California Cop Suspended After Pulling Gun On Man Recording Him, Huff Post:

[Stuart G]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/california-cop-suspended-gun-recording_55c512bee4b0f73b20b975a5?kvcommref=mostpopular


A California police officer was suspended after video surfaced showing him unholster his gun while arguing with a man recording him in a small city north of San Francisco.

"The video is not a typical interaction between our Public Safety Officers and the public," a statement posted to the Rohnert Park Police and Fire page on Facebook said. The officer, who wasn't identified, was placed on "temporary paid administrative leave" while the city brings in an outside investigator to look into the confrontation, according to the statement. ....

The video, taken last month, shows the unidentified Rohnert Park officer briefly point his gun at Don McComas, who was in front of his home. According to McComas, the confrontation began when the cop slowly drove by and watched McComas hitch a boat to his Ford Excursion. McComas started recording with his camera as the officer drove toward him and parked in the middle of the street.

About two minutes into the recording, the officer emerges from the car and orders McComas to take his hand out of his pocket.

“No, sir, I’ve done nothing. I’ve done absolutely nothing," McComas says, at which point the officer draws his gun. “No, sir, I’ve done nothing. I’ve done absolutely nothing," McComas says, at which point the officer draws his gun.
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If you hit the link, you will see the cop coming at the person recording him. Fortunately, nothing happened, but the cop was ready with his gun out. Oh and the person recording him was doing ..nothing..read the article..Also, here is a more complete article on this from the Daily Mail..Contains more of the conversation that went on:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3186904/Shocking-moment-Northern-California-officer-pulls-gun-man-recording-cellphone.html

[sendero]

1. "Suspended"....

They mean "administrative leave" with pay. Paid vacation. Why call it "suspension", that is basically a lie.

[NutmegYankee]

2. He wasn't suspended, he got a free paid vacation.

Paid admin leave!

[Major Nikon]

45. Often a precursor to being fired

[nc4bo]

3. We are becoming all Black people now.

They prey on the least, nothing done to prevent it. Experiment is successful.

Perhaps once they come for everyone else, something will change?

[Stuart G]

4. The cop was ready to shoot...for what ?.

If they come for everyone..too late?

[Enthusiast]

19. Potential disrespect of authority.

[RKP5637]

52. Yet another cop not wrapped too tightly. I have no doubt if black he would have

shot him or an minimal tased him multiple times. Then called for backup to finish the job.

[newfie11]

5. That cop should be fired

This man was doing nothing suspicious, said nothing to warrant having a gun drawn on him!

He needs to sue(police harassment)!

[Betty Karlson]

16. And to make matters worse: he was on his own property!

The police officer manaced him while the man was standing on his own garden path.

[aikoaiko]

6. I'm a little sympathetic to the police officer in this case.

1. The video starts rolling either officer pretty far away . If the homeowner looks like he is more concerned with a cop rolling by than hitching his boat, I can see why a cop might any to make sure it's really the home owner. The earlier release of this video starts with the officer turning around

2. Asking someone to remove hands from pocket is a reasonable safety issue. It's only after he says no to that request does he pull his gun.

3. At that point the homeowner is very agitated.

It will be interested to see what the review shows. I'm glad the officer backed down after the homeowner did remove his hand.

I can see this from the officers POV

[Sanity Claws]

7. The officer was playing games

How can you possibly explain his taking a picture of the homeowner? The officer ran the license tags on the car and saw it was registered at that address. He knew then that the guy was not stealing someone else's boat. Then you have the history between the family and the police department.
Nothing justifies the cop's behavior.

[aikoaiko]

8. That's a fair interpretation too

Maybe he was playing games or maybe he wanted to document the scene as he saw when he rolled up.

I don't know the history between this officer and this gone owner.

I don't know if the license call I came back or not before the officer for out of his car.

I found the homeowner saying, "you know I don't have a gun" to be bizarre. How could the officer know that?

Again, just watching that video I had some sympathy for the officer

[exboyfil]

12. You mean when the officer is complaining about the hand

not holding the camera that was in the pocket, but also seemed to also be recorded pointing at the cop.

