The Horn News

Proudly American, Fiercely Independent

Get in the loop!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Privacy Policy

One moment, please:

Processing your submission

  • Home
  • Politics
  • National News
  • Money
  • International
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • America Unleashed

Good guys win! Armed hero saves cop’s life

November 15, 2016 By: Stephen Dietrich

  • Facebook
  • linkedin
  • Post

The war on cops is spiraling out of control, but not all hope is lost. In Florida, one heroic citizen proved there are good citizens still willing to do what’s right for our men and women in blue.

A routine traffic stop on Interstate 75 in Estero, Florida Monday morning resulted in a high speed chase that ended in a deadly confrontation between the criminal suspect and a police officer.

This time, the criminal suspect ended up dead. But without an armed Good Samaritan, the result could have been much different.

It all began around 9:30 a.m. when a Lee County deputy was led on a car chase after the suspect refused to pull over. According to witnesses, after reaching an on-ramp the suspect got out of his car and lunged at the officer, Deputy Dean Bardes, a 12-year veteran of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect pinned the officer to the ground and was striking him repeatedly.

Luckily, a still-unidentified armed citizen witnessed the attack and — after several warnings — shot the suspected criminal three times, killing him.

“He just kept beating him and beating him, throwing him to the ground and punching him in all different directions,” Shana Holditch told WZVN.

Holditch said the suspect was relentless and, “refused to get off the officer and the officer kept yelling, ‘shoot him, shoot him, shoot him,’ and then he shot him.”

Bardes was hospitalized briefly and has since been released. The suspect later died, and authorities have said the investigation is continuing.

Pro-Second Amendment advocates say the incident proves the importance of concealed carry rights being available for good people.

 

— The Horn editorial team

 

About the Author

Stephen Dietrich

Stephen is a U.S. Army veteran with over a decade of combined experience in political commentary, economics, and news.

Comments

  1. DRD5508 says

    November 15, 2016 at 10:38 am

    Blue Lives Matter! Great job to my fellow CHL brother.

    • steve smith says

      November 15, 2016 at 11:30 am

      yes i agree job done to save a blue life no charges should be filed

      • Daniel says

        November 15, 2016 at 12:03 pm

        NICE JOB bad guy dead good guy alive.

        • Danny says

          November 15, 2016 at 2:12 pm

          I love it when the good guys win. The more this kind of stuff happens the bad guy might start thinking about what he’s doing because the more good guys we have out there the more times the bad guys will lose and sometimes lose BIG.

      • debdell says

        November 15, 2016 at 3:47 pm

        That was an easy decision – someone beating on a cop. Not much to think about when using your firearm. It is good the shooter was a good shot and didn’t shoot the cop by mistake. If he has a .45 cal he would have only needed 1 shot.

      • Arnie says

        November 15, 2016 at 4:16 pm

        He should recieve a commendation.

      • Arthur Hartsock says

        November 16, 2016 at 9:35 am

        Let’s hope no stupid public servant in Lee County, FL decides to charge this citizen with some sort of weapons violation. A similar situation in Levittown, PA is being handled less friendly to the armed citizen.

        • Amargomate says

          November 16, 2016 at 10:09 am

          If this HERO had a permit to concealed carry nothing is going to happen to him.
          In Florida the concept of self defense or in defense of other/s apply. No jury here ever, will convict in a case like this.
          And if they (politicians know this) put charges against this guy, and is not convicted, they will open the door to all kind lawsuits.

    • Gaston Montand says

      November 15, 2016 at 11:51 am

      It is hoped that the police learned that the first rule of patrolling. They should always work in pairs. Dean Bardes was lucky to have an armed helper.

      • Amargomate says

        November 16, 2016 at 10:15 am

        Well, what happen here is that many towns, small communities don’t have the budget to have two officers per car, per shifts.
        Is matter of money, no of Ignorance on the part of the officers.

    • Keith Kelder says

      November 15, 2016 at 12:58 pm

      Thanks to the person that saved the Deputy

    • Judy says

      November 15, 2016 at 1:13 pm

      Gave me goose bumps. So proud of the armed citizen that killed him.

    • JIM Mc says

      November 15, 2016 at 2:10 pm

      THIS IS WHY ONE MAN CARS ARE NOT SAFE TO DAY,.TWO OFFICERS SHOULD BE IN PATROL CARS . AND NO I AM NO A POLICE OFFICER .

      • R Russell says

        November 17, 2016 at 12:13 am

        Unfortunately, if some dirt bag is going to target LEO’s, it won’t necessarily stop the killing of officers.
        Just look at recent shootings when there were two officers in a car. It just goes to show, LEO’s must be on their toes ALL THE TIME and take nothing for granted.

    • Norman says

      November 15, 2016 at 2:25 pm

      Amen to that!

