CHL Arrested in Fort Worth

[KRM45]

From the Star Telegram:

http://www.star-telegram.com/metro_news ... 02184.html

Things go downhill fast for cyclist arrested in Fort Worth

FORT WORTH — A 23-year-old bicyclist rode right into trouble this week after making an apparent smart-aleck remark.

According to a report, a police officer had detained five people on a curb after a traffic stop in the 3900 block of White Settlement Road when the cyclist rode by them about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday.

"Did y’all read them their rights first?" the cyclist said loudly as he pedaled past.

The remark drew the attention of the officer, who called for the cyclist to stop. "You don’t have a headlight on that bike," the officer said, according to the report.

Riding a bicycle without a headlight at night violates the Texas Transportation Code, the report states.

Things continued downhill when the cyclist ignored the officer and kept pedaling, prompting another officer to turn on his patrol car’s lights and chase the cyclist, the report states. Soon, another officer joined the pursuit.

The cyclist looked back at the pursuing officer, pedaled faster, hopped a curb, and rode through several driveways and yards. He stopped in the 3900 block of Monticello Drive, took off his backpack, threw his bike down and asked officers, "Why are y’all stopping me?"

The man was arrested on suspicion of evading arrest/detention.

But his troubles weren’t over.

According to the report, officers spotted the handle of a Glock pistol protruding from a mesh pocket on the man’s backpack. According to the report, the man has a concealed-handgun license. But because the gun was not concealed, he was also arrested on suspicion of unlawfully carrying a weapon by a license holder.

He was charged with both misdemeanors Thursday, court records show

I'm sure this will generate lots of discussion.

[HighVelocity]

The bicyclist doesn't sound like any CHL holder I know.

[Pinkycatcher]

Sounds like some cops getting upset over a dumb comment they should have made a joke over...This is police being dumb and overreaching, and his weapon was probably unconcealed as part of being stopped by the police, dumb comment followed by even dumber police conduct imo.

[Oldgringo]

....an apparent smart-aleck remark...

That's what got me a night in the Nashville, TN jail about 47 years ago. It's good to see that some things don't change.

BTW, my Momma who told me I was judged by the company I kept also told me that I'd got myself in jail, I could get myself out. Apparently, they don't make Mommas like mine anymore - pity.

[Frost]

According to the report, officers spotted the handle of a Glock pistol protruding from a mesh pocket on the man’s backpack.'

Or they just claim that because they want to punish him. These transportation laws are just for your safety you know.

[Morgan]

Just curious how you guy would like someone walking by your desk at work and making some random jerkish comment about your competence. Nosey jerk, looking for trouble... well he found some. I'll prefer to assume the police didn't lie on the report. it's certainly possible they did, but one would guess that if they randomly searched his backpack and found the gun instead of seeing it, the story would be very different.

[DEADEYE1964]

The next time he wants to make a smart-aleck remark, he should make sure he is not in violation of any laws. Was it petty,yes, was he breaking the law yes, would they have chased him down for the light if he had not made a smart-aleck remark, no way. I agree with an earlier post, this does not sound like any CHL I know. He sounds like the kind of guy that shows off his gun to his bike club.

[jbirds1210]

Well.....hard to say he didn't ask for it.

[nitrogen]

Just curious how you guy would like someone walking by your desk at work and making some random jerkish comment about your competence. Nosey jerk, looking for trouble... well he found some. I'll prefer to assume the police didn't lie on the report. it's certainly possible they did, but one would guess that if they randomly searched his backpack and found the gun instead of seeing it, the story would be very different.

As far as I know, it's not against the law to be a nosy jerk.

[Keith B]

Well, I guess we can add a third known case of someone being arrested for failure to conceal. HOWEVER, notice that it was NOT a shirt blowing up in the wind, a guy leaning over and his jacket uncovered the gun, or even that he was printing. He had the gun in plain sight in a MESH pocket of a backpack with the handle sticking out. He also had made some pretty foolish remarks that drew attention to himself prior to being discovered. Had he kept his mouth shut and/or not been breaking the law, he wouldn't have even been looked at.

[pedalman]

There is something to be said for not drawing attention to one's self.

[atxgun]

Who knew, talking smack to cops will make them call you out on whatever you're doing wrong.

[WarHawk-AVG]

Well there is always some pinhead that slips thru the cracks

At least they stopped him before he did something really stupid with it and gave CHL'ers a really bad name

[Greybeard]

Sounds like he missed the part of class that sez : "If you go lookin' for trouble, you CAN find it."

Or, if you start asking for trouble, it will come to you!

[casingpoint]

the handle of a Glock pistol protruding from a mesh pocket on the man’s backpack

All the cops saw was the grip. The rest of the gun was concealed within the mesh pocket, or the cops would have seen that also. Most of the general population would not know there was a handgun present just by seeing the grip, but would merely think it was a short, black 2X4 at a bad angle. The cyclist's obvious intent was to conceal the weapon, not expose it. There is no crime committed absent intent. He did, however, intentionally violate the Texas Transportation Code by intentionally riding at night without a light. These cops got carried away. They're don't sound like brightest bulbs on the shelf.