Tulsa World: Trooper honored for subduing man with a gun

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Trooper honored for subduing man with a gun

QUICK ACTION
Sheldon Robinson: He wrestled a suspect to the ground and handcuffed him at a Burger King.

By TOM LINDLEY World Capitol Bureau
Published: 12/5/2008 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 12/5/2008 2:33 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY All Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Sheldon Robinson was looking for was a burger and an oil change on his day off.

But Thursday he got a standing ovation from members of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority for his heroic actions in between.

On Sept. 5, Robinson dropped his wife and two children off at the Burger King restaurant at 41st Street and Memorial Drive and was pulling into an auto dealership across the street for an oil change when his cell phone rang.

"My spouse told me there was a man inside with a gun, saying he was going to kill everybody," said Robinson, an 11-year veteran of the highway patrol who is assigned to the Creek and Muskogee turnpikes.

Robinson turned around in time to see people fleeing the building, including his wife, who grabbed the couple's two children and hid in a nearby trash container area, closing the doors behind her.

It was only an instant, but Robinson said it seemed like hours before he got his truck turned around and pointed for the Burger King.

"I was relieved to see them in the Dumpster area, but I knew I had to go in there and see what was going on," he said.

Robinson, wearing his trooper badge around his neck and carrying his weapon, parked his truck and peered in the window of the Burger King.

Inside was a man dressed in black. A Glock .40-caliber handgun and a full box of ammunition sat on the tabletop next to him.

Three other people were looking for a way out when Robinson passed

them as he entered the restaurant.

When the man briefly removed his hand from his gun, Robinson, who had approached from the man's blind side, grabbed his arm.

Now alone in the restaurant, the two men wrestled on the floor before Robinson got one of his handcuffs around the man's arm.

"The second one didn't lock in place, so we went down again," Robinson said. "He was a pretty stout guy."

Robinson had the man fully cuffed by the time Tulsa police officers arrived.

"It was one of those deals of being in the right place at the right time," Robinson said. "I believe he would have loaded up that gun and gone to town because he was praying for Allah to help him carry out his mission."

Jerome Norvell Denson, 24, of Tulsa was arrested on charges of attempting to perform an act of violence and possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony. He remains in jail awaiting a preliminary hearing.

For his actions, Robinson, 40, was named Trooper of the Month.

"He was off-duty and in my opinion he prevented a very serious loss of life or injury from happening," said Maj. Dennis Gann, who is in charge of law enforcement and emergency services on the turnpike system. "He had to make a very quick decision and put his own personal safety aside to subdue the assailant. Obviously, that was a good thing."

Tom Lindley (405) 528-2465
tom.lindley@tulsaworld.com By TOM LINDLEY World Capitol Bureau

