Logic dictates that two officers can better control a resistive suspect than one officer could. However, executing a takedown against a resistive suspect can be problematic when more than one officer is involved. Invariably, the officers work independently instead of as a team. As a result, each officer nullifies the other's takedown attempt. Eventually both officers and the suspect fall to the ground in a pile. To remedy this problem, officers need to have a plan and work together to control the suspect, take him to the ground and handcuff him.
What's the problem?
Without question, when two officers grab hold of a suspect, they are safer than if only one grabbed him. That's because they can more effectively control the suspect's arms. This prevents the suspect from being able to strike the officers or access a weapon (including an officer's weapon).
Leg reaps, trips, joint manipulation and pain compliance-based takedowns tend to be more difficult to execute when two officers are involved. That's because the second officer actually stabilizes the suspect as the first officer tries to take him down and vice-versa.
Despite the fact that arrest situations typically involve more than one officer, most officers receive very little training in two-officer takedown tactics. Being unable to take the suspect to the ground can be frustrating and exhausting for the involved officers. Remember, generally speaking, the longer officers are engaged in a struggle with a suspect, the greater the likelihood that the officers and or the suspect will be injured.
Communication is key
Much of the two-officer takedown dilemma can be attributed to a lack of communication. Oftentimes, both officers yell for the suspect to get on the ground. The problem is that one officer may be trying to take the suspect onto his back while the other tries to place the suspect in a prone position. If one officer is significantly larger, stronger, or more proficient than the other officer, he could very well take down both the suspect and his partner, which could result in one or both of them sustaining significant injury.
When two or more officers are working together to get a suspect to the ground, they need to be able to communicate clearly between themselves and with the suspect. For instance, when officers are trying to take the suspect onto his back, one or both officers could simply command the suspect to get on his back as opposed to just telling him to get on the ground. Not only does this instruction tell the suspect specifically what he needs to do, it signals the officer's intent to his partner. When both officers are attempting to take the suspect onto his back, they have a much better chance of accomplishing that task.
Take him to his back
Taking the suspect onto his back might not seem as advantageous as taking him onto his stomach, since placing the suspect in a prone position for handcuffing is the ultimate goal. However, when two officers are involved, it is significantly easier to take the suspect onto his back than his stomach. That's because it's harder for the suspect to resist being pulled backward than forward. If the officers tried to pull the suspect down into a prone position, the suspect could step forward to maintain his balance relatively easily. It's much more difficult for the suspect to regain his balance when he's pulled backward. For this reason, taking the suspect onto his back seems to be the most efficient way to get him to the ground.
Roll him over
Once the suspect is on his back, one officer can transition from upper arm control to wrist control by sliding his hands along the suspect's arm. It's important that the officer not let go of the suspect's upper arm during the transition to wrist control. This could afford the suspect with a window of opportunity to escape. Once the officer establishes a firm hold on the suspect's wrist, he pulls the suspect's arm to straighten it as much as possible.
With the suspect's other arm out of the way, the second officer folds the suspect's arm and pushes on the triceps to force the arm across the suspect's body. This enables the officer to roll the suspect onto his stomach. Ideally the officer will remain standing but in some cases, the officer may need to transition to a "hip press" position by placing his chest against the suspect's side and pushing off the ground with the balls of his feet to distribute his body weight over the suspect. The officer should keep his knees off the ground to ensure he is exerting enough force on the suspect to roll him onto his stomach and pin him to the ground. The officer should control the suspect's arm to prevent him from using it to attack the officers or push himself up.
Prone handcuffing
Once the suspect is on his stomach, the officers can work together to apply handcuffs. This can be accomplished any number of ways, including by transitioning to a twist lock or shoulder lock. If there is a third officer, he can control the suspect's legs by crossing his ankles and applying downward pressure, employing the figure-4 leg lock, or wrapping his arms around the suspect's lower legs.
When it comes to controlling, taking down, and handcuffing a suspect, two or three officers are definitely better than one. But this is true only if the officers have a plan and work as a team. The technique presented here is a way but by no means the only way of taking down a resistive suspect.
If you haven't experienced the "two-officer takedown dilemma," you probably will. Find a couple of willing training partners and hit the mat to see what works and what doesn't before it happens to you for real.
Always have a Plan B and never give up!