Police raid home due to man's gun tattoo

[WildBill]

This guy is not your typical clean-cut neighbor. He's a white supremacist. Here's a photo

Which one are you talking about?

[talltex]

Heck he could have effectively been "SWAT'd" by the construction crew in retaliation for yelling at them.

This is the most likely scenario.

He went out as they were backing into the driveway and told them not to cut the trees...they told him "thats not a problem" ...he went back to bed..."then, as the workers were leaving, one of them said he he THOUGHT he saw a gun in Smith's waistband" and they called the police. Even if he did think he had a gun, he was already back in the house in bed...he posed no threat at that point, and they were leaving the property...looks like a pretty clear case of payback to me.

[Pawpaw]

This guy is not your typical clean-cut neighbor. He's a white supremacist. Here's a photo

Which one are you talking about?

I think he's talking about the one just above his elbow.

It does look like this:

[jimlongley]

And here's a larger set of the same images, courtesy of our English bretheren.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... attoo.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If I were to look at all of the tatts as an evaluator of the wearer's attitude, I might, might, feel justified in calling the authorities. Nazi symbols, "prison tatts" and such do not make the best impression. I would like to know how he approached the crew, was he aggressive from the get go, with yelling and such, or did it start out calm and escalate? Did he go out without his shirt with the express purpose of showing his ink to intimidate? Did he approach them with his hand on his waistband in a way that looked like he might pull that barely seen gun out of his waistband?

State of Maine laws on Right of Way for utilities are such that the crew is not allowed to just show up and start cutting, there must be notice, unfortunately notice can be an ad in the notices part of whatever the official newspaper for such use is in that community, something on the order of "Notice is hereby given to the residents of Little Road from Big Road to Main Street in Presque Isle, that tree removal will be taking place from March 15th to March 23rd 2014."

If a resident objects to the removal, the crew is supposed to back off and leave and let the legal department of the utility hash it out, so this sounds to me like a little bit of revenge on the part of the crew.

Of course there is also the fact that Maine is an unlicensed open carry state, so someone, particularly on his own property, just carrying a gun in the manner depicted should, in an ideal world, elicit exactly no response at all.

[Keith B]

Of course there is also the fact that Maine is an unlicensed open carry state, so someone, particularly on his own property, just carrying a gun in the manner depicted should, in an ideal world, elicit exactly no response at all.

Actually, in most open carry states there is the same type of statute we have that states 'carried in a manner calculated to alarm' or 'displayed in a threatening manner'. I am aware of a couple of arrests that were made when I was a LEO with people having a displayed firearm visible during a fight and they were charged with the violation.

Here is the statute that was in effect when I was a LEO

Unlawful use of weapons--exceptions--penalties.
571.030. 1. A person commits the crime of unlawful use of weapons if he or she knowingly:
.....
(4) Exhibits, in the presence of one or more persons, any weapon readily capable of lethal use in an angry or threatening manner; or....

They added this statute in 2013 to take care of issues in cities where open carry was prohibited by local ordinances but someone accidental displayed their concealed handgun.

Open display of firearm permitted, when.
571.037. Any person who has a valid concealed carry endorsement issued prior to August 28, 2013, or a valid concealed carry permit, and who is lawfully carrying a firearm in a concealed manner, may briefly and openly display the firearm to the ordinary sight of another person, unless the firearm is intentionally displayed in an angry or threatening manner, not in necessary self defense.
(L. 2012 H.B. 1647, A.L. 2013 S.B. 75)

[Charles L. Cotton]

This guy is not your typical clean-cut neighbor. He's a white supremacist. Here's a photo

Which one are you talking about?

I think he's talking about the one just above his elbow.

It does look like this:

[ Image ]

I hadn't noticed that one. The closest thing I saw was the Maltese Cross.

Chas.