    • ol says

      November 15, 2016 at 2:51 pm

      Praise the Lord !

    • Constitutionalist says

      November 15, 2016 at 7:21 pm

      “But to be in conflict with the constitution, it is not essential that the act should contain a prohibition against bearing arms in every possible form—it is the right to bear arms in defence of the citizens and the state, that is secured by the constitution, and whatever restrains the full and complete exercise of that right, though not an entire destruction of it, is forbidden by the explicit language of the constitution. If, therefore, the act in question imposes any restraint on the right, immaterial what appellation may be given to the act, whether it be an act regulating the manner of bearing arms or any other, the consequence, in reference to the constitution, is precisely the same, and its collision with that instrument equally obvious. … The right existed at the adoption of the constitution; it had then no limits short of the moral power of the citizens to exercise it, and it in fact consisted in nothing else but in the liberty of the citizens to bear arms. Diminish that liberty, therefore, and you necessarily restrain the right; … For, in principle, there is no difference between a law prohibiting the wearing [of] concealed arms, and a law forbidding the wearing such as are exposed; and if the former is unconstitutional, the latter must be so likewise.”
      — Kentucky Supreme Court, Bliss v. Commonwealth, 12 KY. (2 LITT.) 90 (Kentucky 1822) reprinted in THE FOUNDERS’ CONSTITUTION, Volume Five (Amendments I-XII) p. 212-213 (Univ. of Chicago Press).

      So the questions are:
      Why does carrying concealed require “permission” of anyone AT ALL?
      What’s the difference between carrying concealed and carrying openly, anyway?
      Do the gov’t agents who “issue” or “grant” such “permissions” and “licenses” collect and disseminate all your information? Why do they do that, do you think?

      Kinda reminds me of a story i read recently:

      An 87-yr-old woman was speeding, and a cop pulled her over; when he asked for her license/registration/insurance, he happened to notice that she also had a concealed carry permit.
      So he said, “Ma’am, do you have any weapons with you today?”
      “Sure do,” she replied, “Got my 45 in the glovebox.”
      “Uh, ok…” said the officer, “Do you have any other weapons?
      “Yep,” she said, “Got my 9mm in the center console.”
      “…Riiight…” said the cop, ‘And is that all the firearms you have with you today?”
      “Nope,” she answered, “I’ve also got my snub-nosed 38 in my purse.”
      “Wow,” said the cop, “What are you afraid of?”
      “Not a damn thing,” she said, “Nothing and nobody at all.”

      • Ms.Vickie T says

        November 15, 2016 at 11:56 pm

        This lady sounds just like my Momma!! Thanks for the laugh!! God bless!!

      • Amargomate says

        November 16, 2016 at 10:22 am

        That exactly the fabric of been an American…

        God blessed her !!!…

    • RMF says

      November 15, 2016 at 8:14 pm

      A-Men

  2. John G. says

    November 15, 2016 at 10:50 am

    Excellent – I would reacted the same.

  3. M Jane Deneen says

    November 15, 2016 at 10:51 am

    Thank God for the armed citizen. He did it right. I’m glad he was there to help the officer. We are seeing so much of this attacks against our men and women in blue. We citizens need to step up and let the bad guys know, no more. We are going to be part of the solution to help our great USA, not part of the bad guy problem whose only interest is their own. God Bless our men and women in Blue and conceiled carrier armed citizens!

    • Keith Kelder says

      November 15, 2016 at 1:17 pm

      Thank You

  4. rick says

    November 15, 2016 at 10:54 am

    We need to support our men and woman in blue in anyway we canr

  5. Sid Garner says

    November 15, 2016 at 10:58 am

    GOOD ARTICLE! The lame-stream media would NEVER report on this unless the armed citizen had been arrested, then it would have been the lead story nationwide.

    • Amargomate says

      November 16, 2016 at 10:52 am

      Exactly!!…
      But we have the tool to combat against this traitors. Because they are traitors.

      OUR MONEY… Let’s NOT expend our money on them.
      NO MONEY for papers, for magazines, for the products they advertise.
      On the last option, the best way is to let know the people that used them to promote they products, that WE will NOT BUY them. End of the story.
      Hitting them in their pockets, and you’l see how fast the bend…

      As an example… look a the Times…. begging their readers not to cancel their subscriptions, promising that from now on they will do honest journalism.

      What ???… This means then, that they knew they were being dishonest and continued to do so?…

      People… we don’t need them… we have the WEB…
      If anyone wants to know about left, right, socialism, communism, capitalism and all the isms that come to mind … all are here .. on the Internet ….

      And mostly …. FREE..
      And the best part is that YOU… AND ONLY YOU… and your consciousness,
      will take the decision of what to think, what to say, and what to opine on any subject.

