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Anatomy of an Incident: Guns seized in Medford(OR)
mailtribune.com ^ | 28 March, 2010 | Anita Burke

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 ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: banglist; davidpyles; medford; or; pyles
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A much needed and more detailed followup on the David Pyles "precrime" incident in Medford, Oregon.
1 posted on 03/28/2010 12:00:42 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: marktwain

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.


2 posted on 03/28/2010 12:04:23 PM PDT by Redbob
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To: marktwain

And so it starts


3 posted on 03/28/2010 12:05:12 PM PDT by Bad Jack Bauer (Fat and Bald? I was BORN fat and bald, thank you very much!)
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To: marktwain

OK. So no guns for anyone placed on administrative leave. If you get fired or layd off, better turn in your guns.


4 posted on 03/28/2010 12:05:30 PM PDT by mamelukesabre (Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum (If you want peace prepare for war))
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To: Salvation

Another for the Oregon ping list...


5 posted on 03/28/2010 12:05:56 PM PDT by Twotone (Marte Et Clypeo)
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To: Redbob

His supervisor made very similiar charges against other people.


6 posted on 03/28/2010 12:06:39 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver

Source?


7 posted on 03/28/2010 12:08:43 PM PDT by stormer
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To: Redbob

“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.


8 posted on 03/28/2010 12:10:21 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: stormer

one of the other threads on this incident on FR.


9 posted on 03/28/2010 12:10:46 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: mamelukesabre

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.


10 posted on 03/28/2010 12:12:20 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: marktwain

What does physical appearance have to do with “mental health”?


11 posted on 03/28/2010 12:12:48 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions...$1 Halfbaked...50c)
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To: GovernmentShrinker

Prices are good right now.


12 posted on 03/28/2010 12:14:05 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions...$1 Halfbaked...50c)
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To: GovernmentShrinker
It was the fact that he went out and bought 3 guns almost immediately after being placed on leave that sent up red flags.

Twice I have gotten fired and have gone out the next day and bought an assload of ammo to take advantage of the down time to getting in a little shooting. So now the police have a right to take me in for a mental evaluation because of this? We'll just see what the voices in my head have to say about that.
13 posted on 03/28/2010 12:16:06 PM PDT by Bad Jack Bauer (Fat and Bald? I was BORN fat and bald, thank you very much!)
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To: Bad Jack Bauer

LoL!


14 posted on 03/28/2010 12:18:00 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions...$1 Halfbaked...50c)
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To: GovernmentShrinker
It seems to me that the police have some problems with their procedures. They don't deal with these kind of situations very often, and could have handled it a lot better. Sometimes it seems that SWAT teams are looking for something to do. Maybe, even earn a little overtime?

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.

15 posted on 03/28/2010 12:19:09 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: mylife
“What does physical appearance have to do with “mental health”?”

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?

16 posted on 03/28/2010 12:22:16 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: Redbob

“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!


17 posted on 03/28/2010 12:23:11 PM PDT by Oldpuppymax
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To: marktwain

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.


18 posted on 03/28/2010 12:24:39 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions...$1 Halfbaked...50c)
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To: marktwain

BTW. I see some pretty strange dress on folks.


19 posted on 03/28/2010 12:25:24 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions...$1 Halfbaked...50c)
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To: Oldpuppymax

Isn’t that amazing?

No wonder people are despairing over the fall of this country. Most have NO IDEA how, uh, “uninformed” they are.


20 posted on 03/28/2010 12:27:23 PM PDT by TruthConquers (Delendae sunt publicae scholae)
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