• We are now running on a new, and hopefully much-improved, server. In addition we are also on new forum software. Any move entails a lot of technical details and I suspect we will encounter a few issues as the new server goes live. Please be patient with us. It will be worth it! :) Please help by posting all issues here.
  • The forum will be down for about an hour this weekend for maintenance. I apologize for the inconvenience.
  • If you are having trouble seeing the forum then you may need to clear your browser's DNS cache. Click here for instructions on how to do that
  • Please review the Forum Rules frequently as we are constantly trying to improve the forum for our members and visitors.

Carry situation at a Truck Stop caused LEO to be summoned... Bad Encounter

thejax

Regular Member
Joined
May 9, 2009
Messages
91
Location
Philadelphia & Tampa
I am not going to name the rest stop but I will say its off I-95 near NC.

So I have one of those concealed holsters that is pack. I like this because it doesn't look like a fannypack which I think makes me look femine and I also like the idea that with a quick second I can unzipper and vertical draw.
BPP_L_BRN_1_gun_Web.jpg


Anyway so I know VA is open carry without a permit but I chose to conceal as I was traveling and wanted to keep my trip simple.

While in the store I was wondering around. Looking at drinks (sodas) and trucker apparel as I am not a trucker and this intrigues me. I notice a short woman employee watching me. I have no idea why this is but she is. I have a soda and candy bar in my hand. I walk up to the register and pay for my items. It was a general transaction by a separate employee. Nothing special.

Upon walking to the door this woman employee who was watching me walks right in front of me blocking my path to exit. I take two steps back and just look at her. I am waiting for her to say something but she doesn't. So I finally reply calmly "Yessss. You are blocking my path to exit. Is there something you need?". She looks at me like I should know why she is doing this. I then step to my left and stop. She steps to her right also blocking my path again. So now I am getting annoyed. I am thinking, is this woman going to tell me what it is she wants or is she being playful or is she just simple (you know what I mean when I say simple).

So I finally say, "Speak. Something obviously is bother you. What is it. Lets move this along here". She points at my conceal pack. I say "Ok, so now I know what has your attention. Unfortunately, I still do not know what your problem is". She finally speaks. She says, "Whats in the bag?". So I look at the pack then look back at her. I pause for a second. I still have no idea what her intentions are. I reply, "Whyyyy......?". She says can I please inspect your bag, sir?". So I am holding a bag that has the items I purchased. I pointed to that bag then my pack. I asked, "This bag or this bag?" She says, "the bag on your belt".

I said, "Oh you want to see whats in the bag?". She says "Yes please". So I reply, "Ohhhh ok. Um no, thats not going to happen". So she says, "I am going to say it again, what is in the bag?". I said, "Why are you blocking my path to exit and why on earth are you asking me what is in my bag?". She says, "Look sir, I am not accusing you but you were in the store while and you only bought a few things and I want to make sure you purchased everything you are leaving the store with today."

So now I get it. She thinks I stole something and put it in my pack. Well I am not a thief but she doesn't know me so I try to not be offended by that. I then say, "I fully understand your concern but I unfortunately cannot show you what is in this bag because I do not want someone who is ignorant on state law to cause a disturbance". So then she says, "I don't understand. WHAT IS IN THE BAG?!". So I say to her, "Well I have been issued a permit that grants me the privilege to carry a concealed firearm on or about my person and in my wallet, which is in my pants pocket is the permit and in the bag you are referring to is a firearm".

So then she takes two steps back and puts her hands in front of her and says "Wait wait you have a gun??". I said, "No. You are saying this incorrectly. I am legally carrying a firearm on or about my person." Well guess what? She screams and throws her hands up in the air and yells "He's got a gun!" meanwhile patrons in the store dive to the ground. So now I am thinking....... What is it do I do now?

She then looks at me then runs frantically behind the counter. Everyone is looking at me. So I say to everyone CALMLY, "No no no, this isn't what you think. I have a permit and she asked me what was in my pack. I am not doing anything unlawful. I am sorry this woman is ignorant on the law". As people start to get up I start to walk over to the counter. The whole time, the cashier who rang me up, and older gentleman, is just standing there basically not caring about what is going on at all.

