Police in Mesa, Arizona, are investigating after a father had to lunge to stop a gun from being pulled on his wife and himself during a business meeting.The chaotic scene was caught on camera at Chef's Shared Kitchen in Mesa.Watch the scene unfold in the video above.Tom Toot, who is the life partner of the owner, but not an employee, was having an exit interview with Solomon Odubhao and his wife Brittney Myers. Toot told them he handled scheduling and operations for the kitchen.They were being forced from the prep kitchen after being given 30 days notice, they told ABC15. The couple operates a food truck called 'WhachaCookin.'During the meeting with Toot the conversation became tense. It is not currently known what was being said during the conversation."He told us we were contaminating their whole kitchen," Myers said."I was like, cool, I’m not going to tolerate no disrespect towards me or my wife," Odubhao said."Then he just reached for his gun," said Myers. "I immediately braced myself like, 'Oh my God, we are going to get shot.'""I went with my instincts," Odubhao said.Odubhao leapt at Toot and grabbed hold of the gun before it could be removed. For about 11 minutes, Odubhao held onto the weapon while Myers called the police."I kept pleading on the 911 call, 'My husband is not the suspect. He’s African-American. He’s fighting the guy with a gun. His hand is on the weapon, but please whatever you do, do not shoot him,'" Myers said.Police arrived and instructed both men to put their hands on their head. Toot was tasered.Toot has been charged with aggravated assault, and is no longer allowed back at the scene.In a statement sent to ABC15, Michelle Skura, the lawyer representing Toot, said:"Mr. Toot enjoys the presumption of innocence under the 5th and 14th amendments of the US Constitution. As such the State has the burden of proof and not Mr. Toot to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the crime he is being accused of. Mr. Toot deserves the opportunity to defend himself and to be judged by a court of law and not the court of public opinion.Candice is a business woman and Tom is disabled veteran, both of them have worked and served alongside people from all walks of life and have never discriminated against anyone regardless of race, sexual orientation or religious preference. Prior to this incident they had never been accused of being racist and are sickened by the allegation."
Police in Mesa, Arizona, are investigating after a father had to lunge to stop a gun from being pulled on his wife and himself during a business meeting.
The chaotic scene was caught on camera at Chef's Shared Kitchen in Mesa.
Watch the scene unfold in the video above.
Tom Toot, who is the life partner of the owner, but not an employee, was having an exit interview with Solomon Odubhao and his wife Brittney Myers. Toot told them he handled scheduling and operations for the kitchen.
They were being forced from the prep kitchen after being given 30 days notice, they told ABC15. The couple operates a food truck called 'WhachaCookin.'
During the meeting with Toot the conversation became tense. It is not currently known what was being said during the conversation.
"He told us we were contaminating their whole kitchen," Myers said.
"I was like, cool, I’m not going to tolerate no disrespect towards me or my wife," Odubhao said.
"Then he just reached for his gun," said Myers. "I immediately braced myself like, 'Oh my God, we are going to get shot.'"
"I went with my instincts," Odubhao said.
Odubhao leapt at Toot and grabbed hold of the gun before it could be removed. For about 11 minutes, Odubhao held onto the weapon while Myers called the police.
"I kept pleading on the 911 call, 'My husband is not the suspect. He’s African-American. He’s fighting the guy with a gun. His hand is on the weapon, but please whatever you do, do not shoot him,'" Myers said.
Police arrived and instructed both men to put their hands on their head. Toot was tasered.
Toot has been charged with aggravated assault, and is no longer allowed back at the scene.
In a statement sent to ABC15, Michelle Skura, the lawyer representing Toot, said:
"Mr. Toot enjoys the presumption of innocence under the 5th and 14th amendments of the US Constitution. As such the State has the burden of proof and not Mr. Toot to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the crime he is being accused of. Mr. Toot deserves the opportunity to defend himself and to be judged by a court of law and not the court of public opinion.
Candice is a business woman and Tom is disabled veteran, both of them have worked and served alongside people from all walks of life and have never discriminated against anyone regardless of race, sexual orientation or religious preference. Prior to this incident they had never been accused of being racist and are sickened by the allegation."
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