Posted on 03/28/2010 12:00:42 PM PDT by marktwain
Police reports on a disgruntled Oregon Department of Transportation planner who surrendered to a police negotiator and SWAT team early March 8 indicate that the man hadn't made any threats, but people who worked with him were increasingly concerned that violence could erupt.
Incident reports from Medford police and the Jackson County Sheriff's Department describe verbal outbursts and "a declining state of mental health" seen in slipping personal hygiene and appearance, and a "somewhat disorderly and uncooperative" exit when the man was placed on administrative leave on March 4.
Fears of retaliation prompted electronic surveillance that notified authorities when the suspended planner, David J. Pyles, 39, bought three handguns, a 12-gauge shotgun and a semi-automatic AK-47 rifle over the next three days.
The purchases only heightened police concerns, prompting additional meetings, surveillance and, finally, in the pre-dawn hours of March 8, the intervention of a negotiator and SWAT team, who took Pyles into protective custody for a mental-health evaluation and seized his guns. He was released in about 3.5 hours and his guns were returned March 12.
"Given the circumstances, we decided to react to be on the safe side," Jackson County Sheriff's Lt. Rich Fogarty said. "I think we did what was necessary."
The seizure of the guns and Pyles' trip in handcuffs to Rogue Valley Medical Center for a mental-health evaluation sparked controversy among gun-rights and civil-liberty advocates.
"If the cops have an explanation, they should give it," Oregon Firearms Federation Director Kevin Starrett said in the days following the incident, which he called "chilling."
The Mail Tribune requested reports from Medford police, the sheriff's department and Oregon State Police in an attempt to piece together the details. The OSP hasn't provided its report yet.
(Excerpt) Read more at mailtribune.com ...
From the description of his behavior, if accurate, it sounds as if the authorities’ actions were justified.
And they did release him, and return his guns.
And so it starts
OK. So no guns for anyone placed on administrative leave. If you get fired or layd off, better turn in your guns.
Another for the Oregon ping list...
His supervisor made very similiar charges against other people.
Source?
“From the description of his behavior, if accurate, it sounds as if the authorities’ actions were justified.”
That is the problem, isn’t it. All along it seems that it is a “He said, She said” kind of incident. He says one thing, the supervisor says another.
one of the other threads on this incident on FR.
It was the fact that he went out and bought 3 guns almost immediately after being placed on leave that sent up red flags. I gather he already owned a number of guns before that as well, but it was timing of the new purchases that looked worrisome.
What does physical appearance have to do with “mental health”?
Prices are good right now.
LoL!
I don't see a huge lawsuit here because not a lot of harm was done, but I could easily see improvement in procedures and training, an apology, and a small amount of damages. If the departments involved are smart, they will offer everything they can quickly in order to put this incident behind them and to improve their procedures.
A decrease in appearance and/or personal hygiene can indicate increased stress or depression. The problem is that it is also a good throw away accusation because it is so subjective. The accuser can simply say that it seemed clear to them that his appearance had deteriorated, and how do you disprove that?
“And they did release him and return his guns.”
Well isn’t that NICE!! The guy was arrested, handcuffed, kept for hours—undoubtedly against his will—his property was CONFISCATED, ALL WITHOUT CHARGE!!!! So now it seems perfectly acceptable that Big Brother can do all of this because he doesn’t like how you look, speak, act...doesn’t like the fact you purchased guns!!! But HEY, it’s really alright. After all, they turned the guy loose and gave his guns back a couple of weeks later!
It’s a BS charge.
Plenty of folks aren’t GQ, but that doesn’t make them nuts.
Now if he is wearing his underwear on the outside, that’s a different matter.
BTW. I see some pretty strange dress on folks.
Isn’t that amazing?
No wonder people are despairing over the fall of this country. Most have NO IDEA how, uh, “uninformed” they are.
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