At first, Mike's plan was to just surprise him and use that to break free. But once he squeezed there was a very serious problem in front of him: retaliation. If he let go, Briggs would bring it back on him, ten fold. He had the tiger by the tail, so to speak. So he couldn't let go. Not until Briggs was on the ground and not moving.

Only then did he let go and back away. He even had his hands spread at about chest level, showing to both parties involved that he wasn't going to make another move. Not yet.

"See?!" He said to the camera. "I won't kill him! I can't!"