imported post
Just because a guy has a history of being a jerk doesn't mean that LEOs can harass him, or that he should not be defended if bullied by same. If a citizen is detained improperly (as I believe MAY is the case here, we simply do not have enough information) his response should indeed be beligerence and ill-temperedness. While I agree that he should have instead channeled this through a trite response of "I won't submit to a search so F$&# off," instead he responded to being bullied by figuratively pushing back. I can't say I would have done any differently.
As for why I think the stop itselfmight beillegal, in WI an officer must suspect you of a particular crime to detain you. Then, and only then, are you required to identify yourself. So I pose this question: Without knowing if this man was or was not a LEO and therefore exempt from the WI CCW prohibition, how could they reasonably suspect him of a crime? I've seen judges rule similarily in other cases. Perhaps they would have to first ask "are you a law enforcement officer," but then it is possible that he would not have to answer anyways, as it would be self-incrimination if he was indeed carrying a concealed weapon.
I think this is a bunch of LEOs overreacting to what they thought could be another mall shooting, which is rediculous if the man is shopping with his wife. The police handled this poorly no matter how the citizen reacted, and that in and of itself is enough for me to jump to a jerk's defense.
Oh, and remember IANAL.
