[blam]

"I know these are unsettling incidents, but I suspect that if this had happened in a parking garage in Texas or Oklahoma, the perp would have gathered a convoy of armed citizens while trying to flee."

I agree. We have had 'citizen arrests' around here like you describe.

[aristeides]

If the van is booby-trapped with explosives, such a citizens' arrest would kill fewer law enforcement people, but it might kill more civilians.