[aikoaiko]

13. Yes that hand. Once it's out he backs down after a few seconds

[tabasco]

9. Cops are not supposed to harass citizens minding their own business

I am not sympathetic at all to this obviously power-crazed, dangerous imbecile cop.

[aikoaiko]

10. If a cop sees someone hitch up my boat and appears nervous about the cop rolling by. I'm good with them

Approaching me to find out if I'm the owner.

I wouldn't consider that harassment in the least.

[tabasco]

14. But that's not what happened in this video, is it?

The psycho cop pulled a gun on an innocent homeowner and nary an inquiry was made about the ownership of the boat.

[aikoaiko]

15. Like I said I can see how others would interpret this interaction differently

I think it's likely that the cop did receive notice that truck owner lived there and got out to talk to him.

But it was reasonable to ask the agitated homeowner to take his hand out of his pocket and the homeowner said no and then the officer pulled his gun.

Once the homeowner took his hand out and pointed at the officer, things de-escalated.



While I am a little sympathetic to the officer undo honk he cold have handled this much better.

[uppityperson]

30. 2:47, he is pointing at the cop and the cop tells him to take his hand out of his pocket,

and continues to circle him with his gun out.

The owner HAS his hand out of his pocket, pointing at the cop and the cop continues to tell him to take his hand out of his pocket. And continues to harass him. The owner points again many times, so WHAT hand is the cop concerned about? Hardly "de-escalate".

[aikoaiko]

35. At 2:15, he firmly requests and no hand insight.

And then, at 2:18, the homeowner says, "No, I've done nothing, no" and the officer's handgun is drawn and point down (at the ready).

At 2:23, the homeowner tells the officer to "put his handgun down." Does he really expect the officer to place his weapon on the ground?

At 2:28, the homeowner throws keys and phone on hood car.

After the officer tell him that he should keep his hands out of his pocket and is NOT pointing the weapon at him, but it is drawn at 2:47.

[notadmblnd]

51. It's not the responsibility of a citizen to de-escalate a situation a LEO is attempting to provoke.

I think it's likely that the cop did receive notice that truck owner lived there and got out to talk to him.

If the cop was aware that the truck owner lived there- there was absolutely no reason to get out and speak to the owner and the cop should have gone on his way.

Shall I refresh your memory as to the 4th amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America?

Fourth Amendment

The Fourth Amendment originally enforced the notion that “each man’s home is his castle”, secure from unreasonable searches and seizures of property by the government. It protects against arbitrary arrests, and is the basis of the law regarding search warrants, stop-and-frisk, safety inspections, wiretaps, and other forms of surveillance, as well as being central to many other criminal law topics and to privacy law.



Learn more...
Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/fourth_amendment


You see? there was no probable cause as the LEO was aware that person was the home owner therefore there was no reason- as video taping of law enforcement is perfectly legal- for the officer to speak to the man let alone draw his gun on him.


Cop entirely wrong in this situation. No sympathy merited.

[Live and Learn]

22. The cop just happened to be 'rolling by' slowly in a cul de sac???

Give me a break. And the only reason the cop made a big deal out of the hand in the pocket is because that is what they always use to justify killing unarmed individuals. Who the hell keeps a gun in a pocket? They don't fit in pockets very well.

And why would he think some guy hitching a boat to a trailer in his own driveway was armed? Even if he was armed in today's world it would be his right to be.

It is unbelievable that the officer didn't know who the guy was. It is obvious the guy has a history with the police department and that he feels harassed by them.

So yes, after just witnessing the video, I feel qualified to call that officer a liar and unqualified for a job as peace officer.

[aikoaiko]

28. Google ' pocket gun' and the you'll see that your wrong about 1 thing at least

Last edited Sat Aug 8, 2015, 05:35 PM - Edit history (1)

[Live and Learn]

43. First of all those are fairly rare. Secondly, most are not lethal.

And thirdly, they are not easy to take out of the pocket and should be carried in a pocket holster that would need to be removed so that you don't accidentally shoot yourself in embarrassing places.