[texanjoker]

I think the key quote is missing from your post. He went out and yelled at them. They obviously thought they saw a gun being a life sized tattoo and called 911 which would be a man with a gun yelling at people.... police arrived, sorted it out and left with no arrest. Can't see an issue there. If I were on a cover position I would probably have my rifle as well.

He went outside shirtless and yelled at the workers to leave. When he’s not wearing a shirt, the tattoo looks like a gun tucked into his waistband.

You can't see an issue with raiding a man's house because he might have a gun?? Police raid a man's house because people can't tell a tattoo is a tattoo?

Anygunanywhere

Please show me in the article where it says they "raided" the home? The heading in THIS thread says that and is not correct . The article states it brought a

‘Gun’ Tattoo Mistakenly Brings Heavily Armed Police To Maine Man’s Home

.. That would be normal and is not raiding anybody's home.

[texanjoker]

Neither article indicates the house was "raided" as that term is commonly used. They went to his house and talked to the owner.

That said, I think also points out the continuing unnecessary expansion of the use of SWAT teams. Apparently, the call to the PD said a man MAY have threatened them but they are sure, and he MAY have had a gun. In my view, this does not justify a military-like response.

I know some of the responses I'll get, so let me say this, if you don't want the risk of being a COP, do something else. When an agency or officer put the lives of the officers above those of the people they are sworn to protect, then they are not fit to wear a badge.

Chas.

What would you have the police do? They responded, and it is appropriate to arm oneself with a patrol rifle in a call like this. The rifle gives an advantage where you don't have to be so close. That is not a military response. No where in this article does it state SWAT was called. In fact in one article I read, it showed a normal uniformed patrol officer with a rifle. Cops with rifles responded.We read in here of forum members that carry 2 -3 guns chl, and have ar's lying near their bed. Obviously they see the value in having the proper tool for the job. That is no different then having the rifle, which gives one distance vs having to walk up to the door and possibly create something. They called him out and nobody was hurt.

[Keith B]

Neither article indicates the house was "raided" as that term is commonly used. They went to his house and talked to the owner.

That said, I think also points out the continuing unnecessary expansion of the use of SWAT teams. Apparently, the call to the PD said a man MAY have threatened them but they are sure, and he MAY have had a gun. In my view, this does not justify a military-like response.

I know some of the responses I'll get, so let me say this, if you don't want the risk of being a COP, do something else. When an agency or officer put the lives of the officers above those of the people they are sworn to protect, then they are not fit to wear a badge.

Chas.

What would you have the police do? They responded, and it is appropriate to arm oneself with a patrol rifle in a call like this. The rifle gives an advantage where you don't have to be so close. That is not a military response. No where in this article does it state SWAT was called. Cops with rifles responded.

They weren't just armed with patrol rifles, they were in position

[texanjoker]

Neither article indicates the house was "raided" as that term is commonly used. They went to his house and talked to the owner.

That said, I think also points out the continuing unnecessary expansion of the use of SWAT teams. Apparently, the call to the PD said a man MAY have threatened them but they are sure, and he MAY have had a gun. In my view, this does not justify a military-like response.

I know some of the responses I'll get, so let me say this, if you don't want the risk of being a COP, do something else. When an agency or officer put the lives of the officers above those of the people they are sworn to protect, then they are not fit to wear a badge.

Chas.

What would you have the police do? They responded, and it is appropriate to arm oneself with a patrol rifle in a call like this. The rifle gives an advantage where you don't have to be so close. That is not a military response. No where in this article does it state SWAT was called. Cops with rifles responded.

They weren't just armed with patrol rifles, they were in position

[ Image ]

Yup that is what one does...what's the problem? You would take up a perimeter and call the person out in a call like this. That also shows a normal uniformed patrol officer and not swat. IF they were raiding the home as the OP tried to suggest they would be kicking in the door which is not the case here.

[Keith B]

They weren't just armed with patrol rifles, they were in position

[ Image ]

Yup that is what one does...what's the problem? You would take up a perimeter and call the person out in a call like this. That also shows a normal uniformed patrol officer and not swat. IF they were raiding the home as the OP tried to suggest they would be kicking in the door which is not the case here.

