Two people went out of their way to help a police officer in an arrest turned almost deadly in Linden, Texas.
Officer Sharon Gillespie attempted to arrest Andrew Gray, but ended up needing some help.
Two people went out of their way to help a police officer in an arrest turned almost deadly in Linden, Texas.
Two people went out of their way to help a police officer in an arrest turned almost deadly in Linden, Texas.
Officer Sharon Gillespie attempted to arrest Andrew Gray, but ended up needing some help.
“She told him he was under arrest. When she pulled her handcuffs out, he spun around and grabbed hold of her,” Linden Police Chief Alton McWaters told CBS News.
Patrick Coughlan, a musician and businessman, saw the two wrestling on the ground and witnessed Gray take Gillespie’s gun.
“They wrassled there for a little while and then a man ran up beside them and grabbed it and took it out of his hand,” said McWaters.
But Gray continued to wrestle with Gillespie and Coughlan until a second bystander stepped in to assist. The woman, who requested anonymity, sat on top of the people in the struggle until Officer Gillespie could regain control of her gun and the situation.
“He meant to shoot her—there’s no doubt in my mind. If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know what would have happened,” McWaters said. “I don’t think it would have turned out very well.”

Caswell Live Fire has spun off from parent company InVeris, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Caswell’s founding. Over the past 100 years, Caswell has developed pioneering solutions that support military, law enforcement, and commercial clients worldwide.
Read More →Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips with a yellow headline that reads When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?
Read More →In this video, hear from Dustin Mowery, a product specialist at Team Wendy, as he discusses how to best use a patrol vehicle for cover.
Read More →
While a patrol vehicle offers some cover protection when taking fire, remain mobile and don’t stick to one piece of cover indefinitely. Dustin Mowery, of Team Wendy, shares what he teaches about using vehicles as cover.
Read More →Recruit Officer Jon-Marques Psalms, 30, reportedly suffered a medical emergency after completing a training exercise on Wednesday August 20, 2025, at the Academy.
Read More →The webinar titled “Beyond the Plate: Real-Time Video Intelligence for Police Operations” will show how pairing LPR data with live camera feeds delivers faster, safer, and more coordinated responses on everything from stolen vehicles to active BOLOs.
Read More →
A great bicycle officer has a strong service mentality, paramount knowledge of laws, a thirst for new knowledge, and someone who can adapt to change easily. If this describes you, your agency's bicycle unit might be a good fit.
Read More →
You need to train like an elite athlete for the life-and-death challenge you may some day face on the job.
Read More →
The new artificial intelligence feature for MILO’s VR and Focus3D simulators gives trainees a chance to practice and refine their communications skills while working scenarios.
Read More →