No officer is seriously in fear of pocket guns. It is much more common to find them in waste bands.

[aikoaiko]

48. You are misinformed about pocket guns.

I have a lightweight, .357 snubnose with a shrouded hammer that can ride in the front pocket of my shorts in a holster that does not need to be removed before unholstering. If my hand were in my pocket and on the grip, it would be a fast draw.

A .357, .38, 9mm, or .380 will make someone dead right there with a single shot let alone 5 or 6 from emptying a cylinder or mag.

Even .22lr or 22mags kill quite a few people with single shots.

2 inch barrels don't produce the same velocities as a 4 inch barrel, but hardly nonlethal velocities.

[Live and Learn]

54. So you are the one the police should fear, then.

Not misinformed at all. I said most were not lethal and most aren't. They are rare, you being one of the few. And most take a bit of time to get out of the pocket and holster.

I am so happy that people like you own weapons that give the police excuses to shoot others and then excuse the shootings.

[Glassunion]

23. If someone rolled up on you at your house and draws a gun

You'd probably look a little nervous as well.

Of course I'm black so cops rolling up on me has a different... Um... "Flavor" so to speak.

How many times in your life have you been asked "Is this your car?" while playing with with your brother's kids in your own driveway?

[aikoaiko]

38. If a cop rolled up to me I would ask them if I could help them.

When I was younger and less profesional looking I was stopped a few times "because I fit a description" and asked to show my id when I was standing at a corner talking to a friend. It happens and I complied.

I sure as hell didn't stuff my hand in my pocket and tell the officer, "No!" if he asked me to remove it.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

40. He knew who the guy was and in no way was investigating wether he was the owner.

One of the first things he says is "I don't go away you can go in your house if you want..."

Cops investigating wether you are the owner of the driveway you are standing in don't tell you you can go in the house if you want. They ask you if you live here.

And "you takin a picture of me I'm taking a picture of you" is not some investigative technique to document a potential crime scene. It's a petulant bully with a chip on his shoulder who needs to be fired.

[aikoaiko]

42. At that point he may have known he was the owner if he called in the license plate of the vehicle.

All we know is the officer got out of the vehicle to approach the homeowner and he told him to take his hand out of the pocket. If he was getting out to talk to him about why he was there, this is a reasonable safety request.

Did he have to pull his gun? I can see why he did when the guy says no and its still in his pocket. Once it was out, the cop could have done more to deescalate. He could have rehosltered and tried to calm the person down, but he was pretty agitated.

I'll leave the consequences to the chief. Maybe you'll get your wish.

[Logical]

58. So all black citizens who are nervous when they see the police should be investigated further? nt

[Enthusiast]

21. +100%!

[medeak]

17. police harrassing his family?

think there is more to this story....background and history needed

[HereSince1628]

18. Yes, there seems to be some history, if so that might help explain both guys' behavior.

There could have been some earlier problem with family, neighbors, or with police.

The competing cameras-stand off seems strange.

[aikoaiko]

32. Maybe so.

[Facility Inspector]

50. It's easy to get on the cops shitlist

in a small town. And it is hell once you do.

And it is usually for no damn good reason.

[medeak]

53. own many businesses in small town and cop threw garbage in my face for parking in emergency parking

space I paid for medical business I had. needless to say went to chief of police and cop was put into anger management. Told he was going through divorce and not handling well.. After calling 911 year later was terrified same guy showed up at door...but he was wonderful! Like wanting to help the mentally ill we need to help these cops..many with pstd

[BillZBubb]

26. Frankly it is outlooks like yours that enable all these cops to abuse authority.

The cop chose to be an ass and escalated a non-issue into something potentially deadly to an unarmed civilian.

[aikoaiko]

39. Sure, he could have handled it much differently, but I'm saying I can see how it got to the point

where his weapon was drawn.

