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# Guards could say it, not spray it
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/guards-could-say-it-not-spray-it-editor/
- Published: 2007-03-14T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T00:14:23.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless

*By “Lonesome George” Andrews Santa Monica*

(Re: “Peppery air,” March 2, page 7) I am George A. Bingaman, the “homeless” man to which you refer in your article. At no time did anyone approach me to hear my side of the story.

I went into Vons to get a soda and a bottle of Gatorade, and when I went back outside, decided to sit and have a little soda and relax before going on. My heartbeat was a little fast. When I came out, I sat in a location where a young man had been sitting when I went in, so I figured it was OK to sit there (Von’s has removed their canopied chairs and tables). I am 60 years old and officially disabled, and just needed a brief rest.

No sooner had I sat down then this young security guard comes walking up and demands that I pick up my stuff and leave immediately. She does not ask me politely — as is standard security protocol — but demands. I’ve worked a lot of hard hours, days, weeks and months of security work and am highly trained in protocol and procedures... in fact, some of the best training in the world. I’ve even worked with police departments and sheriffs’ offices as a Command Post Commander, an in-office Control Center Dispatch Lieutenant, as well as in the field. In fact, I’m thinking someone should check out this young security guard’s card and see if she has a pepper spray permit.

Anyway, when I didn’t do as she wanted, immediately, she pulls out her canister of pepper spray and stands over me and directs it right toward my face. Now, she’s standing, I’m seated on the concrete with my back against the store wall. In other words — I’m trapped, cornered. Anything I do would be self-defense. Of course, I didn’t swing at her — and anyone who knows me will tell you that even the idea of me swinging on anyone is completely ridiculous. I got up and went inside the store to tell the manager that he had an out-of-control security guard whom he should get off the property as soon as possible. I reminded him that all he needed to do was to call the security company and ask them to send another officer to relieve her and take her place.

When I went back outside, I had pulled out my card-pass case with my ID and my security card to show her that I, too, had worked security and understood what was happening. I started to sit back down and she started spraying. As per my training, I raised my arms to half height and turned around (back facing her) to avoid the spray. I could have blocked the spray with one palm and used the other hand to grab her wrist and twist her arm until she dropped the canister and then grabbed it and sprayed her to the pavement; but that would have been assault on my part.

Also, your story says “no other complaints of injury.” How about the fact that the paramedics were treating me for pepper spray to my eyes, nose and mouth? What if I were allergic to peppers? It could have been much worse.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 14, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/031407.pdf?ref=smdp.com)