Edhat Staff
Source: Santa Barbara Police Department
Pedestrian-packed State Street Alarmed by Gun-Waving Aggressor, Police swiftly disarm rogue bodyguard brandishing weapon
On Thursday, July 19, 2018 at about 3:24 in the afternoon, the Santa Barbara Police Department Combined Communications Center was inundated with 911 calls reporting a rapidly escalating road rage incident involving the brandishing of a gun, happening in full view of the pedestrian-packed 1000 block of State Street.
Two men occupying the front seat of a southbound parked large purple-toned Lexus SUV verbally tangled with an older male victim who exited his now parked silver convertible two-door Porsche and hobbled with the assistance of a cane towards the two in the SUV.
The male driver of the SUV, later identified as Chris Michael Bair, a 34-year-old Orange County bodyguard, continued to yell and verbally threaten the victim. In a fit of anger, the subject pointed a fully-loaded and bullet-chambered 40-caliber Glock handgun directly at the older man, claiming he had the right to do so because he posed a valid concealed carry permit.
Within minutes of the initial 911 report, numerous officers responded to the scene with lights and sirens. The first officers to arrive on scene discovered a vehicle matching the description of the one called in by witnesses and took the two subjects inside it into custody at gunpoint.
Subsequently, during the course of the investigation, multiple witness statements corroborated that the older man remained the victim throughout the confrontation.
Bair was booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail for brandishing of a gun and making felony terrorist threats toward the male victim, and remains there on $50,000 bail.
We walked by this mess after he was in custody. Shall we put a price tag on this incident of Mr. “professional” bodyguard’s tantrum? Easily half dozens squad cars involved and plenty more than that officers. The block shut down, tourists gawking (instead of shopping). So, does his concealed carry permit go “bye-bye” forever now? Does it? It damned well better. You shame and embarrass responsible gun owners Mr. Bair. Or at least you should.
Thanks NRA.
Knowing that people like this are out there with a CCW permit and think it gives them a “right” to do this, is very unsettling. Don’t you have to take a class or show some knowledge of the law to get the permit? Obviously, it’s not a very rigorous course. Wow, just wow.
No color mentioned when white.
“But, why would the older man get out of his car….. he should NOT have done that.”
Nice blaming of the victim. I’m sure he didn’t expect someone to stick a gun in his face when he got out of his car … which there’s no reason in the world why he should not have done.
“Was the bodyguard/ guy with the gun, actually working, and was the body guard for his passenger? ”
This is completely irrelevant … and there’s no particular reason to think either of those is true, but they might be.
“Don’t you have to take a class or show some knowledge of the law to get the permit?”
No, not at all in this country. It’s sad, after all the debate about guns, that anyone would not know this.
Jeez, what’s your problem? I thought you had to take a class.
And there goes another responsible gun owner… with anger management issues and a conceal carry permit from Orange County. Thanks OC.
Thanks Horsegirl! HA! Who’s “sad” now Mr./Mrs. 2:22AM?
White what? No color was mentioned at all. Also, does it matter?