War Story: Boot Scootin’ Boogie

Editor’s Note: from time to time we’ll catch one of Jim Cavanaugh’s “War Stories” shared on social media. His tales from days serving in law enforcement are too good to miss, and he has agreed to allow us to share them with Brownwood News readers.

Written by Jim Cavanaugh – I was having lunch one day at Panama Hatties with some Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office folks from the north Sub Station.

One got a call for assistance in that lovely area known as Cabana Colony. It seems the Sheriff’s Office had warrants and a bunch of idiots were inside the house. Our table volunteered to help, so we all left and went over to join the fun.

Being a “Fed” and not sure all the uniform deputies would recognize me, I put on my Bureau raid jacket and grabbed the ball cap from my trunk before running to the back of the residence. By the time I got there, people were coming out doors and windows trying to escape.

Each of the deputies had grabbed on to some, so I reached out and grabbed one and took him to the ground as another ran by. I grabbed him as I stood with my cowboy boot on the neck of the first one.

Everything settled down and all were cuffed and loaded into cars for transport to the jail.

Months later I got a subpoena to state court.

The guy I had on the ground was on the stand testifying about “some crazy cop” standing on his neck. The defense attorney asked if he could ID the cop. All he could say was the cop had cowboy boots on…

I quickly slid my feet under the bench while several of the detectives looked at me and laughed.