ComradeV
Campaign Veteran
imported post
As some of you may know, I was detained, arrested, and then charged with Going Armed to the Terror of the People and carrying a concealed weapon on August 15 2009.
The incident began in Navy Federal. I was open carrying a Glock 26 on a serpa paddle holster. I also happened to have a semi-automatic rifle in the trunk at the time. It was a Saturday and they were closing but I simply wished to pick up the paper work for a used car loan. The door was locked but a teller was letting someone out so I asked if I could pick up the paper work. She took my ID from me to look up to see if they in fact had the paper work I was inquiring about. After verifying they did have it. They said that they wanted to go over it with me. I agreed and was let into the facility, however at this point they noticed that I was armed. They were operating under the assumption that this was in fact illegal. They wanted me to exit the facility and re enter disarmed. I asked if I could speak with the manager. They eventually gave me back my ID and I left without getting the paper work since they wouldn't hand it over without looking over it with me.
I was in the parking lot and called the Navy Federal Phone number to complain. They got me in touch with the manager who said I was wrong and that it is against Navy Federal Policy and they were now closed and I would have to come back Monday to pick up the loan paper work. I told her that I was no longer interested in doing business with them in the future.
I then was across the street at Marine Federal trying to call them, but their website's phone numbers are not accurate. At this point I was quite frustrated at my attempts to deal with financial institutions. I was about to head home when two police cars pulled behind me. They put their lights on and honked at me. so I pulled over into a nearby parking lot.
At this point I was surrounded by at least 4 or 5 different units with guns drawn on me.
They ordered me out of my vehicle at gun point and proceeded to handcuff me and search my vehicle. I refused to say anything at the scene while handcuffed other than that I was complying but not consenting to a detainment and would be invoking my right to silence. They informed me that my consent was unimportant. After they unloaded my Glock 26 and its magazine. they opened my trunk where they found my WZ-88 tantal rifle. Both firearms were seized at this point.
At the Jacksonville Station they were finding it most difficult to find charges to put on me. After what seemed like at least 45 minutes of processing which mostly involved me sitting there, they were content with charging me with Going Armed to the Terror of the People and for the unlawful concealed weapon because of the rifle in my trunk.
Finally after one continuance my trial came on December 14 2009. The Navy Federal Clerks were brought in by my defense as was the arresting officer. The District Attorney apparently knew that the charges were worthless and would be dismissed so the JPD attempted to intimidate me into accepting a plea for the concealed weapon charge. They then wanted me to accept community service and deferred prosecution. They threatened that they would re-arrest me on different charges and try to get a federal case out of it.
Basically the deal at the end was, do 48 hours community service and listen to the arresting officers opinion on gun rights, after which I will get my seized property returned to me. Or, if I defied their will, they would arrest me for a violation of concealed carry permit terms(carrying in the financial institution, even though my permit is not recognized by North Carolina) and a window tinting violation.
I chose not to accept their deal. At which point the charges were dropped by the DA but my property has yet to be returned to me.
I don't know when the JPD will strike again, but they apparently have me on their list.
It would seem that the Police are quite upset that I walked into a bank with a gun and that I own a Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. I don't know if they are against open carry in general or if they are just against me in particular but I feel like they won't just let this go, so I think Pro Second Amendment people in the Local Area need to stand in solidarity against the Jacksonville Police Department trying to make up laws as they please and harass and intimidate supporters of Open Carry.
As some of you may know, I was detained, arrested, and then charged with Going Armed to the Terror of the People and carrying a concealed weapon on August 15 2009.
The incident began in Navy Federal. I was open carrying a Glock 26 on a serpa paddle holster. I also happened to have a semi-automatic rifle in the trunk at the time. It was a Saturday and they were closing but I simply wished to pick up the paper work for a used car loan. The door was locked but a teller was letting someone out so I asked if I could pick up the paper work. She took my ID from me to look up to see if they in fact had the paper work I was inquiring about. After verifying they did have it. They said that they wanted to go over it with me. I agreed and was let into the facility, however at this point they noticed that I was armed. They were operating under the assumption that this was in fact illegal. They wanted me to exit the facility and re enter disarmed. I asked if I could speak with the manager. They eventually gave me back my ID and I left without getting the paper work since they wouldn't hand it over without looking over it with me.
I was in the parking lot and called the Navy Federal Phone number to complain. They got me in touch with the manager who said I was wrong and that it is against Navy Federal Policy and they were now closed and I would have to come back Monday to pick up the loan paper work. I told her that I was no longer interested in doing business with them in the future.
I then was across the street at Marine Federal trying to call them, but their website's phone numbers are not accurate. At this point I was quite frustrated at my attempts to deal with financial institutions. I was about to head home when two police cars pulled behind me. They put their lights on and honked at me. so I pulled over into a nearby parking lot.
At this point I was surrounded by at least 4 or 5 different units with guns drawn on me.
They ordered me out of my vehicle at gun point and proceeded to handcuff me and search my vehicle. I refused to say anything at the scene while handcuffed other than that I was complying but not consenting to a detainment and would be invoking my right to silence. They informed me that my consent was unimportant. After they unloaded my Glock 26 and its magazine. they opened my trunk where they found my WZ-88 tantal rifle. Both firearms were seized at this point.
At the Jacksonville Station they were finding it most difficult to find charges to put on me. After what seemed like at least 45 minutes of processing which mostly involved me sitting there, they were content with charging me with Going Armed to the Terror of the People and for the unlawful concealed weapon because of the rifle in my trunk.
Finally after one continuance my trial came on December 14 2009. The Navy Federal Clerks were brought in by my defense as was the arresting officer. The District Attorney apparently knew that the charges were worthless and would be dismissed so the JPD attempted to intimidate me into accepting a plea for the concealed weapon charge. They then wanted me to accept community service and deferred prosecution. They threatened that they would re-arrest me on different charges and try to get a federal case out of it.
Basically the deal at the end was, do 48 hours community service and listen to the arresting officers opinion on gun rights, after which I will get my seized property returned to me. Or, if I defied their will, they would arrest me for a violation of concealed carry permit terms(carrying in the financial institution, even though my permit is not recognized by North Carolina) and a window tinting violation.
I chose not to accept their deal. At which point the charges were dropped by the DA but my property has yet to be returned to me.
I don't know when the JPD will strike again, but they apparently have me on their list.
It would seem that the Police are quite upset that I walked into a bank with a gun and that I own a Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. I don't know if they are against open carry in general or if they are just against me in particular but I feel like they won't just let this go, so I think Pro Second Amendment people in the Local Area need to stand in solidarity against the Jacksonville Police Department trying to make up laws as they please and harass and intimidate supporters of Open Carry.