Posted on 07/22/2011 7:46:14 AM PDT by marktwain
A profanity-laced dash-cam video from a Canton, Ohio police car that shows a street cop threatening a legally-armed citizen with felony charges, and possible execution, is racing across cyberspace at warp speed, enraging gun rights activists all over the country, including the distant Pacific Northwest.
According to CantonRep.com, the police department has begun an internal investigation. The officer is identified as Daniel Harless, and he has been on sick leave since Monday of this week, the newspaper said. He has also been placed on administrative leave. My colleague, David Codrea, writes about the incident here.
The video, now on YouTube, was posted Wednesday by Ohioans for Concealed Carry (OFCC). It shows a June 8 roadside encounter involving two Canton officers and three citizens in a parked car. The man seated behind the wheel of that parked car was arrested because he allegedly did not advise Harless fast enough – as is required by law in Ohio – that he was armed. There is no such requirement in Washington State. OFCC is definitely making an issue of this case.
On June 8, 2011 the following unfortunate arrest took place in Canton, OH. Notifying the policy when you have a firearm is required by Ohio Law, but when this individual with a thirty-day old license tries to do that he is repeatedly ordered to look away, shut up, or interrupted and "forced" to change what he is speaking about by the actions of an aggressive cop who maintains verbal control of the situation. A two man car dealing with three people put itself at risk when one officer started what appears to be an illegal search of the rear of the car without extracting or securing the driver - which would have given him an opportunity to notify.
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
This reminds me of the Muslim problem in that MUslims do not speak out when other Muslims kill people. Well, where is the LE community on this? Not a peep.
IIRC there was a kid who was being harassed by the cops and he rigged his computer with a camera and the video was uploaded. He then drove around one of those ‘park and ride’ lots in the middle of the night where he had been previously harassed. With the evidence he got I think he sued the police and the city. Of course he had to move to another state after that.
From the Canton Ohio Police Department - Officer Code of Conduct
“Performance of the Duties of a Police Officer: A police officer shall perform all duties impartially, without favor or affection or ill will and without regard to status, sex, race, religion, political belief or aspirations. All citizens will be treated equally with courtesy, consideration and dignity. Officers will never allow personal feelings, animosities or friendships to influence official conduct. Laws will be enforced appropriately and courteously and, in carrying out their responsibilities, officers will strive to obtain maximum cooperation from the public. They will conduct themselves in appearance and deportment in such a manner as to inspire confidence and respect for the position of public trust they hold.”
http://cantonohio.gov/police/?pg=316
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