Patron subdues would-be armed robber at Fremont Wal-Mart store

The Fremont News Messenger is reporting that a Columbus man was arrested Saturday night after he was accused of trying to steal merchandise and threatening store employees with a knife when they tried to stop him.

According to a report from the Fremont police which as refernece by the newspaper, about 7 p.m. Saturday, Ian Wilson, 24, of Columbus, attempted to steal two pairs of scissors, a box cutter and computer accessories from Wal-Mart, 2052 N. Ohio 53.

When employees tried to stop him, he brandished the knife, the report said. He was subdued by a patron of the store until police arrived. It was found that Wilson also had an active warrant for his arrest from Licking County.

The criminal was arrested for aggravated robbery and also on the outstanding warrant, and transported to the Sandusky County Jail.

The story does not say how a Walmart customer happened to have been able to subdue a wanted man armed with an edged weapon. What OFCC can report is that Wal-Mart stores do NOT disarm their patrons who chose to bear arms for self-defense.

Was this an example of an armed citizen preventing a crime and potentially saving lives in a business place without having to fire a shot? If the newspaper had been doing its job, we would know the answer.