Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood says officers used restraint and relied on their training in arresting a 43 year old man---walking around with a gun this weekend. 43 year old Jose Montanez was known to police. On Sunday, he was seen with a stolen gun walking down High Street, a densely populated area of the city, pointing the weapon at various people. Police directed him to a more open area and waited him out....finally seeing that the "slide" of his weapon was pulled back, indicating that the gun was empty. Police then chased down the suspect arresting him without incident. Now he faces nearly a dozen charges. Police say they were able to make the arrest without any property damage or injury. The commissioner saying that the restraint used during the brazen act was incredible. The officers are going through debriefing according to protocol.
Meantime, Springfield Mayor Dom Sarno says, "After reviewing this most chilling video, these officers showed tremendous restraint in not firing their weapons in this foot chase to subdue this violent offender, who was firing off his gun and pointing at officer’s numerous times. Those officers and residents were put in harm’s way and a very traumatic situation - they could have been injured or God forbid killed. Is this what it is coming to? Now the big question - will our courts hold him or just ‘pat him on the head’ and release him right back to our streets and in our neighborhoods!”
(Photo from Springfield Police Department)