'They were laughing their asses off'

POST FALLS — Gary Dagastine served in the Navy and had a long career with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. He’s seen and been through a lot. Little rattles him.

But a recent encounter with three teens did.

“Rude and inconsiderate,” he said.

The Post Falls man was recently entering the Walmart store with his wife, Beth, who has battled health problems and uses a walker, when the kids came “blasting out” the doors, Dagastine said.

As the teens ran past, one pulled on the walker. Beth Dagastine nearly fell over, saved by her husband who held her up and shouted at the kids. They shouted obscenities in return as they ran off.

“They would have knocked her over if I didn’t have a hold of her,” he said.

Gary Dagastine said it was probably a good thing he had to hold his wife, who had just been in the hospital and was tired. Otherwise, he said he would have chased the teens.

“I would have tackled them,” he said.

The teens weren't apologetic. 

“They were laughing their asses off,” he said.

Dagastine commented about the encounter on social media. Responses, more than 100, came fast and furious. 

They included:

•  “You should have gone after those little jerks. Someone has to teach them. They aren't getting it at home."

•  "I had a kid kick my cane out from under me in Winco. it’s offensive and makes you feel so unsafe! it totally backfired on him tho, cuz i was in line and several ppl saw him do it. needless to say, him and his buddies got schooled, not only by me, but others. it takes a village."

• "Sorry that happened. So many disrespectful and rude people. Not just teenagers these days. I can't imagine any if my kids, gran or great grandkids ever doing something like that. More like chasing them down and forcing them back to apologize,  yes."

• "I would've lost it and thrown them to the ground! I'm sure their parents are real proud!"

Dagastine did not report the incident to police.

Jared Reneau of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department said they haven’t had any reports of similar situations, but if they did, they would investigate.

Such behavior isn’t new to Dagastine. He said he once saw kids obstruct and mock a man in a wheelchair trying to go through a store doorway.

“What can you do?" Dagastine asked.