You better look closer. Looks like tactical uniform to me. Bloused pants, all dark blue. He was not shooting at people, had not actually threatened anyone with a gun, didn't have a hostage. There maybe previous history between the department and this individual we don't know about, but tactics like this are overboard in most cases.

[philip964]

Neither article indicates the house was "raided" as that term is commonly used. They went to his house and talked to the owner.

That said, I think also points out the continuing unnecessary expansion of the use of SWAT teams. Apparently, the call to the PD said a man MAY have threatened them but they are sure, and he MAY have had a gun. In my view, this does not justify a military-like response.

I know some of the responses I'll get, so let me say this, if you don't want the risk of being a COP, do something else. When an agency or officer put the lives of the officers above those of the people they are sworn to protect, then they are not fit to wear a badge.

Chas.

What would you have the police do? They responded, and it is appropriate to arm oneself with a patrol rifle in a call like this. The rifle gives an advantage where you don't have to be so close. That is not a military response. No where in this article does it state SWAT was called. In fact in one article I read, it showed a normal uniformed patrol officer with a rifle. Cops with rifles responded.We read in here of forum members that carry 2 -3 guns chl, and have ar's lying near their bed. Obviously they see the value in having the proper tool for the job. That is no different then having the rifle, which gives one distance vs having to walk up to the door and possibly create something. They called him out and nobody was hurt.

Yes but the some of the police were dressed in all black and pointing those black "scary" rifles at the home. See the photos in the UK article.

Pointing "scary" rifles at a person's home from a position of cover is a raid. The US is not yet Iraq.

[texanjoker]

Neither article indicates the house was "raided" as that term is commonly used. They went to his house and talked to the owner.

That said, I think also points out the continuing unnecessary expansion of the use of SWAT teams. Apparently, the call to the PD said a man MAY have threatened them but they are sure, and he MAY have had a gun. In my view, this does not justify a military-like response.

I know some of the responses I'll get, so let me say this, if you don't want the risk of being a COP, do something else. When an agency or officer put the lives of the officers above those of the people they are sworn to protect, then they are not fit to wear a badge.

Chas.

What would you have the police do? They responded, and it is appropriate to arm oneself with a patrol rifle in a call like this. The rifle gives an advantage where you don't have to be so close. That is not a military response. No where in this article does it state SWAT was called. In fact in one article I read, it showed a normal uniformed patrol officer with a rifle. Cops with rifles responded.We read in here of forum members that carry 2 -3 guns chl, and have ar's lying near their bed. Obviously they see the value in having the proper tool for the job. That is no different then having the rifle, which gives one distance vs having to walk up to the door and possibly create something. They called him out and nobody was hurt.

Yes but the some of the police were dressed in all black and pointing those black "scary" rifles at the home. See the photos in the UK article.

Pointing "scary" rifles at a person's home from a position of cover is a raid. The US is not yet Iraq.

Sorry but setting up a perimeter is not a raid.... that is normal for a call like this.
No more point of this thread.

[txglock21]

I'm not going to jump in this hornet's nest. I'm just going to say, I'm glad nobody got hurt or killed and could have been prevented by more than just one in this situation.

[talltex]

What would you have the police do? They responded, and it is appropriate to arm oneself with a patrol rifle in a call like this. The rifle gives an advantage where you don't have to be so close. That is not a military response. No where in this article does it state SWAT was called. In fact in one article I read, it showed a normal uniformed patrol officer with a rifle. Cops with rifles responded. They called him out and nobody was hurt.

The officer set up with the rifle, doesn't look anything like the officer that was standing at the house talking to the man. Even if he's not part of a SWAT team, he evidently took the time to change into a "tactical" uniform before they responded. It's obvious in that pic that he's not wearing a standard duty uniform, and regardless of the article, you know that if you looked at the picture.