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From the Orlando Sentinel (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/):
Pilot uses anti-terrorism tactics to thwart robbery
March 3, 2004
By Marshall Spence / Sentinel Staff Writer
DELAND, FL -- A trip to a Subway restaurant Saturday night gave Thomas Das an unexpected chance to put his anti-terrorism training to use.
Das, 51, a 14-year commercial airline pilot, was at the counter of the sandwich shop on Woodland Boulevard waiting to pay when 22-year-old Andrew Young walked up next to him with a gun, police said.
Police said Young, whose face was partially covered by a bandanna and skullcap, pointed the gun at one of the three employees behind the counter and demanded money.
Before he realized what he was doing, Das, who was standing to the right of the armed man, reached to his left and grabbed the man's right hand, which was holding the gun. Das twisted the man's arm around, took the gun from him and pinned him to the ground with his knee on the man's back and the gun pressed against the back of the man's head.
"It was just a natural reaction," Das said. "It happened real quick. [The] guy walked up to the counter, pointed a gun at the young attendant and said, 'Put it [money] in the bag.' I turned. There was maybe a second or two delay, and I just moved right on him."
Mari Chandler, a restaurant employee, said Tuesday that Das subdued the would-be robber -- who was pointing his gun at her -- so quickly that a co-worker making Das' meal didn't realize what had happened.
"My other co-worker missed most of it altogether because she was busy trying to make the guy's sandwich," said Chandler, 21, of DeLand. "She just started yelling at the guys for fighting in the store."
Chandler said she ran to the back and grabbed her cell phone. Minutes after Chandler's call, two police officers -- who happened to be nearby -- arrived and found Young pinned to the ground, DeLand police spokesman Lt. Rick Gaylord said.
Das credited his training as a pilot for his quick reaction and self-defense skills.
"As an airline captain for ATA Airlines, I'm trained to make quick reactions. We've had some anti-terrorism training. When you're flying a Boeing 757, you're just very accustomed to making very quick decisions," he said.
Young, a convicted felon and registered sex offender, was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on a charge of armed robbery. His bail is set at $20,000.
Pilot uses anti-terrorism tactics to thwart robbery
March 3, 2004
By Marshall Spence / Sentinel Staff Writer
DELAND, FL -- A trip to a Subway restaurant Saturday night gave Thomas Das an unexpected chance to put his anti-terrorism training to use.
Das, 51, a 14-year commercial airline pilot, was at the counter of the sandwich shop on Woodland Boulevard waiting to pay when 22-year-old Andrew Young walked up next to him with a gun, police said.
Police said Young, whose face was partially covered by a bandanna and skullcap, pointed the gun at one of the three employees behind the counter and demanded money.
Before he realized what he was doing, Das, who was standing to the right of the armed man, reached to his left and grabbed the man's right hand, which was holding the gun. Das twisted the man's arm around, took the gun from him and pinned him to the ground with his knee on the man's back and the gun pressed against the back of the man's head.
"It was just a natural reaction," Das said. "It happened real quick. [The] guy walked up to the counter, pointed a gun at the young attendant and said, 'Put it [money] in the bag.' I turned. There was maybe a second or two delay, and I just moved right on him."
Mari Chandler, a restaurant employee, said Tuesday that Das subdued the would-be robber -- who was pointing his gun at her -- so quickly that a co-worker making Das' meal didn't realize what had happened.
"My other co-worker missed most of it altogether because she was busy trying to make the guy's sandwich," said Chandler, 21, of DeLand. "She just started yelling at the guys for fighting in the store."
Chandler said she ran to the back and grabbed her cell phone. Minutes after Chandler's call, two police officers -- who happened to be nearby -- arrived and found Young pinned to the ground, DeLand police spokesman Lt. Rick Gaylord said.
Das credited his training as a pilot for his quick reaction and self-defense skills.
"As an airline captain for ATA Airlines, I'm trained to make quick reactions. We've had some anti-terrorism training. When you're flying a Boeing 757, you're just very accustomed to making very quick decisions," he said.
Young, a convicted felon and registered sex offender, was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on a charge of armed robbery. His bail is set at $20,000.
