More witnesses inside.
So they went to Culver's instead? Makes perfect sense.
Almost as much sense as going to Menard's, watching the video of you shopping, being asked to leave, leaving, unloading, encasing, etc., then bothering you anyway.
And what's with the banging on your door, calling your cell, & following you to lunch?
So they went back & charged that person w/ filing a false report, right?
:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
No.
The answer is "no".
Or if you want to be exceptionally polite, "no, officer, I do
not consent to any searches".
If they have to ask permission, they don't have a reason to do it.
Won't stop them from acting illegally (ask me how I know), but will make their lawbreaking more obvious. Combined with witnesses (if you were in the restaurant), it might slow them down.
If they're nervous about you being in reach of your encased, unloaded gun, they shouldn't have asked you to show it to them, should they now? Re-lock the door & close it to make them feel safer.
Have you contacted their Chief or IA yet? Esp. since they were unfamiliar with the handling of your pistol, if it had been loaded they could have caused a big problem.