So I stopped in the grocery store after leaving work and had been there long enough to have five different items in the cart and covered 50% of the store right to left. I’m in a half isle between two full length isles and a short policeman comes through the opening of the 1/2 isle and approaches me head on and says how’s it going?
Good. How about yourself?
Then instead of moving out of my path he says I need to ask you some questions.
I’m out of town getting some food to take back to the hotel to save some money and my first thought is someone said I was printing.
He asked if I threw a water bottle at a lady.
No sir. I got out of the truck and walked directly in the store. Didn’t even make eye contact with a lady. I’m thinking go pull the cameras up on the parking lot…
Then his partner comes up behind me. And asked again.
Nope. I left work stopped and filled up with diesel and came directly to the grocery store.
What are you driving?
The work truck.
What company?
Where do you work?
I’m working at xxxx four miles down the road.
Well she gave your description. She’s pretty upset…
The other officer said construction worker.
I said every person on the site is required to wear hi-vis shirts.
So they say she didn’t say anything about a truck.
“ Must have been road debris. Have a good day.” Then walked away from me.
So did they actually persue a call from a Karen about someone throwing a water bottle? Then went looking for that person in the grocery store?
Sorry you had to go through that because someone wanted to create a situation where none exist. So much goes on nowadays LEs don’t know what to believe, or what to think. That’s when the good guy can be grossly inconvenienced and get caught up in the judicial wash.
Just being out can be risky business. It’s always best to know yours in complete detail. Incidentally, I have adopted a habit of ensuring that I get a receipt from everywhere I shop or pay money. The receipt has the date, time, place, cashier name, items purchased, how it was paid for, etc. I do this just in case I forget, get shaken, confused, etc. My wife knows I keep receipts for a certain length of time, with every transaction. It’s almost as important to wear a bodycam yourself. smh. You’re right, just the thought is exhausting. Best to watch the game…at home. Stay safe, brother.
Right. I usually get the receipt even though it’s a company fuel card and they don’t need them. The printer at the pump didn’t print one, so I rolled on.
If it were me I would’ve asked you if you threw a water bottle at a woman and if you stated that you didn’t do it I would’ve left it alone. I would have exited the store and waited with the woman and see if she could’ve identified you as you exited the store. I also would’ve told the woman that I asked you and that you said you didn’t do it. Those two officers that approached you approached you as if you had committed a felony. They surrounded you on each side as if you were a felon. But you handled it correctly IMHO, you did not lose your cool and you cooperated with the LEOs.
I was more surprised and intrigued by the police investigating someone throwing a water bottle. Became more curious about their side of the story and wondering if what I was hearing was bs.
And then, Was there an upset lady in the parking lot? Was she some nut job that’s going to start making a scene “that’s him” when she saw my yellow shirt when I walked out of the store?
It’s not my style to be curt and people are friendlier down here in the south. All of this interaction was probably less than a minute.
Plus there’s some backstory for the site I’m working at this week. Some of the locals have various levels of resentment up to hate for the location. Part of me wonders if the police put two and two together after they realized where I was working?And maybe her accusation was false?
So not only did we shoot ourselves in the foot last night, but we are to become prisoners in our own homes? The Stasi is onto us!
Welcome to the new normal! Just guessing, but you’re probably a white American conservative male in a truck that uses contraband as fuel, you also must have looked like a working man. That’s just not acceptable any longer!
It’s their totalitarian world now, you want to feel safe, you’re going to need to look like Bruce Jenner! Next time I shop, it’ll be in heels and a wig and a rainbow colored t-shirt that says “you can call me Karen”!
Mark my words, the targets on our heads are in day-glo paint, and this won’t be the only instance we hear about! @Johnnyq60 is correct, one wrong word, an eye slight, and they were prepared to take you down. Watching your six has a whole new meaning today!
Very sorry you had to go through that, I tried to make the world a better place, but voting doesn’t work!
When ever I am confronted by police I think of it as a training experience. For them training to do their job to protect law abiding people and for me to do what I can to help them. I would have answered their questions to the best of my ability so they can do their job to the best of their ability( usually with a joke in there depending on the severity). Given it wasn’t a terrible crime I would have thanked them for their service and bin on my way.
That was a consensual conversation. After the first question say excuse me officer. If he won’t let you go, from that point on say “I don’t answer questions “. They were fishing and if you said the wrong thing you would be in cuffs.
My guess is you hit a water bottle with your tire. It shot past the woman. Scared the bejesus out of her and she called the police thinking someone was trying to kill her. She saw your vehicle and thought it was you.
Please don’t paint a “snippet” with a broad brush. My only interest is to lend support for what’s right, to encourage and empathize with fellow gunowners and concealed carriers, as we share a mindset to defend ourselves, family, and home in critical situations. I share no interest in MVEs or any mal-intentions towards the rule of law or disrespect for our government. We are “responsibly” armed American citizens. The person I responded to did what was required of him, but also what kept him safe, and pictures him as being a responsible citizen. It had nothing to do with anything being so extreme that we have to blame the government or our elections for an isolated incident that happened locally, and with that LEO in particular. Therefore, should something had gone left of center, as a Member of the USCCA, he has a number that he can call to aid him. But who likes to be inconvenienced by something that should have never even happened? Now, if I have misperceived what you have stated, I do offer my sincere apology.
Now Daddy didn’t like trouble
But if it came along
Everyone that knew him
Knew which side that he’d be on
He never was a hero
Or this county’s shinin’ light
But you could always find him standing up
For what he thought was right
He’d say you’ve got to stand for something
Or you’ll fall for anything
You’ve got to be your own man
Not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what’s right
And uphold your family name
You’ve got to stand for something
Or you’ll fall for anything
Now we might have been better off
Or owned a bigger house
If Daddy had done more givin’ in
Or a little more backing down
But we always had plenty
Just living his advice
Whatever you do today you’ll have to sleep with tonight
He’d say you’ve got to stand for something
Or you’ll fall for anything
You’ve got to be your own man
Not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what’s right
And uphold your family name
You’ve got to stand for something
Or you’ll fall for anything
Now I know that things are different
Than they were in Daddy’s days
But I still believe what makes a man
Really hasn’t changed
You’ve got to stand for something
Or you’ll fall for anything
You’ve got to be your own man
Not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what’s right
And uphold your family name
You’ve got to stand for something
Or you’ll fall for anything
You’ve got to stand for something
Or you’ll fall for anything
