He should keep handcuffs in his car and throw himself to the ground already cuffed before the LEO even gets out of their car.
I think felons are forbidden from carrying cuffs, not sure. BBguns and mace are forbidden as are firearms, or fake firearms.
I am thinking that in 7 years, he heard plenty of stories from folks that have “been there and done that”, so his reasoning is based on a realistic fear of what can happen.
Don’t forget that clasic BOLO for a large black man driving a gray Toyota truck with a camper top. So the cops stopped an open bed BLUE Chevy truck with 2 old hispanic women in it and shot it up when they didn’t respond to instructions.