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Security guard attacked on the job
MINNEAPOLIS Minnesota- A security camera captured video of an attack outside a local shopping mall. The victim: a security guard who was hired to prevent crimes like this.
Ben Ellringer is a security guard for Talon Investigation, which has him working at a south Minneapolis mall. But he says he couldn't even protect himself when a group of thugs attacked him. He also says the fight might not have happened had he been carrying a gun.
Ellringer told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that he had warned a group of guys to stop loitering in the parking lot of the south Minneapolis shopping mall, which he did not want to identify. As he approached the men a second time to tell them to get moving, the four men immediately took him on, pushing, shoving and kicking him. One of the men even took a swing at him.
"I got punched a few times, got kicked in the chest, finally I got my left hand free and I was able to pull out my asp," Ellringer said.
Ellringer said he only had the asp, which is similar to a baton, and a can of pepper spray to defend himself. He said he's qualified to carry a gun, but St. Paul police haven't been issuing permits while the state's permit-to-carry law is tied up in court.
Police and Sheriffs departments may give out permits while the courts sort out the law, but they don't have to.
The situation frustrates Ellringer. While he spends most of his day roaming the mall looking for shoplifters or loiterers, he says this video shows how quickly his job can turn dangerous.
"It makes you a little nervous," he said.
Talon Investigation owner Scott Hielsberg said guns give guards a necessary advantage.
"Puts some of them guys in harm's way," Hielsberg said. "The officers who are armed do get more respect from people."
Ellringer agrees.
"It's kind of more of an intimidation factor," he said, and added that the intimidation alone would help to stop men who are throwing rocks and punches.
"That's the first time it's ever happened and hopefully the last time, because it's something nobody wants to have happen like that," Ellringer said.
Security guards like Ellringer have been waiting months for the right to carry a gun.
The St. Paul Police Department said it has now decided to accept permit applications from those who need guns for their job.
Security guard attacked on the job
MINNEAPOLIS Minnesota- A security camera captured video of an attack outside a local shopping mall. The victim: a security guard who was hired to prevent crimes like this.
Ben Ellringer is a security guard for Talon Investigation, which has him working at a south Minneapolis mall. But he says he couldn't even protect himself when a group of thugs attacked him. He also says the fight might not have happened had he been carrying a gun.
Ellringer told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that he had warned a group of guys to stop loitering in the parking lot of the south Minneapolis shopping mall, which he did not want to identify. As he approached the men a second time to tell them to get moving, the four men immediately took him on, pushing, shoving and kicking him. One of the men even took a swing at him.
"I got punched a few times, got kicked in the chest, finally I got my left hand free and I was able to pull out my asp," Ellringer said.
Ellringer said he only had the asp, which is similar to a baton, and a can of pepper spray to defend himself. He said he's qualified to carry a gun, but St. Paul police haven't been issuing permits while the state's permit-to-carry law is tied up in court.
Police and Sheriffs departments may give out permits while the courts sort out the law, but they don't have to.
The situation frustrates Ellringer. While he spends most of his day roaming the mall looking for shoplifters or loiterers, he says this video shows how quickly his job can turn dangerous.
"It makes you a little nervous," he said.
Talon Investigation owner Scott Hielsberg said guns give guards a necessary advantage.
"Puts some of them guys in harm's way," Hielsberg said. "The officers who are armed do get more respect from people."
Ellringer agrees.
"It's kind of more of an intimidation factor," he said, and added that the intimidation alone would help to stop men who are throwing rocks and punches.
"That's the first time it's ever happened and hopefully the last time, because it's something nobody wants to have happen like that," Ellringer said.
Security guards like Ellringer have been waiting months for the right to carry a gun.
The St. Paul Police Department said it has now decided to accept permit applications from those who need guns for their job.
