Has It Come To This? The Air Conditioning Repairman

SHORT ANSWER, YES....READ ON OH GENTLE READER

By LYDA LONGA, Staff Writer Daytona Beach News
July 2, 2012 10:30 AM

STAN NGUYEN WAS unhappy with the job his air conditioner repairman did on the unit at his residence, so Nguyen decided to hold the worker at gunpoint until the job was done right, sheriff's officials said this morning.

But the repairman -- unharmed -- was able to call for help at about 9 p.m. Friday, said Volusia County sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught.

Repairman Sean Hickman had gone to Nguyen's house at the 2300 block of Statler Terrace on Friday to repair the unit, a report shows. When Hickman began explaining the unit's problem to Nguyen, the homeowner became angry and refused to pay Hickman, the report shows.

Nguyen, 54, claimed Hickman ruined the unit, the report shows.

Hickman said he attempted to give Nguyen an invoice for the work; on the 9-1-1 call made by Hickman, the repairman also told Nguyen that he would be hearing from his attorney.

At that point, Nguyen pulled out a gun and pointed it at the ground, attempting to fire the weapon, the report shows. The safety was on the weapon though and it did not fire.

But then Nguyen removed the safety and that's when Hickman took cover behind his van. Hickman called for help and said Nguyen was pointing the gun in his direction and threatening to shoot him if he tried to leave, the report says.

A few minutes before Hickman telephoned for help, Nguyen's son Stephen Nguyen, called 9-1-1, saying the repairman had "fried" the air conditioner and was refusing to leave their residence.

Nguyen was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.