As I get to the counter, the woman is sitting in the floor behind the counter and about to pick up the phone. I tell her, "What are you doing? Please get off the phone. This is just a simple misunderstanding". She says "Ok... yes sir" and gets off the phone, stands up, and puts her hands up. So I say, "Put your hands down". I then realize everyone in the store is still watching me not sure what is going on. I then raise the bag of the purchased items in my hand and say "Look I just made a purchase, I was leaving. There is no situation here. Why are you creating a situation?".

Now, here comes the fun part. I hear sirens off in the distance. So I say to her, "Did you call the police?". She says no, you told me to get off the phone". The cashier, who I think at this point gets the fact that nothing is going on here and thinks his fellow employee is an idiot kindly looks at me and says kindly, while he is still ringing up people, "She hit the silent alarm before she picked up the phone". So now I am thinking, now what.

I look at her and say, "This is what i am going to do. I am going to calmly stand here with my hands up and await the arrival of the police that you summoned". She says "You better". I look at the cashier and say "You like working with this person?". He replies, "Well son she ain't the brightest bulb in the batch. Don't worry. This is about to get really ugly but there is a happy ending around the corner".

So after that 3 Sheriff cars pull up. They get out of their cars and rush in the store. They have have their guns drawn and I have my hands up. The woman immediately points at me and says, "That man has a gun!!!". At this time I surrounded. They ask me where the gun is and to get on the ground. I told them I am willing to comply but this is all a misunderstanding.

Here comes my savior. A second woman who was shopping in the store with her husband seen this whole thing unfold. She walked up and said, "This man isn't doing anything wrong. That girl is a looney!". At this point the bag was opened and my firearm was taken and unloaded and I was handcuffed.

They police grab my arms and lift me up and then we start having a conversation. The cops first asked, "Ok, so why are we here? Were you being robbed?". The cashier looks at the cop and says, "No we weren't being robbed and that man just made a purchase and he was leaving". So the cop starts to continue talking to the cashier when the woman employee starts yelling, "I tried to confront him about him possibly putting some merchandise in his bag that he was not going to pay for. When I confronted him he told me he had a gun!!". I looked at the cops and say "No, thats not it at all. She asked me what was in the bag and I told her I was carrying a firearm legally with a permit and thats what was in the bag. I at no time said to her the exact words I HAVE A GUN".

So at this point the cops pull me aside, the cashier, the woman employee, and the woman and husband that were shopping. We all give out sides of the story. 20 minutes go by and I am still handcuffed. The senior officer shows up and asks for a report. At some point most of the officers got into a huddle and chatted. Then they all walked up to me and said, "The statements you gave us today, are they true and correct?". I said "Yes sir they are". So he says ok then, I am sorry for the trouble. This woman has a history of mental illness. You are free to go. Please wait a second for the other officer to return your firearm". Just then I am uncuffed and my firearm is handed to me, unloaded. The clip is handed to me separately. I was told to please just don't load until I get back to my vehicle. I said that wasn't a problem.

Meanwhile the woman and her husband who were shopping walked up to me and asked if I was ok. They said, "We are not big gun people but we know when something isn't right and that woman was about to get you in a lot of trouble and that cashier was dead to the world really. We had to let them know what was REALLY going on". I thanked them and they left. The police walked up to me and asked me if everything was alright and if there was anything else I needed. I said "Yes, yes there is. I would like her bosses name and the phone number to reach him right now. I would like to call him right now and then I would like you to do me a favor and talk to him and let him know what just happened here". The officer said, "Thats not a problem. We were eating our lunch so none of us are happy about this either".

So the rest of the story goes the phone call was made, she was fired, the officers gave her a very firm talking to, then I walked out to my car, put the gun securely in a lockbox in the trunk, then walked back in the store and gave her a very well deserved firm talking to. The woman cried and I had no remorse.

I then walked back to my car, opened the trunk, put my pack back on, then left.
 

t33j

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2009
Messages
1,384
Location
King George, VA
Wow what a story. Hadn't ever thought that an issue like that might come up. Sounds like it might have been simpler had you been OCing... yeah I know, sometimes I'm not in the mood either.
 
