Request for ID leads to shotgun confrontation

By Joseph Barrios

Arizona Daily Wildcat

An 18-year-old man was arrested Saturday night after he allegedly pointed a shotgun at a local liquor store clerk and led police on a short car chase.

David R. Thatcher, 18, of the 5600 block of South Country Club, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and other offenses after he allegedly displayed a shotgun to a clerk at U of A Liquors, 1002 E. Sixth St., about midnight, police said. A juvenile runaway with Thatcher was also arrested, police said.

Christopher Bort, the liquor store clerk, said he was working the drive-through window when two men drove up and the driver attempted to purchase alcohol. Bort, a UA sociology senior, said he confiscated the driver's ID because he suspected it was fake.

Bort said, "He said he didn't like that. He started calling me obscenities. I was just like, 'Hey man, I don't want any problems.'"

Bort said he suggested the man flag down a nearby UA police patrol car to verify whether the ID was valid. The man noticed Bort had a semi-automatic handgun strapped to his hip and said, "I got that right here."

Bort said the suspect then reached down between the car seats and pointed a shotgun at him as he drove away. Bort drew his weapon and ran outside to alert the nearby UAPD patrol car.

Police reports say officers chased the car to the corner of Eighth Street and Euclid Avenue, where they performed a "high-risk stop." Officers used a public announcement system and ordered Thatcher to get out of the car and lay on the

ground. They handcuffed him and took him into custody, police said.

As Thatcher was arrested, the passenger ran south toward Seventh Street, police said. Another UAPD officer searched for the passenger in a drainage tunnel under Euclid Avenue. The suspect, hiding in the tunnel, willingly went with the officer and was later identified as the runaway.

The runaway was also found to have a backpack containing marijuana, which was confiscated by the Tucson Police Department. Both men were taken to Tucson Police headquarters.

Thatcher was charged with one count of aggravated assault, possession of narcotic drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful use of a driver's license and misrepresenting age.

Bort said he started wearing a .45 semi-automatic handgun to work two weeks ago after another customer waved a handgun at another clerk. Bort is an Arizona Ranger and has worked with the South Tucson Police.

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