kenshin
Regular Member
imported post
Just got back from a routine walk which I do several times a week, OCing my Kimber 1911 naturally, when I had my first LEO encounter.
I had almost made it back home when I saw a Pierce County Sheriff pass me coming head on. At first I thought nothing about it, I've been passed by them several times on my walks, but then I looking behind me and could see he was turning around. By this time I'm almost in my driveway but he managed to catch up with me before I could make it inside.
He (Officer 1) pulled up behind me and asked me to stop which I did. Then he got out and told me to put my hands on the hood of his car in a not so friendly tone. I was a little miffed about this because I hadn't done anything wrong.
No sooner did I have my hands on the hood of his car before he started grabbing my gun, saying he was taking it for his safety. I was not too happy for two reasons; first, I carry my Kimber 1911 in a level two serpa holster and he obviously was not familiar at all with a level two holster since he just kept yanking on it. I had to tell him to push the button to get it out. :banghead: And secondly, because I had made no threating moves towards him at all.
At this point another Pierce County Sheriff showed up in another squad car (Officer 2). I remained tried to remain courteous even as Officer 1 preceed to give me a patt down which I was pretty sure that he could not do, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I did not try to resist as I'm sure that would have just made things worse.
I can't remember word for word what was said, I need to get a voice recorder, but they at least understood that open carry was legal and were telling me that, even as Officer 2 took my gun to run the serial number. Officer 1 asked me for my ID and address. I gave him my ID which I know I didn't have to but it was my first time and I was a bit nervous. I also gave him address when he asked because I was standing right in front of my house and he could have just as easily read it off of the garage door.
I was rather proud of myself that I did not give him my CPL when Officer 1 asked for it. He asked several times and I just kept explaining to him that since I was not concealing I did not need it. After some back and forth he started to say that I was alarming people because I was walking down the street with a gun on my hip. I calmly explained that my intention was not to alarm anyone by my choice of carry and that I could not help that they are, however the alarm was not warranted.
After a while Officer 2 came back and returned my gun and then both of them started arguing that since I had my CPL I should just conceal it, even though neither of them had seen it. Officer 2 at this point definitely seemed to be the more agressive one. I told them it was my choice how to carry and asked them for they're names.
After that they let me go and I walked inside. In hindsight, I realized I could have done some thing's differently. I'm sure Mainsail will get on my case why I didn't immediately ask if I was being detained. But I don't think I did too bad for my first chat with the LEO's.
I'm still irritated that they both, took my gun and searched me. Would that fall under illegal search and seizures? I think this has been covered on the forum before but I can't seem to find it. Please help. If what they did was a violation of my civil rights, I'll definitely be sending a letter to the Chief of Police there.
Sorry this was so long winded, just trying to remember all the details.
Just got back from a routine walk which I do several times a week, OCing my Kimber 1911 naturally, when I had my first LEO encounter.
I had almost made it back home when I saw a Pierce County Sheriff pass me coming head on. At first I thought nothing about it, I've been passed by them several times on my walks, but then I looking behind me and could see he was turning around. By this time I'm almost in my driveway but he managed to catch up with me before I could make it inside.
He (Officer 1) pulled up behind me and asked me to stop which I did. Then he got out and told me to put my hands on the hood of his car in a not so friendly tone. I was a little miffed about this because I hadn't done anything wrong.
No sooner did I have my hands on the hood of his car before he started grabbing my gun, saying he was taking it for his safety. I was not too happy for two reasons; first, I carry my Kimber 1911 in a level two serpa holster and he obviously was not familiar at all with a level two holster since he just kept yanking on it. I had to tell him to push the button to get it out. :banghead: And secondly, because I had made no threating moves towards him at all.
At this point another Pierce County Sheriff showed up in another squad car (Officer 2). I remained tried to remain courteous even as Officer 1 preceed to give me a patt down which I was pretty sure that he could not do, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I did not try to resist as I'm sure that would have just made things worse.
I can't remember word for word what was said, I need to get a voice recorder, but they at least understood that open carry was legal and were telling me that, even as Officer 2 took my gun to run the serial number. Officer 1 asked me for my ID and address. I gave him my ID which I know I didn't have to but it was my first time and I was a bit nervous. I also gave him address when he asked because I was standing right in front of my house and he could have just as easily read it off of the garage door.
I was rather proud of myself that I did not give him my CPL when Officer 1 asked for it. He asked several times and I just kept explaining to him that since I was not concealing I did not need it. After some back and forth he started to say that I was alarming people because I was walking down the street with a gun on my hip. I calmly explained that my intention was not to alarm anyone by my choice of carry and that I could not help that they are, however the alarm was not warranted.
After a while Officer 2 came back and returned my gun and then both of them started arguing that since I had my CPL I should just conceal it, even though neither of them had seen it. Officer 2 at this point definitely seemed to be the more agressive one. I told them it was my choice how to carry and asked them for they're names.
After that they let me go and I walked inside. In hindsight, I realized I could have done some thing's differently. I'm sure Mainsail will get on my case why I didn't immediately ask if I was being detained. But I don't think I did too bad for my first chat with the LEO's.
I'm still irritated that they both, took my gun and searched me. Would that fall under illegal search and seizures? I think this has been covered on the forum before but I can't seem to find it. Please help. If what they did was a violation of my civil rights, I'll definitely be sending a letter to the Chief of Police there.
Sorry this was so long winded, just trying to remember all the details.