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	Report Comment Travis, Tahlequah (12/5/2008 6:59:10 AM) Thank you Trooper Robinson. One less piece of trash walking the streets thanks to your fast actions.
	Report Comment Frites and Mayo, Tulsa (12/5/2008 7:02:56 AM) Man...good job. Excellent story.
	Report Comment THE REF, Broken Arrow (12/5/2008 8:50:52 AM) Great story - Thank you Trooper Robinson
	Report Comment wildcat, Glenpool (12/5/2008 9:59:57 AM) I agree, dwhitney, I guess Trooper Robinson should have stopped long enough to ask the scumbag for sure who he was praying to.
	Report Comment okkevin, Tulsa (12/5/2008 10:30:46 AM) I got there right after Trooper Robinson had taken him into custody. Yes, he was praying to Allah. This could have been much worse. Trooper Robinson was heroic in his actions. I just wish people would get out of the way when the lights and siren are on so we could have gotten to him quicker.
	Report Comment concernedpapa, Kiefer (12/5/2008 10:39:55 AM) libdem Yours is the most ridiculous post of the day if not the week. Thank you trooper for doing a job above and beyond the call. I hope your holidays are the best ever. thanks to you it appears those that were in danger are going to be able to enjoy their holidays, regardless of their race.
	Report Comment Eric, Tulsa (12/5/2008 12:20:34 PM) Wow! We NEED more people like him! I salute Trooper Robinson!
	Report Comment hardball, (12/5/2008 12:30:01 PM) too bad the perp didn't reach for the weapon so Robinson could have capped him and saved the tax payers court and jail costs, regardless of whatever he was praying to/at.
	Report Comment okie ridgerunner, small town (12/5/2008 1:04:22 PM) This is a great Trooper.off duty and still doing a great job. and thanks to his wife for her fast action of calling him, and saving the children and her self and others by calling him. this officer saved some lives. he is a hero.he is to be admired.
	Report Comment Tulsa World General Editor Rusty Lang , tulsa (12/5/2008 3:46:31 PM) great story by a great hero. Thanks trooper robinson and tom lindley
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (12/5/2008 3:50:57 PM) Thank you Trooper Robinson! With all the things so very wrong going on in this world, it is incredible to see one acting so selfless. May you always be safe.
	Report Comment Missy M, outer city limits,far from the county (12/5/2008 6:39:45 PM) This is a nice article.Thanks Trooper R.
	Report Comment sharetheroad, (12/5/2008 7:02:26 PM) I hope the OTA gives Officer Robinson some days off and a big reward of some kind. Who knows how many lives he saved. From someone who travels in that neighborhood frequently, thank you.
	Report Comment copperhead, (12/5/2008 7:13:09 PM) Job well done Trooper, and done safely. . Realizing it's a split second shoot - don't shoot call based on our training and experience, some officers likely would have responded differently. . Having the option of taking the knucklehead out safely with spot-on lead implants, some would have taken the shot, providing Denson instant rehabilitation and instantly ending his criminal career, while saving the taxpayers the expense of trials, appeals and years of incarceration. . It's a tough call . . . sometimes.
	Report Comment Zmom, (12/5/2008 9:51:09 PM) Wow, this was just about a disaster. Great job, trooper.
	Report Comment Hijinx, (12/5/2008 10:23:30 PM) There really are heroes left after all. Thank you Trooper Robinson.
	Report Comment WindRider, Heavener (12/6/2008 8:30:31 AM) Right On Truth Patrol this man put his life on the line for others there is no higher calling..
	Report Comment Can't Believe This, (12/6/2008 11:31:40 AM) Well, this I can believe. Heroic, objective application of training tempered with measured instinct and skill in face of extreme circumstances (his wife and children were in danger). Should be submitted for national consideration for law enforcement officer of the year. Exceptional.
	Report Comment tinarae671, DFW (12/6/2008 5:08:56 PM) GOOD JOB!
	Report Comment Autumn, (12/8/2008 3:44:15 PM) Trooper Robinson, thank you very much for your bravery. And thank your wife, also, for her quick thinking. You both saved a lot of lives.
	Report Comment Fast Mouse, South Bend (12/8/2008 7:12:44 PM) What an amazing story. Is this getting any national coverage at all? I haven't seen it on any of the major tickers. I found the link to this article from a blog I read. People not only need to know what a hero this guy is but also that we're definitely not safe from terrorist attacks. ~T the D
	Report Comment ROUGHNECK, Tulsa (12/9/2008 1:06:24 AM) Mess with a man's family in such a manner and see what kind of instincts you might awaken in him...outstanding sir I salute you for carrying yourself this way...you are much more intrepid than me I think... What became of the perp?
	Report Comment What in the World!, Hometown Tulsa, OK (12/9/2008 11:26:46 AM) Great job Robinson! You not only saved your family but others as well!
	Report Comment janetv, Tulsa (12/9/2008 2:46:29 PM) Standing ovation!!! CLAP CLAP CLAP Thank you. The extra ammo the person had with him indicates he wanted to fire a lot of shots. Officer Robinson's family was already safe outside when he bravely went in.
	Report Comment zTruth, Tulsa (12/9/2008 3:13:53 PM) The man was praying to Allah to help him carry out his mission! Thank God for trooper Robinson.

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