Police act swiftly after (LEGAL) gun purchases

[Hazcat]

ODOT worker who'd been put on leave is mentally evaluated after buying handguns, AK-47

March 09, 2010

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.

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.

In two days, the man bought a Heckler & Koch .45-caliber universal self-loading handgun, a Walther .380-caliber handgun and an AK-47 assault rifle, Medford police Lt. Bob Hansen said. All of those firearms were purchased legally, with required record checks by the Oregon State Police.

Authorities were "extremely concerned" that the man may have been planning to retaliate against his employers, the news release said.

"Instead of being reactive, we took a proactive approach," OSP Sgt. Jeff Proulx said.

Douglas and Jackson County sheriff's departments, OSP officers based in both counties and police in Medford and Roseburg collaborated, he said.

Medford police watched the man's home overnight, starting at about 9 p.m. Sunday, Hansen said.

Because he was known to have weapons, police wanted to defuse the situation and ensure the man wasn't a danger to himself or others before the neighborhood awakened and people started their daily activities, Hansen said.

Medford's hostage negotiators and SWAT team were called in at 3 a.m. Monday and arrived on the scene at about 5:45 a.m., he said.

About a dozen officers responded. They closed the street for about an hour and evacuated three homes to protect neighbors and prevent bystanders from gathering, he said.

After a phone conversation with negotiators, the man — who was alone in the home — agreed to come out, Hansen said.

Police seized the recently purchased firearms, as well as another .45-caliber Heckler & Koch handgun and a 12-gauge shotgun. Police are holding the weapons for safekeeping, but no criminal charges have been filed.

Reach reporter Anita Burke at 541-776-4485, or e-mail aburke@mailtribune.com.

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100309/NEWS/3090315/1001/NEWS03

[ericire12]

But where is the minority report?

[Hazcat]

So now you can be put in 'protective custody' because you've been fired and you buy guns.

"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."

Now it could not have been threats cause you can be arrested for that, so what was it?  Maybe some lefty knew he owned guns and was afraid?

[JC5123]

But where is the minority report?

+1000!!!!

This absolutely crosses the line and gun owners everywhere should be up in arms.  (pun intended) The minute you arrest someone (don't give me this protective custody crap) for something that you THINK they MIGHT do, with no evidence, you have just become Stalinist Russia. This sets the precedent now that if I get upset over something and buy a gun, I can be arrested because I MIGHT want revenge? I hope there is a judge left in Oregon with the balls to tear some new a$$ holes. And this guy needs to find a really good attorney, because he has a real case on his hands. There are some serious civil rights violations here. Of course I bet you won't hear a peep from the ACLU.


No this doesn't piss me off in the least.

[JSC3ATLCSO]

WHY?! WHY?! WHY?!   UGH.  I try to defend law enforcement as much as I can.  This just makes me beat my head against the wall.

[Sponsor]

[twyacht]

About a dozen officers responded. They closed the street for about an hour and evacuated three homes to protect neighbors and prevent bystanders from gathering, he said.

Oh, that was nice of them.

"Instead of being reactive, we took a proactive approach," OSP Sgt. Jeff Proulx said.

That's freakin' scary right there...

I think there was a " law enforcement agency" that did the same thing at some point in time, in Germany, during the 30's and 40's,
Hmmmmm,........who could it be,........

There might be more to his "disgruntledness" than the story reads, but as Shakespeare stated:

"Somethings afoot"....

[tombogan03884]

It's a no win situation, If they have reasonable (to us ) cause for concern, their choices are to either do nothing, in which case people might die, and they look like they weren't doing their job, on the other hand they can pick the guy up, which makes them look like "Stalinist" thugs, no one gets hurt and they never have to say "We Told you so".

[TAB]

We also don't know the eniter story.

For all we know the guy could have said he was going to get a gun and come back to work and kill every single person there.  He also could have done things that would make one wonder about his mental state.

Until we get all the facts, lets not pass judgement.  This guy could be loony toons.

[Texas_Bryan]

We also don't know the eniter story.

For all we know the guy could have said he was going to get a gun and come back to work and kill every single person there.  He also could have done things that would make one wonder about his mental state.

Until we get all the facts, lets not pass judgement.  This guy could be loony toons.

Strangely I find myself agreeing with you.  He could have verbally threatened his former workplace with violence.  Or one of his former coworkers could have lied and exaggerated to the authorities.  I find it hard to think that the police were checking in on his gun purchases unless they had a reason.  I may not trust the LE's motives but I don't believe they can, or bother, to watch everyone all the time...for now.  Unless he said something specifically to the effect of, 'I'm coming back here and killing all you people,' I think this is certainly unwarranted.

[bulldog75]

It's a no win situation, If they have reasonable (to us ) cause for concern, their choices are to either do nothing, in which case people might die, and they look like they weren't doing their job, on the other hand they can pick the guy up, which makes them look like "Stalinist" thugs, no one gets hurt and they never have to say "We Told you so".

+100

They are damed if they do and if they do not they are damed. Pick your poison. Now all they have to do is say sorry to one person and not to widows and orphans.