Thought Police?

[Ashlar]

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 001/NEWS03" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Police act swiftly after gun purchases

Concerns about an Oregon Department of Transportation employee who purchased several guns after being placed on leave prompted law enforcement across Southern Oregon to step in.

Negotiators and a SWAT team from Medford police safely took a man — whose name wasn't released — into protective custody Monday morning in the 500 block of Effie Street, Medford police said in a news release.

He was taken to Rogue Valley Medical Center for a mental-health evaluation.

more at link..

[jmra]

Don't even know what to say about that. Can you be arrested because somebody thinks you might do something? Of course I guess he could have said something at work that was considered a threat but still...

[MojoTexas]

The man recently had been placed on administrative leave from his job and was "very disgruntled," the news release said.

ODOT Communications Director Patrick Cooney said there were administrative, personnel matters involved that limited what the department could discuss.

However, the state agency had reported concerns about the man to law enforcement agencies, who started monitoring him, officials said.

"We had concerning information regarding a personnel issue and were watching the subject," Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters said.

Sounds like they had some information that he might have been planning something. You have to admit it's not typical for someone to go on a firearm shopping spree right after they lose their job. Usually that's a time when a normal person would be carefully budgeting their money until they find another job. I am vehemently against laws waiting periods and limiting gun purchases, but this sounds like sound police work. According to the article, no criminal charges had been filed...they were just trying to nip the situation in the bud before it turned tragic.

[MadMonkey]

I dunno, a couple of guns after getting fired might be a nice pick-me-up :)

[Medic218]

I dunno, a couple of guns after getting fired might be a nice pick-me-up :)

[MojoTexas]

I dunno, a couple of guns after getting fired might be a nice pick-me-up :)

Well true...but I still don't fault the police for following up on the situation. It sounds as if he was seriously disgruntled, and making comments or threats, enough that his employer notified the police. Usually when I've seen someone get fired, or as a manager had to fire someone, I haven't ever felt the need to call the police. If the guy was super angry and making threatening comments ("You'll be sorry!" or "I'm going to get you!") then I probably WOULD let the police know just in case. (I know of only one time this happened to a friend of mine, and the police put a cop in the lobby of the building for a few weeks as a precaution.)

It sounds like this guy wasn't being charged with a crime. They're just getting him evaluated as a precaution. If the shrinks say he's fine (just irritated and an avid gun collector) then I'm sure he'll get released and get his guns back.

Hopefully we'll get more details about the case...I'm curious how it turns out.

MojoTexas

[Ashlar]

I dunno, a couple of guns after getting fired might be a nice pick-me-up :)

Or an investment vehicle.

[cougartex]

[VoiceofReason]

I hope he gets enough from a lawsuit so he never has to work another day.

[gigag04]

I hope he gets enough from a lawsuit so he never has to work another day.

[chabouk]

Update:

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... WS/3120325" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pyles told Starrett he initially thought the early morning call must be a prank, but looked out to see his yard surrounded by police.

"They asked him to come out and said they wouldn't handcuff him, arrest him or take him off the property," Starrett recounted.

However, Pyles said, he then was handcuffed and taken to Rogue Valley Medical Center for evaluation.

"Because we had information that he could be a danger to others, we wanted a medical professional to evaluate him," Medford police chief Randy Schoen said.

Police have maintained that Pyles' surrender was voluntary, but Starrett noted that an intimidating presence of officers with rifles and SWAT gear can force people to agree to things they wouldn't normally do.

"The thing that is really troubling to us is that this was not an arrest," he said. "People in protective custody don't even have the rights a person who has been arrested does."

[MojoTexas]

Another update...it appears he got his income tax refund, and just went shopping. Which is kind of what I did recently, except it was a bonus from work and not an income tax refund.

http://www.kmed.com/pages/landing?3-11- ... feedID=133

It sounds like the police definitely overreacted.

[MechAg94]

In the past, I have seen articles posted about people getting run through the ringer because family members were "worried" about them. Police can sometimes end up doing an awful lot if given a reasonable excuse.

What bothers me about this is the guy was taken in for evaluation. All it takes is one idiot psyche doctor and he gets his guns confiscated or worse. It sounds to me like he should have refused to go with them and forced them to either leave him alone or actually arrest him.

[VoiceofReason]

Sounds like this guy might have a case against the police, his “superior at work” and the company he works for.

I don’t believe the police would just pick him up. Someone had to call them and I would lay odds it was said “superior at work” in order to cause him problems. Of course he will probably never find out unless he files against the PD.

I hope he takes them all to the cleaners and it makes national news. There should be strong deterrents to this type of treatment of an individual.

[chabouk]

What bothers me about this is the guy was taken in for evaluation. All it takes is one idiot psyche doctor and he gets his guns confiscated or worse.

I have to say they guy must be the exact opposite of a threat. Even as a very laid back kind of guy, I would be so angry at such treatment that most shrinks would keep me longer than just a few hours.