Posted on 07/22/2011 1:14:25 AM PDT by Straight Vermonter
Among the pressures facing police officiers working the streets of America is the rising number of people legally carrying concealed guns. But when one such licensee was pulled over in Canton, Ohio, an officer threatened to shoot him on the spot. Here's the chilling video.
The arrest took place in early June, but the video only came to light today from a group called Ohioans for Concealed Carry. They had been working on behalf of the driver of the Pontiac Grand Prix, known so far only as William, who was arrested and charged in the stop.
As the 17-minute dashcam video shows, the two Canton police officers see the car pulled over in a neighborhood and detain a male passenger and a woman standing outside, whom the officers quickly identify as a prostitute. After telling the driver to stay put, they detain the male passenger and search the back of the car for a few minutes.
Only after that search does Officer Daniel Harless start questioning William, some seven minutes into the video — who then admits, when he can get a word in, that he has a concealed weapon, and tries to show Harless his permit. When he discovers William's gun in his belt, Harless instead becomes enraged: "You are supposed to say that right off the goddamned bat!"
Right now, the shit that you just pulled, I could blast you right in the mouth...I am so close to caving in you're goddamn head...you're just a stupid human being...People like you don't deserve to move throughout public. Stupid idiot."
After searching the car, getting worked up with his partner, and hearing from police dispatch that William does indeed have a legal permit to carry a concealed weapon, Harless comes back to the cruiser where William has been detained:
I swear to God man this little bull crap you just pulled right now has got me so hot. You know what I should have done? I'll tell you what I should have done. As soon as I saw your gun, I should have taken two steps back, pulled my Glock 40 and just put ten bullets in your ass and let you drop. And I wouldn'tve lost any sleep. And he would have been a nice witness as I executed you because you're stupid.
William was charged with two misdemeanor counts; one for stopping in the roadway, and another for failing to inform officers of his weapons.
After the video surfaced, the Canton police announced that Harless had been put on indefinite suspension last month, and the case forwarded to Internal Affairs. Ohio gun activists are raising money for William's defense. And the rest of us get to hope the next misunderstanding ends more amicably, rather than less.
I certainly can’t excuse the officer’s conduct, but for background purposes, did something happen in either Ohio or the officer’s personal life that had him so on edge?
Ah, I didn't know that CCW license holders are required to offer that info immediately upon being stopped. ...even if they're not asked.
All I’ve ever heard is that it’s ALWAYS a good idea to tell them right away — that way there are no mistakes made, and no-one gets hurt... NOT telling the officer you are armed is a really easy way to get your head blown off. Especially if they’re asking you to exit your vehicle.
I’m guessing the police officer was more embarrassed than anything — he was completely unaware that the guy had a gun, and were it not a law-abiding citizen... well, in his head he’s probably thinking that he might not have gotten to go home ever again. That’s probably why he got so upset — more at himself, and probably at the driver, too because I don’t think cops WANT to shoot anyone unless they have to.
It’s kind of like the times when you have the right of way as a pedestrian, but the car turning isn’t going to stop — you have the right of way, but is it really worth risking your life to prove it?
Please note — I don’t personally have a CCW permit, so I don’t know all the laws that apply to it. Just seems to be common sense to me.
1) Excess steroid use has given him a very small penis.
Standard police intimidation factor.
I have to wonder how many folks would volunteer to be servants of the people if they were unarmed? The cops, not the people.
I should have added that the officer was way out of line in regards to how he handled the situation (obviously). Let’s all pray it’s a suspension that turns into a termination...
As a native of that part of Ohio I would have to say that the cop’s behavior was about what one could expect from the LEOs in the area.
U wonder WHY anyhody would be cop. What does a cop make now'days after all their training, degrees and experience? $29k?
What's the worth of low life scum-bag?
Definitely MORE than that for certain. WHY would anybody be a cop? It is MORE stupid than NOT to be an atheist.
Never assume the police know or understand the law, 98% don't.
He also tried to ask me a ton of questions and my only reply was "am I required
by law to answer your questions?". Yea, that pissed him off.
Of course. But how about if you're pulled over for a minor violation and you're not asked to exit the vehicle (as is most often the case). Should you immediately inform the officer that you have a CCW permit and that you're armed? Sounds to me like that's what this officer is saying.
6:53 Officer: “Why do you keep having that?”
The officer seems to mean the concealed carry permit that the driver has been offering up all along.
8:45 Officer: “It’s how f***ing cops get killed!”
Nonsense. People who fill out the forms, satisfy the requirements, and work through the process to get carry permits do not murder police officers. Traffic stops are dangerous for police, but concealed carry permits are not.
Incidentally, in some jurisdictions one is required to I.D. one’s self to peace officers upon demand, but beyond that experts recommend calmly and politely declining to answer questions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmrbNLt7Om8
bump
Good point... Hard to answer that one. It’d probably be safer to tell them right away so they don’t glimpse it by chance when you reach for your wallet for your license, or the glove-box for insurance. I’d have to think about that for a while though... Seems like it might open a can of worms that doesn’t really need to be opened.
Bastiat wasn’t an atheist; he wasn’t even agnostic. Perhaps he was stupid enough to be a cop? Yet I doubt you think him that dull.
I leave the obvious conflict for you to ponder; I cannot answer it for you.
according to salary.com, the average salary for a patrol officer in canton ohio is just under $50k/yr
not bad, considering it comes with a lifetime pension at the top of your pay grade for your career
as for this cop, he’s an idiot. if this was a bad guy, the cop and his partner would have been dead. they were lucky. instead of thanking his lucky stars, he informs the citizen that had he seen the gun, he would have shot him (brilliant... just what the public wants to know... there is now a high probability of getting killed if a moronic cop mistakes your cell for a gun)
i’m thinking the HR department needs to screen / test their people a bit more thoroughly
U wonder WHY anyhody would be cop. What does a cop make now’days after all their training, degrees and experience? $29k?
############
Cops in Dallas start at $42,890. plus very generous benefits. One needs two years of college or two years of military service to be hired.
A sergeant makes $81,966.00
That’s more money than the vast majority of the cops could make in the private sector. It’s also enough money that police departments don’t have to keep thugs on the payroll.
U wonder WHY anyhody would be cop. What does a cop make now’days after all their training, degrees and experience? $29k?
############
Cops in Dallas start at $42,890. plus very generous benefits. One needs two years of college or two years of military service to be hired.
A sergeant makes $81,966.00
That’s more money than the vast majority of the cops could make in the private sector. It’s also enough money that police departments don’t have to keep thugs on the payroll.
In CA it is not required that you tell cops you have a CCW and are packing. That is if you are lucky enough to live in one of the counties that actually issue permits. In fact, my CCW instructor told us that it was stupid to tell them, since you(in CA)are not legally obligated and because some cops go ape sh** when they find out you have one.
If you are complying with the law and your firearm is concealed as it should be there is no reason for them to ever know you have one.
This idiot cop needs to be terminated pronto.
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