Posted on 10/22/2015 4:35:39 PM PDT by Enlightened1
A Chesapeake park ranger was caught on camera pointing his pistol at a couple. It was a confrontation that started because the couple left a city park after closing time.
“I was hoping he wasn't going to shoot at us,” says Dylan Newton, who recorded a 7-minute video of the ranger. “With all the things going on in the media with cops using excessive force and all these videos coming out like that's the only thing running through my head like I’m going to be one of these people.”
Newton says it all happened Sunday night at the city's Northwest River Park off Indian Creek Road.
Newton says he and his girlfriend had gone on a hike and were driving out a few minutes past the park’s 6:15 p.m. closing time when the ranger stopped them.
Newton says the ranger asked him three times to turn off his car and hand over his license and registration. He says he asked several times why he was being stopped and who the ranger was, but he got no answer.
“I turned off my car, my hands were in my lap, I proceeded to put my hands on the wheel and I saw him reach for his weapon,” he says. “So I turned my car on because I was genuinely terrified for my girlfriend and myself at that point.”
Newton says he panicked and drove away onto Indian Creek Road, as the ranger followed.
“He almost T-boned me off the road into another car and he immediately jumped out of his car and continued to point his weapon at me and my girlfriend for about 15 minutes until police showed up,” Newton says.
Newton was charged only with misdemeanors: Trespassing, failure to stop and failure to provide identification to an officer.
(Excerpt) Read more at wtkr.com ...
Along the Natchez Trace, it's where the homosexuals used to go to hook up, since they knew it was infrequently patrolled by the park police instead of the local cops. Families and straight couples learned to clear out at dusk. Sounds like the park in question at least had straight couples for the after-hours activity.
“No, he drew down on a couple who fled a traffic stop.”
Exactly. He was in uniform. He stopped them for a minor infraction, after which they refused to show ID, and then fled the scene.
It is likely that the department policy requires a felony stop for people who flee from a legitimate stop.
No one is saying the original stop was not legitimate.
The officer waited for backup, instead of trying to remove poeple who have already refused to obey lawful orders from the vehicle. Again, he was likely following procedure.
I believe gaijin is in agreement with you, posting the excuses some cops give for being jerks.
The ranger could have been nice, and ushered the couple on their way out of the park. Instead, he wanted to pretend he was a combat soldier in Iraq and harass the couple. This was a park, not a hi-security military installation!
Not a whole lot of good choices to secure them at that point. Probably only had one pair of cuffs; may not have had a cage in his vehicle.
Park rangers or game wardens or cops it doesn’t matter. They can all get big egos that need to be worshiped. Bow down and lick the boots. I’m sorry but this case might be BS but there comes a time when we need to passively and actively resist any and all police state actions. The government has more tactical teams, cops and armed employees looking to justify their jobs and egos.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/773396/posts
Good forbid alabama national guard here:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0spFu3D4rXk/UNc8Ujpj8TI/AAAAAAAAIzs/Ozre5JWwTmE/s400/waco3.jpg
You are exactly correct —that Park Ranger incident was totally outrageous.
Sometimes when I think I’ve heard another formulaic excuse, and then another comes out.
I collect them.
BTTT!
I agree. I notice a lot of people that can’t handle power are in public service positions.
This was a city hired hand and city park.
What kind of wimp gets drunk on Keystone Light?
These things are paper and can be easily replaced if stolen
Clearly you have not been to the DVM recently.
/sarc
Worth defying authority and getting killed for refusing to provide?
I see the evidence all around, here's an example that's close to me. One of my wife's brothers is a TSA agent. He supposedly majored in psychology but he's always been unhinged and never made use of his major. Went from minor job to job, selling phones or cars. Easy to fly off the handle and provoke a fight, and thinks too highly of himself although he's a loser. Went to work for TSA, and loves to talk how he harasses passengers if they give him lip. That park ranger would fit right in as a TSA worker.
well. i’ve lived long enough to know there are two sides to every story (and, sometimes, more than that). (smile) being from a family that have sworn to protect and lay their own lives down for this country, i shake my head, sadly, that we still shout “Guilty” before the day in court. We crucify this ranger for a job that he was entrusted with to protect our National Park. If the park times are posted, then no contest. A showing of ID simply lets the Ranger post the violation (probably just a verbal warning to heed the times for future), so they can be aware of repeat offenders. As a person who loves camping with my grandkids, i truly appreciate our rangers. In fact, log onto Chesapeake Ranger Station and read the comments people have left...gives you more of a feeling for this park and it’s incumbents. Rangers and Police go through vigorous training and their responses are engrained..even a second of hesitancy, could mean death, not just for them, but innocent bystanders as well. I’m not naive to say we don’t have bad people in all kinds of positions. but, neither am i naive to be “judge and jury” without seeing or hearing all the facts. Being the widow of man who ultimately paid the price for his country and having several family members who SERVE to keep ALL our country safe, i know the uncertainty of seeing that love one come home when they walk out the door to put their lives out there for us. I see “holes” in the story of the man who was arrested. Enlightened1 pointed out several. One thing: I see the video from the man who was arrested. my question: where is the audio part? Did he not submit that for reason? That the ranger had to ask not once, not twice, but THREE times for the man’s license may appear as if the man was being, umm, difficult? He says he was afraid so he then takes his hands from his lap, starts his car, (puts it in gear..i’m assuming you have to do this after it had been off...but maybe the new cars these days don’t require that??), and then drives off. WOW. That doesn’t sound like afraid TO ME...afraid would be to do everything that is asked of me within reason. Showing one’s ID is within reason. no...there’s something more to this story than just what WTKR has reported. And, aren’t journalists supposed to report unbiased...i think the WTKR reporter should reenroll in school as they didn’t learn that fact. Even this Grandma knows to weigh both sides of story...yes, i have experience enough to say this. i have grandchildren. (smile) The above is simply my personal opinion.
I can't wait until things get so bad I don't feel I have to follow all the laws. Bunch of dumbasses are gonna pay!
I have had guns shoved in my face by cops dressed in street clothes without any visible identifiers. Six of them, in fact. I had a 7/11 Big Bite hot dog in one hand and a Big Gulp in the other. Ooo.. I mighta “weaponized” that Big Bite.
Evidence? Yeah, he fled. That’s called “consciousness of guilt.” Do you thnk it’s ok to follow lawful instructions from a police officer, or not, depending on if you feel like it?
whoops! it looks like it wasn’t enlightened1 who’s post i read about agreement to hear both sides, etc...i can’t tell who posted it..gaijin? but, i do apologize to enlightened1 and gaijin? for the error. sincerely.
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