enough distraction to allow him to bum-rush you.
 
And if you err in judgment, and he is just a lost soul who came to the wrong address, then there is the danger of a kidnapping charge, which can also take it out of local hands and can become a Federal charge. As already been posted in some detail, proper handcuffing takes training. There were times in a previous life I had to not only use handcuffs but also body chains. Very high pucker factor and can be very dangerous. My 2cents.
 
I doubt if a kidnapping for handcuffing charge would stick anymore than a brandishing charge would for pointing your gun at an intruder in your home.

Federal charge for kidnapping? I doubt it unless the homeowner is in a motor home rolling across state line.
 
Cuffs are for cops, pervs, and foolish people who want to play cop instead of keeping their family safe by running goblins off from a safe distance.
 
Even as a cop, if a bad guy made his way into my house I wouldn't cuff him.

He'd be dead, run off, or proned out on the floor waiting for on-duty units to sack him up.
 
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