Posted on 08/08/2012 6:35:45 AM PDT by Celerity
Staff report The Hartford Courant 8:09 a.m. EDT, August 8, 2012
NEW HAVEN— Police rushed to a Temple Street movie theater shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday after receiving calls of an armed man in the theater.
The first arriving officers searched the Criterion - Bow Tie Cinemas at 86 Temple St., where patrons said they'd seen the man with a gun in a holster. They first searched a theater where "The Watch" was being shown, then found him in a neighboring theater where the Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises" had not yet begun.
Officers went into the theater, ordered the approximately 12 patrons to put their hands up, and had them file out of the theater. They were then patted down as they passed.
When officers identified the armed man, they drew their weapons and ordered him to put his hands up. He did not comply with the officers' orders and remained in his seat while using his cell phone, police said.
Officers then took him into custody "by force," police said. Officers removed a loaded handgun from the man's waistband at the small of his back, police said. He was handcuffed and removed from the theater.
The armed man was identified as Sung H. Hwang, 46, of New Haven. Police said he has a valid state permit to carry a pistol. Police said he never touched the gun or presented a threat to patrons, but noted that people were on alert because of the mass shooting at a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Colorado.
Hwang was charged with breach of peace and interfering with police.
New Haven Chief Dean M. Esserman, who responded to the scene, met with the nearly 20 officers and two sergeants who responded to the call and praised them for their fast response. Several Yale University police officers also responded.
Copyright © 2012, The Hartford Courant
Besides being in New Haven Connecticut.
Sue their asses off.
Well, this is a BIG no-no:
When officers identified the armed man, they drew their weapons and ordered him to put his hands up. He did not comply with the officers' orders and remained in his seat while using his cell phone, police said.
New Haven is a pit of filth.....I rarely go, but when I do, I am always carrying.
he legally and smartly took a weapon to a showing of the film.
the criminal act was committed by the jack booted thugs.
One time several decades ago a cop carried a gun in his waistband into our little movie theater. He shot himself in the leg.
While I fully support his 2nd Amendment rights, I have little sympathy for people speaking on cell phones during a movie.
Sue their asses off.
How can he sue? He clearly did not listen to them. He won’t be charge for a firearm crime but disobeying a cop? I think even a jury would find him guilty. “they drew their weapons and ordered him to put his hands up. He did not comply with the officers’ orders and remained in his seat while using his cell phone,”
He won't be so happy when Hwang hits them with a multi-million dollar civil rights violation lawsuit.
Law abiding armed folk should always comply with police instruction. Unless a responding officer knows (well) the individual in question, the default position is to assume the worst. Better in nips than in the ground. Would have likely avoided any charges as well.
As to the charges, are they severe enough for the fellow to lose his permission to carry? Another reason to comply.
If it had he should have been taken out back and beaten. ;^)
Lighten up Francis. It was a joke.
If he was retired military and coming out of a Costco in Las Vegas, he’d be dead already. Two years ago now and Vegas LEO have escaped all responsibility.
The problem he’ll have is that he will most likely lose his permit to carry. It does’nt take much in Connecticut.
Gee. Golly. What heroes they truly are.
Gosh, good thing we don’t have a Second Amendment or anything of that sort.
I feel safer already. Yep.
If the guy refused the New Haven, CT cops orders by continuing to talk on the phone the officers should have shot him 40 times on the spot to make certain he wasn’t a threat.
There, problem solved, citizens. Go back to your movie and we’ll make arrangements to clean up the blood and gore later. Have a nice, safe day brought to you courtesy of the NHPD.
“Officers went into the theater, ordered the approximately 12 patrons to put their hands up, and had them file out of the theater. They were then patted down as they passed.
When officers identified the armed man, they drew their weapons and ordered him to put his hands up. He did not comply with the officers’ orders and remained in his seat while using his cell phone, police said.”
How did they identify the armed man if he was sitting in his seat (probably calling his lawyer)? He was id’d only AFTER they drew their guns, he raised his hands and allowed the gun to be found. Someone’s wrong here—cops or reporter.
Unless the guy's got a rap sheet, my instinct is to trust him over the cops. It's wouldn't surprise me if cops routinely made up offenses to go after people who annoy them, especially gun owners. My impression is that very few PD's in blue states support gun ownership. PD's in red states support it because red states tend to turf politicians who interfere with 2nd amendment rights.
Well if he tried to follow the cops instructions he may have been shot anyway. With more than one cops most likely he was given multiple conflicting orders.
Bullsh*t bust and bullsh*t charges. Get a good lawyer and sue the cops for every penny they’re worth.
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