Columbia officer draws weapon on Lt. Gov. at traffic stop (South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer)

WIS-TV ^ | 5/6/2003 | Jack Kuenzie

[wimpycat]

(Columbia) May 6, 2003 - The traffic stop happened shortly before noon in the 1500 block of Assembly Street.

Officer J.L. Vanhouten caught up with a vehicle he says raced through two red lights at Calhoun and Assembly and Assembly and Blanding. The officer says the driver, Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer , had been traveling at speeds up to 60 miles an hour in a 35 mile an hour zone.

The officer's report says once the vehicle was stopped, the driver ran back toward the patrol car, in what Vanhouten says, was "an aggressive manner."

The officer, unable to get out of his car in time, drew his service revolver and ordered the man to stop and raise his hands. The report says the man complied, at which time, Vanhouten frisked the driver.

It was only then that the officer recognized Bauer.

The Lieutenant Governor was issued a ticket for reckless driving. Vanhouten saying Bauer's actions showed, quoting from the report, "a total disregard for public safety."

Bauer's Chief of Staff Randy Page issued a brief statement early Tuesday evening. In it, Bauer says he, "wants to be treated as any other citizen would be treated."

Bauer was on his way to the Senate, where he presides as president.

Police Chief and interim City Manager Charles Austin says police will conduct an internal investigation to determine whether the officer acted properly by drawing his gun.

Bauer himself has a permit to carry a concealed weapon. The police report says the officer found no weapons when he frisked the Lieutenant Governor.

[wimpycat]

Here's his official website

The news story doesn't mention it, but he is a Republican...in case you might be thinking he's a Democrat because they didn't mention it, which is what they usually do when it's a Democrat, but this time, it's a Republican, and they didn't mention it...and...well..oh, never mind.

[wimpycat]

.

[JohnnyZ]

Um . . . . ok. People aren't going to be so ready to let Sanford take time off from governing to do National Guard/Reserve stuff any more. Wonder what Bauer's explanation will be. . .

[basil]

ping!

[Kay Soze]

Andre...

That's a French name isn't it?

[Poohbah]

Sounds like another case of "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM, PEASANT?"

[wimpycat]

Yes, and Bauer...well, that's a German name. French AND German.

Hanging's too good for him!

[onedoug]

Mike curb did this while he was Republican Lt Gov of CA...with his whole entourage, no less.

[wimpycat]

Sounds like another case of "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM, PEASANT?"

To me it sounds like another case of "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM, PEASANT??!! DO YOU??!!! I'm....uhhhhh...yeah, OK, I've got my hands up, officer, just put the gun away."

[Farnham]

He's a statewide elected official in South Carolina.

Saying he was a republican would be redundant.

[JohnnyZ]

Inez

[winner3000]

It sounds like a story written by the nutty anti-gun brigade. Note that THE TITLE is totally WRONG!!! He didn't even have a gun on him! How could he have pulled it?

[Poohbah]

BWAHAHA!

[Mears]

Another entitled politician who thinks the rules are for everyone but him.

I just hope the people are amart enough to vote him out of office.

[lelio]

Bauer says he, "wants to be treated as any other citizen would be treated."
He went on to add "By 'citizen' I mean an elected official and not some inner city kid. Back to work, peasants!"

[Thinkin' Gal]

The demoncrats will blame Strom Thurmond.

That said... this Bauer character, what a maroon.

[Norse]

I'm German and have ancestors from Northern France, and if you don't like it, go to hell

[Nick Thimmesch]

m

[wimpycat]

Read it again...the police officer drew his weapon, not the other way around. He pulled Bauer over, and Bauer got out of his vehicle (mistake) and started moving towards the police vehicle, so the officer drew his weapon.

[wimpycat]

Germans aren't known for having a sense of humor.

It was a JOKE!!!! Because I was replying to someone who thought the name "Andre" being French was significant to the story.