      His hard to take the time to make our voices be heard, but who say that life is easy?…

  6. Jerry Branson says

    November 15, 2016 at 11:01 am

    I did not see any news on this in the liberal media. Another example of why we need the Second Amendment.

    • Keith Kelder says

      November 15, 2016 at 12:59 pm

      Exactly Right!!

  7. Sharon says

    November 15, 2016 at 11:08 am

    Hurray for the guy that shot the freak ! Glad the officer will be all right. Need more citizens like this guy. Bravo.

    • Keith Kelder says

      November 15, 2016 at 1:04 pm

      Sorry to say here in NY the Liberal Politicians would have this Hero that saved this officer locked up!!!

      • Amargomate says

        November 16, 2016 at 11:10 am

        Of course… with Comrade DiBlasio at the helm… you can’t expect any different.

        You must remember that for the left , the only people with the right to carry arms are the police and their bodyguards.
        Then, they tie the police hands and what’s left ?..
        US…. UNPROTECTED… and waiting for the police, that can’t do anything either, because his hands are tied by regulations that impose more hardships to them that top the criminals.

        By the way, I’m a former New Yorker. I know what I’m talking about.

  8. Justin W says

    November 15, 2016 at 11:10 am

    When citizens are armed many of these situations are able to be neutralized. The criminal is dead so that has saved taxpayers a lot of money. The office is alive. It sounds like a pretty good outcome to me.

  9. Rob c says

    November 15, 2016 at 11:13 am

    If Trump ok’s a nationwide conceal carry law the crime rates will drop fast. Hope he does, no reason my Missouri permit to carry concealed shouldn’t be recognized in all 50 states. Including California especially California since they have more gangs there than most other states.

    • Keith Kelder says

      November 15, 2016 at 1:09 pm

      Exactly right! If you have a carry permit from any state you should be able to carry in all states. President Elect Trump said he will make this happen

      • Bob Morrow says

        November 15, 2016 at 3:29 pm

        I hope consealed carry permit become a federal permit valid in all 50 states. Liberal states wil never allow consealed carry and it is not fair. Maryland you have to document you are under threat of bodily harm to even be considered if you are an ordinary citizen. By the time you doucment you are under bodily threat, you could be dead!

      • Ms.Vickie T says

        November 16, 2016 at 12:22 am

        I guess I missed that one, Keith. Thanks for that information. The Constitution tells us that we have the right to bear arms. How is it that individual states can say no? Man, President Elect Trump and Vice President Elect Pence have a huge task before them to clean up this mess we are in. Thank GOD that they know what they have to do and have the energy, stamina and fortitude to accept their responsibility to us all. I’m so very grateful for them and those who will be helping them to get things done to right the wrongs perpetrated by the current POTUS and those before him.

        Please continue to pray for our new leaders, our country and our citizens. God bless!!

  10. CW says

    November 15, 2016 at 11:17 am

    Good, glad that savage was shot dead as a mange dog in the street and the LEO is alive and well. America is NO LONGER tolerating this attack on our LEO’s and the rule of law. NO MORE!!!!

    • Alan Humphries says

      November 15, 2016 at 12:42 pm

      I agree and hope to see more of these feel good stories in the near future. LEO’S aren’t super heroes and sometimes are over matched.That’s when people like us become the Sheepdog.I will absolutely do my part to assist my local LE Officer’s.

      • Danny says

        November 15, 2016 at 2:18 pm

        I love that Alan. There are 3 types of people. You have the 98 percent ( sheep ) then you have the wolfs who are no good and then us The SHEEPDOGS who will take care of the wolfs. Thanks to the sheepdog who helped our good friend in blue.

    • Keith Kelder says

      November 15, 2016 at 1:10 pm

      Thank You

  11. Nellie says

    November 15, 2016 at 11:23 am

    BLESS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT and OUR COUNTRY.
    Good job, thanks to armed Citizens.

  12. Joe says

    November 15, 2016 at 11:34 am

    ALL LIVES MATTER..I WOULD HAVE DONE THE DAME THING ..ONLY SAVE ON AMMO..1 HOLLOWPOINT WOULD HAVE DONE IT RIGHT !!!

    • Keith Kelder says

      November 15, 2016 at 1:11 pm

      You got it

  13. Susan Dix says

    November 15, 2016 at 11:57 am

    With all of the insane things that are going on right now, I am glad the right outcome happened.
    Many criminals are running amok, one armed patriot saved the day for law and order.
    Thank you to the brave law abiding citizen.
    There are many who can and will start doing the same.

    • Keith Kelder says

      November 15, 2016 at 1:14 pm

      Count me in

  14. Gary Weeks says

    November 15, 2016 at 12:00 pm

    It also emphasizes one very simple yet important fact, we “ALL” need to practice those types of situations and make sure we are loaded with the proper ammo. This could have gone so very bad…poor aiming technique, round passes through and hits BLUE. So, we all need to practice and know our loads for each weapon(s) we carry to ensure the proper outcome.