Last edited:

thejax

Regular Member
Joined
May 9, 2009
Messages
91
Location
Philadelphia & Tampa
Sounds like it might have been simpler had you been OCing... yeah I know, sometimes I'm not in the mood either.

I agree and disagree. Yes sometimes I am just not in the mood to open carry and that pack holster makes me feel like the best of both worlds. My under the pants holster is very uncomfortable while driving and I didn't want to open carrying because I was traveling multi-state.

The way this situation went, if I open carried I do not think I would of got accused of stealing but I think this woman would of seen my gun on my hip and dove into the potato chips screaming. She was "One of those". LOL!!!

A rarity someone in Virginia is surprised to see someone who is a non-LEO carrying a firearm.

Lesson to everyone if you don't already practice this when you conceal. If you are carrying concealed and someone who is not an LEO asked you what something is in a certain place, and you know they are referring to your firearm, but you know or suspect they don't think its a firearm..... kindly tell them first you have a permit then tell them you are legally carrying a "firearm". Never tell them you "Have a gun". LOL!
 
Last edited:

peter nap

Accomplished Advocate
Joined
Oct 16, 2007
Messages
13,551
Location
Valhalla
Just for future reference, there are 4 words to use when confronted like that.

"Move your ass now!"
 

Deanimator

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2007
Messages
2,083
Location
Rocky River, OH, U.S.A.
If I were you, I'd be having a conversation with the manager and or owner about how hard they should kiss your behind in order to avoid a nasty lawsuit. I'm thinking a year's free gas should do it. She committed several civil torts against you while acting as their agent. THEY are responsible.
 

Vanns40

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2010
Messages
211
Location
Maryland
If I were you, I'd be having a conversation with the manager and or owner about how hard they should kiss your behind in order to avoid a nasty lawsuit. I'm thinking a year's free gas should do it. She committed several civil torts against you while acting as their agent. THEY are responsible.

Man do I agree with you. Forget the gas though, who would want to go back. Money talks. :)
 

SicSemperTyrannis

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2006
Messages
537
Location
Henrico County ,
???

my point exactly

How do you know she was fired? I'd speak to an attorney, fast. Civil torts abound in your description.

I work for a financial institution and have been robbed (most recently about two months ago). I am very familar with silent alarms and typical police response protocol to silent alarms as well as alarm company rules about how to respond to one silent alarm signal as opposed to more than one signal, etc. I am confused by the response you described. It runs counter to what I have experienced, been taught, and have taught.

From one silent alarm signal police responded with sirens? And ran in the store armed as soon as they pulled up? That is a recipe for a hostage or an officer to be killed. Are they idiots? Perhaps there are some missing elements not described in your story - other 911 calls, etc?
 

SicSemperTyrannis

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2006
Messages
537
Location
Henrico County ,
How do you know she was fired? I'd speak to an attorney, fast. Civil torts abound in your description.

I work for a financial institution and have been robbed (most recently about two months ago). I am very familar with silent alarms and typical police response protocol to silent alarms as well as alarm company rules about how to respond to one silent alarm signal as opposed to more than one signal, etc. I am confused by the response you described. It runs counter to what I have experienced, been taught, and have taught.

From one silent alarm signal police responded with sirens? And ran in the store armed as soon as they pulled up? That is a recipe for a hostage or an officer to be killed. Are they idiots? Perhaps there are some missing elements not described in your story - other 911 calls, etc?

In most ways, this seems like a "good" encounter with LEO and even the individuals who supported you even though they aren't necesarily "pro-gun". Alls well that ends well, and the officers sounded supportive in the end. Also, the woman sounds crazy so she very well may have violated the little bit of training she received regarding silent alarms and such. And a small rural sheriiffs department may not follow the protocols developed by the FBI and others for proper robbery response at a financial institution. And this wasn't a financial institution. Still, from your description, a lot was done wrong by the LEO's.
 

langzaiguy

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2009
Messages
916
Location
Central KY
Holy cow--woman shoulda been arrested for disorderly conduct or something. I think the police handled themselves professionally considering they thought they were at an armed robbery scene.
 
Top