Mad? Confused? Thankful?

[Winston33]

I figured I would share this story and here some thoughts on what others here might have thought and done.


I was at a buddy's ranch in Wimberly this last summer, where I had quite an experience with the Sheriff's Department out there. There were about seven of us on the hundred acre ranch, with a total of about 12 rifles and pistols. We were doing some shooting with the ARs and M1 garands, which contained some brief amounts of rapid fire, but nothing dangerous whatsoever. After about an hour of shooting, we were all stunned buy the shouting of "Everyone on the ground! Anyone who moves is getting a round through them!". Through the brush comes two deputies, from about fifty yards away, with their BPVs on, and M4s pointed at us. Well of course everyone hit the deck almost instantly. One of the deputies held us at gun point while the other looked through our vehicles and our equipment. He then picked up the AR, that was still on the ground next to me, while saying, "Is this loaded, do yall even know how to shoot this thing?" As he picked it up, I advised him that it WAS loaded and chambered with the safety off, as I was just about to shoot it when they ran up and ordered us to get on the ground. He quickly told me to shut up, and then proceeded to sweep just about everyone, including his partner! And when he pulled the bolt back to unload it, the rifle was pointed directly at me. I was truly just waiting for a 5.56 through my face. To sum it up, about seven minutes later we were finally allowed to talk, which is when we explained that we were simply collectors having a Saturday at the ranch, doing nothing dangerous and following all safe shooting guidelines as if we were at a public range. While still on the ground they ran all of our DL numbers. Of course they found no warrants or anything of the sort. They then asked if any of the guns were illegal or stolen because it would "take all day to run all of these guns." He then saw one of the bayonets on the picnic table that belonged to my friends antique M1 Garand, and said "you know that knives this long are illegal?" (We all just sort of looked at each other like, c'mon.) After a few more insults and ranting, they instructed us to "remain on the ground until they were out of sight". The deputies then walked out the way they came in, with not one arrest placed or a citation given. They never did clue us in as to why they came, but my guess is that it was due to a complaint by neighboring ranch or a passerby that heard the shots from a distance. The owner of the ranch attempted to ask why they came, to which he recived no response. After it was all said and done, and the adrenaline settled, I wasnt as mad as I was confused about why they (1) just jumped the fence and came in, (2) didnt tell us why, (3) had terrible, horrible safety skills, (4) continued to be rude even after we explained that we were simply friends enjoying a hobby.

Looking back I guess we handled it okay, although I'm not sure that there was anything different we could have done. I wasnt about to "talk back" or "smart off", simply because I was worried that they might slap me with some charge that could potentially prevent me from ever handling those very firearms ever again. We never did file a complaint, although the owner of the ranch did call a few days later, and politely asked them to please not send another two man SWAT team over the fence, if they simply hear gunshots. And if necessary, contact him on his cell.

[WildBill]

Sounds like you handled it the best you could. I would still think about filing a complaint to the Sheriff. Their tactics could have easily escalated into something causing injury or death. If you all were BGs, they would be hurting for sure!

[tarkus]

I would file a formal complaint.

[nitrogen]

I think you mean a criminal complaint.

[srothstein]

Well, I would call the sheriff's office and talk to a supervisor about it. It is probably too late to file a formal complaint (many departments have a time limit on how long they can take to discipline someone after an incident), but it is never too late to complain and talk to someone in the department (I assume it was Hays County S.O.). You can get an answer as to why they were there and why they acted like idiots, and hopefully an apology.

As for the criminal complaint, I am not sure there is grounds. It depends on what they were told when they got the call (assuming there was a call to begin with).

[KBCraig]

It was absolutely inexcusable behavior, no matter if there was a complaint call or not.

[G.A. Heath]

Something about these two deputies was not on the level, and they need some retraining. here's why I say this:
1: They felt you were a threat (actions and equipment), yet had no backup on scene prior to their approach.
2: Their overall demeanor as posted shows a disregard for the public image of their department (Important because their boss is elected in Texas).
3: Their handling of your guns (and probably theirs) in an unsafe manner.
4: The fact they did not tell you why they were there in the first place (this should have been done early in the encounter).
5: The fact the rancher (land owner) was never given the reason LE was on his property

[Glock 23]

if they did this to you guys, imagine what they do to other civlians.

I can understand their abrupt approach with a bunch of guys armed with rifles and shooting them, but everything else is unexcuseable.

[Longtooths]

I would file a complaint at the very least.

[austin]

My shooting range at the ranch is across the road from a Sheriff Deputy's house.

When we shoot, he comes over and joins us.

Sneaking up like they did was stupid. They could have been in the impact zone and ended up as a backstop.

They should have driven up or got the Game Warden to escort them.

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

Wow! I'm really sorry to hear about that! All the LEO contacts we've had at our place have been good. We've had multiple DPS and Ector County SO come out to the pit while we're shooting. When they pull up at the entrance, we always put everything down and walk away from the table while they're driving up. Every one of them has been friendly and usually say they figured we were OK to be out there since the gate was open and unlocked. Heck, at this point, they usually know it's either my brother or I or the owners of the pit, and they just come down to visit. I wouldn't know if it's been too long since the incident to file a complaint, but I'd sure say it's worth a call to find out!

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

At first, there weren't any neighbors. There's a horse arena right across the street, and they called alot. It died down after awhile. It's picked back up again now because people have bought land next to us and moved in. The neighbors don't like us much. The only gate is actually at the entrance to the pit. The land is not fenced in. You have to really try hard to get in there not using the entrance. There have been many times we show up out there, and the neighbors have driven a truck down there and are shooting at our stuff. We call the sherrif and have them escorted out. They're upset because it's right next door, and we won't let them use it. When they take the time to clean up after themselves, pick up trash when someone dumps out there, not dump THEIR trash in the pit, and donate some money or time to the upkeep, then we'll talk! We used to go during the late evening and practice low light shooting, and using flash lights and such. We actually stopped shooting at night, and stopped hunting coyotes at night out of courtesy for the neighbors, but they haven't reciprocated the kindness.

We all pitched in and rented a front end loader one weekend and put boulders up at all the old entrances so only the main entrance with the gate was useable. When the neighbors were clearing their land and had a tractor out there, they came over and moved them out of the way so they could get in! We could see the tracks leading from the tractor over to the pit!!!

We even caught them running their cattle down in the pit when we had standing water so they could drink! I told the guy that the pit is for us to shoot, not to water his cows, and that we couldn't shoot and didn't want to take a chance hitting one of his cows. I'm the one that called the SO, and when the deputy got there, the neighbor said I threatened to shoot his cows!!!!! Fortunately, the deputy was familiar with me and had met me on several occasions in the pit. He didn't believe the guy and told him to get his cows out or animal control would pick them up and he could buy them back at the county auction.

I'm not the owner of the pit, but my brother and I have been friends with the owners for many years. We're both listed as "managers" of the land and have control of the land when we're there. That's one of the VERY few places I carry openly, and have never been questioned by the SO or DPS that have come down. We're almost to the point of pressing trespass charges. We've been trying to be patient and neighborly, even though they're not, but it's getting tougher. Our summer project for the pit is to fence it in and move the main gate to the road entrance of the actual land, not just the pit.

Sorry about the rant and hijack. I'll be quiet now.

[gregthehand]

Y'all know that tresspassing on agricultural land is only a class C misdermeanor right?? As far as pressing charges all that's going to happen is a cop might come out and write a ticket.