    • Keith Kelder says

      November 15, 2016 at 1:15 pm

      You are spot on

    • Danny says

      November 15, 2016 at 2:29 pm

      You are so right Gray. That is something I didn’t think about. Good job bringing that out. God bless our men and women in blue without them it would be a whole different world.

  15. Alan Humphries says

    November 15, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    One word,OUTSTANDING!!!!!

  16. Alan Humphries says

    November 15, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    One word,OUTSTANDING!!!!!

  17. Dagonet says

    November 15, 2016 at 1:31 pm

    COPS need to promote 2nd Amendment rights! That’s how this cop can pay back the RESPONSIBLY armed cititzen and our law abiding communities.

  18. Guntoter says

    November 15, 2016 at 1:44 pm

    A GOOD GUY with a gun, made all the difference. obama. hillary, Schumer ,Pilosi, Reid, Warren, ETC.ETC. HMMMM???? (maybe I have been WRONG about LEGAL citizens and guns ALL the time.) This thought MUST SURELY cross their addled minds occasionally.

    • Ms.Vickie T says

      November 16, 2016 at 12:38 am

      Guntoter, I seriously doubt that thought ever crossed their minds. First of all, they don’t give a crap about our law enforcement officers or our military. Second, they are afraid of all of us concealed carry citizens. The reasoning for that I think is pretty clear.

  19. keepyourpower says

    November 15, 2016 at 3:00 pm

    As a former LEO, I welcome the Concealed Carry, or Open Carry, in the USA. As long as these good people are truly trained in how to respect the gun, and use it properly…I am all for it.

    I could have used some back up, many times, in my former police life! Most of the time, I had no back up at all!

    • Ms.Vickie T says

      November 16, 2016 at 12:46 am

      Sir, I thank you for stepping up to the plate to protect the people. It’s a thankless job much of the time. I’m grateful that you survived it. Keep your skills honed, we may see some rough times ahead and can use all of the help we can get. God bless!!

  20. Errol says

    November 15, 2016 at 3:13 pm

    Out of respect, I would like to pour some expensive whiskey on the grave of the shooting victim. I hope nobody minds if the liquid passes thru my body first.

  21. George says

    November 15, 2016 at 4:52 pm

    Unfortunately, this story will never make it on the nightly news. Thankfully it was a citizen armed with a gun not a cell phone. I can just imagine all the anti-gun citizens standing there with their cell phones out, doing nothing, while an officer is being brutally assaulted.

  22. Donna B. says

    November 15, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    GOD BLESS OUR “MEN IN BLUE”. THEY DESERVE ALL THE PUBLIC SUPPORT THEY CAN GET. THEY RISK THEIR LIVES FOR US EVERY DAY!!

  23. James R. says

    November 15, 2016 at 7:45 pm

    No one is ever happy when a human life is ended.
    That being said, the civilian acted heroically and did the job that needed to be done. Thank you, Sir. The officer and his family will be forever grateful for your intervention, and also for our Second Amendment rights that allowed you to be at the right place – at the right time – and the skills to carry it out.
    I know it was a difficult position. I hope you are not troubled by your proper response… you did the right thing – the only thing – that was appropriate under the circumstances.

  24. Mike E says

    November 16, 2016 at 12:45 pm

    I am a Vet and I have a permit to carry and as this guy did I would not hesitate to help a policeman in trouble. I am sure you will get the same or similar answer from other Veterans that carry. Most of us have been under fire and we all took an Oath to defend and we know that our Oath did not end with the end of our active military time. In the times we are in now, if a policeman needs help he/she can count on a Vet to not turn away in fear and go all in to help defend our family in “blue”.

  25. Nw1583 says

    November 18, 2016 at 5:07 pm

    Latest info is citizen who shot deputy’s assailant was given a new replacement firearm by a local gun shop. (his is being held in evidence). Best part is 2 deputies escorted the citizen to pick it up and no charges look to be filed. Love happy endings.

GAM slot1

POPULAR

  • Boxer Floyd “Money” Mayweather earns his nickname in bizarre Vegas arrest
  • Ex-NHL star dead at 47 from mystery illness
  • Grammy-nominated rapper sentenced to 20 years in prison
  • Ageless! Soccer star Messi does unthinkable in sixth World Cup
  • Beloved country music star files for divorce
  • Fowl play? Viral mascot takes over World Cup
  • JD Vance’s liberal TV debut goes off the rails (shocker!)
  • UFC 250 will “never happen again” says…

GAM slot2

GAM slot3

GAM slot4

  • Sign Up Now
  • About Us
  • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Join FREE

Copyright © 2026 | NewMarket Health Publishing, LLC