Marine, neighbor draw weapons on Lawrence Co. suspect

LAWRENCE COUNTY, AL (WAFF) - One of the two men who subdued an armed man wanted for several alleged crimes, is talking about what happened.

Lawrence County Sheriff's investigators said 24-year-old Ryan Denham robbed a woman at gunpoint, stealing her car and money. This came after they say he tied up his own grandparents and stole the gun he used.

Brian Peters, a Marine who is no longer on active duty, said he and neighbor Curtis Bonar heard the suspect was in the area, and that he had just tried to rob another victim at gunpoint. So the two decided they needed to protect their families.

Authorities had warned people in the neighborhood on County Road 556 to go inside their homes as they looked for Ryan Denham.

Peters said he and his neighbor, Curtis Bonar, came to his house and said he saw Denham, with a rifle, coming close to them. Denham was walking in the woods. Peters got his AR-15, Bonar had his pistol, as they hunkered down in Peters' backyard.

Denham came out of the woods, focused on deputies looking for him, and was surprised when the two men drew on him, and Peters ordered him to drop his weapon. He did, walked to them with his hands behind his head, and they told him to lay down. He did, and within a minute, officers had Denham under arrest.

Peters said me he went to the same high school as Denham's mother, and that they are a good family. He says Denham is going through troubled times, and he hopes his arrest will help turn his life around.

"She has asked for prayers on Facebook for him, and of course I responded yes, I'd be glad to pray for him," Peters said. "I fell like maybe God had a hand in that. Right place at the right time. And everything worked out good. I'm hoping he gets the help he needs and he'll take the help, and he'll take whatever treatment they offer for him. because, you know, everyone has problems."

Ryan Denham is charged armed robbery. Investigators said they suspect he broke into a church. More charges are pending.

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