Officers save a Man Held at Gunpoint Following an Argument over a Bumper Sticker
Chris Williams
By Officer Tasia Martinez
A political argument over an anti-President Obama bumper sticker turned violent and nearly deadly between two men at a local restaurant on Friday Evening. Chris Williams, 43, was arrested and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on felony charges for his involvement in an argument that began about a bumper sticker and ended with Williams holding a handgun to 62-year-old Edward Rodriguez’s head.
The two unacquainted men were leaving the Garcia’s Restaurant, 3601 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE, Friday evening when Rodriguez confronted Williams about a profane anti-President Obama bumper sticker on Williams’ vehicle. Rodriguez told Williams that he should be more respectful of the American President. The two began to argue and Williams removed a handgun from within his pocket and pointed it at Rodriguez.
Concerned bystanders called police even after Williams reportedly told them that he was a security guard. When Foothills APD Officers arrived they quickly set up a small safety perimeter and found Williams holding a handgun to the back of Rodriguez’s head. Rodriguez was on his knees with his empty hands held straight above his head. Officers cautiously approached the suspect on foot gave clear orders to Williams to drop the gun and convinced him to do so. Williams complied and was eventually taken into custody without the use of any force by officers and was found to have two handguns and multiple knives in his possession. Both men told police that they are veterans.
Williams is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment and unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon. The case was forwarded to the district attorney’s office.
