Meet the Man Who Caught Cop on Camera Forcibly Removing His Pro-Gun Sign

[tombogan03884]

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/09/23/fed-up-ny-man-sets-up-hidden-camera-to-find-out-who-was-repeatedly-stealing-his-pro-gun-sign-what-he-discovered-blew-him-away/

A man in Somers, N.Y., hatched a plan to catch the individual responsible for allegedly stealing his pro-gun signs repeatedly from his front yard. He bought a trail cam, set it up near the sign — and then waited.

When he learned that his sign had been taken yet again, he was elated because he knew he had finally caught the person responsible on camera.

He just didn’t expect that person to be a uniformed police officer.

Assuming the photos are entirely authentic, a police officer with the Somers Police Department appears to have been caught on camera ripping the sign, which reads: “Protect the Second Amendment,” from the man’s front yard. It wasn’t immediately clear if the police officer had removed the sign previously too or if the action was ordered by Somers PD.

TheBlaze has left messages with the Somers Police Department as well as the man who claims his signs were removed from his property on multiple occasions.

Here’s the photo evidence, which the man posted on the pro-gun forum NYFirearms.com on Monday (also notice the timestamps of the photos):
NY Man Sets Up Hidden Camera and Finds Out Cop Stole His Pro Gun Sign

(NYFirearms.com)
NY Man Sets Up Hidden Camera and Finds Out Cop Stole His Pro Gun Sign

(NYFirearms.com)
NY Man Sets Up Hidden Camera and Finds Out Cop Stole His Pro Gun Sign

(NYFirearms.com)

The man, who TheBlaze has been unable to contact so far, goes by the username “thecelt” on the forum. He explained exactly how the situation developed in a series of posts:

    I sent an extra $20 donation to scopeny and they give you a repeal the safe act sign… I put it up and one scumbag neighbor called the town building inspector to complain. I got a letter for being in violation of a town code. As per advice on this forum from nyshooter I could fight it on grounds of my 1st amendment rights… so I called the town BI and after telling him ill fight it in court he asked what kind of sign it was so I said a pro2a sign so he said leave it up. A week or so later he called me back because the [neighbor] cried again and I said that I’m leaving it up. A day or so later my sign went missing…So I wanted to buy a trail cam first so I could catch the thief and press charges(can’t justify spending the money on one yet) before putting up another sign but I decided to make a sign of my own with plywood and I’m going to drive a couple 2×4 stakes in the ground so someone would have to really work to remove it.. here is a picture of the sign… tomorrow ill get a pic of it installed. Btw the stencils took quite a while to make and I rushed the paint work because I didn’t want to wait for one side to dry filly before doing the back side (both sides are the same)

One can understand why he first thought one of his neighbors, who was clearly against his Second Amendment sign and underlying message supporting the repeal New York’s so-called SAFE Act, was responsible.

But after setting up his camera, which he reportedly bought with the help of donations from fellow members on NYFirearms.com, the man learned that a police officer had taken his sign — at least on this occasion.

“Very strange turn of events…and im not quite sure where to go with this now,” he wrote. “[It's] the freaking SOMERS PD.”
NY Man Sets Up Hidden Camera and Finds Out Cop Stole His Pro Gun Sign

(NYFirearms.com)

It is entirely possible that the Somers Police Department had the “legal” right to remove the sign, though many on the forum say the man’s constitutional right to free speech was violated regardless.

As the man who posted the photos points out: “this is my property, although i have to find out if the town claims any rights to property on the edge of the road as this was about 4-5′ in from the edge of the roadway.” He also admitted that he was instructed to remove the sign once by the town’s building inspector, though he claims he ultimately was told he could leave it up.

In his final post on Monday, “thecelt” said he was seeking legal advice before taking any action or notifying the police department.

However, he also said he was “highly offended my constitutional rights are being violated and i certainly expect some action to be taken.”

 

Featured image via NYFirearms.com. This story has been updated.

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[TAB]

I for see lots of zeros coming his way.

[Solus]

I for see lots of zeros coming his way.

I'm guessing you mean with a $ and a one or more larger digits in front of them?

[Solus]

If this all turns out to be legitimate, it does go to show you  who at least one officer of the Somers Police Department thinks is his enemy.

1. The owner of the sign and perhaps other firearms owners.

2.  Second Amendment of the US Constitution.

3.  First Amendment of the US Constitution.

It's also interesting to note that he and perhaps the Somers Police Department have violated their oaths to protect the rights of the citizens and the US Constitution.

He, or they, drew the line and we can see which side of the line we stand on.

[TAB]

yep, i won't speculate how many zeros or how big the other number will be, but a LEO, violating some ones 1st admendment rights is always going to  be a big payday.    unless there was some thing that said he could not have that sign there.

[Sponsor]

[Pathfinder]

I for see lots of zeros coming his way.

Sorry, TAB, he will get nothing. Well, MAYBE, an apology, the "I'm sorry if we hurt anyone" official type, and MAYBE his sign back. But nothing more.

The cops are part of the power structure and they will be protected by the .gov.

[mortdooley]

 As a home owner I would have personally taken the pictures to the Chief of Police and asked him to explain why one of his employees removed the sign. Where I live roads are either 75 or 100 feet wide, the paved part is a two lane road and the rest is grass which home owners maintain. If this sign was in the easement then he needs to know to move it back inside his property line, if his signs just offends liberals then it is time for all of this attention.

[WatchManUSA]

I looked up my city's ordinances for yard signs and this is what I found.  In my city there is a 15 foot city right-of-way measured from the street curb.  The city owns it and I am required maintain it.

Placement of signs on right-of-way or public land.

(1) No sign other than governmental signs shall be erected or placed for any period of time within or upon any public land except as may be authorized in this subsection.

(2) Only governmental signs, signs for a rummage sale posted no more than 120 hours in any eight-day period and signs advertising the sale of real estate between the hours of 6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 a.m. Monday may be erected or placed within any public right-of-way or easement. No nongovernmental sign shall be placed in a public right-of-way abutting private property unless permission to place such a sign is first obtained from the owner, occupant or other person having control of the abutting private property.

(3) Any sign other than governmental signs remaining on such property in excess of 120 hours in any eight-day period, or placed for any length of time in violation of subsection (2) of this subsection, may be summarily removed by the city or other governmental agency owning such public right-of-way or easement and, at its discretion, destroyed.

[TAB]

So assuming he was in the wrong, is thier a code violation notice?    if there is who enforces these things?  I would assume some code enfrocment type person not a leo( they can be both)

[dipisc]

Hi;

     Just for the sake of an arguement....What is the difference of putting up a   "Obama" sign up or a "Romney" sign up in the same place that this guy put his 2nd Amendment sign up ? It is all "free speech" - is it not ?  What about a  "support our troops" sign...

     yards sale signs,   For Sale   and For Rent    1st Tan free    We buy houses   etc.....

     Who decides and is it legal whether it is on private  or  public land ?

     If you deny 1 person then you have to deny everyone    OR   get a permit     per sign/neighborhood.