[Live and Learn]

44. +1 I hate apologists for authoratative abuse. nt

[uppityperson]

29. Did you notice he was pointing 1 hand at cop, holding phone with the other. WHAT hand was in his

pocket that he didn't remove?

As for your #3, are you saying having a gun pointed at you for no good reason should NOT be agitating?

[aikoaiko]

31. Did you notice that his hand wasn't in view when the officer ordered it out of his pocket.

And then when it was in view the officer reholstered his weapon?

He appeared deeply agitated way before the gun came out. When an officer asks to see your hands, it is a simple and reasonable request. Saying, "No! I've done nothing wrong!" is a strange reply.

[uppityperson]

33. No. I didn't notice because that did not happen. Look at 2:27. He points and the cop says

to show his hand. This happens again several times in the next minute. The owner points, the cop continues to circle him with his gun out.

Since the owner had his hand out pointing at 2:47 and then the cop said to show his hand, WHAT hand did he want to see?

Point a gun at me and sure as shit I'll be scared.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=167&v=aYONo5LeWDs

[aikoaiko]

36. No, he's telling him to keep his hand out of his pocket.

[uppityperson]

46. "his hand wasn't in view when the officer ordered it out of his pocket?" It was.

2:36 "when I tell you to take your hand out" as the owner is pointing. WHICH hand is in his pocket?
2:47 mark. "you don't keep your hand in your pocket, ok?" as the owner is pointing. Again, WHICH hand is in his pocket?

[aikoaiko]

49. Read your own quotes, he's lecturing him about keeping his hand out of the pocket. He doesn't....

...want him to put his hand back in his pocket. He's not telling him to take his hand of our his pocket.

Earlier, when the homeowner's hand is not visible, the officer is actually telling him to take his hand out of his pocket. Which he does.

[Logical]

56. Explain again why this cop had reasonable cause to harass the homeowner? nt

[aikoaiko]

57. I don't think its legally possible to have probable cause to harass.

But if the homeowner was acting strangely as he was hitching up the boat, I could understand why a police officer might want to make sure everything was ok and get of the vehicle to talk to the person.

There is a lot of unknowns here and I will admit that. And certainly the cop could have done things differently and better.

[Logical]

55. LOL, wow, they have you fooled......

Can I walk up to someone and ask them to remove their hands form their pocket for NO REASON at all?

Was the cop walking up to a crime being committed? NO. Was there any reasonable cause to stop and harass the citizen? NO!

And of course you say "It will be interested to see what the review shows" because you know the cops will rule it justified.

[MrMickeysMom]

11. The officer was escalating a confrontational encounter… fishing for fear...

He didn't get it.

We got him.

I'm learning my new feature on my only weapon… video in a smart phone… It's a safety feature of being a citizen in a growing police state.

Perhaps the "community policing" will improve from this? Perhaps the suspended shit bird will visit a tropical place and meet up with Hannabal Lector?

[Enthusiast]

20. They should make an example out of this asshole. nt

[Glassunion]

24. They won't.

[hifiguy]

25. The vast majority of kkkops in this country should be rounded up

and relocated to uninhabited South Pacific islands with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

What happens to them after that? Who gives a flying fuck?

[benld74]

27. One cannot side with that officer,,,

if he was following proper procedures
1) run the plates
2) run the house number
3) the next step would be to begin talking FROM the patrol car
4) do you live here?
What is your name
cross with the tags and house
Pulling a gun?


One NEVER pulls their gun, UNLESS they intend to use it.

[rurallib]

34. piece of me wonders if the guy was black if he'd still be alive

[Live and Learn]

47. Exactly, society tolerated this kind of abuse against people of color and

now everyone is in danger (except apparently a few DU members that feel certain it will never happen to them). It seems a rather karmic outcome..

[Liberal_in_LA]

37. good. now investigate

[Stuart G]

41. Investigate this jerk., fire this jerk, and..

Also, I doubt there is any good reason for pulling out that loaded gun. We will hear his side. but, it will probably be worthless, then, this video has a only one use. show how not to deal with this kind of situation...

what justification for pulling out a gun????