Author Topic: man arrested for guns swords in wash DC (Read 3644 times)

gunsmith · « **on:** March 11, 2009, 12:31:52 AM »

http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0309/Man_arrested_near_Capitol_with_guns_sword_.html

March 10, 2009
Categories: Bad Behavior
Man arrested near Capitol with guns, sword

My colleague Sarah Abruzzese reports:

The United States Capitol Police arrested a driver near the Capitol on Tuesday around 4 p.m.

A search of the vehicle found: Two long guns, three handguns and a sword, according to Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, the spokeswoman for the USCP. Charges against the driver are pending.

UPDATE:

Capitol Police Just Released This Statement:

At approximately 2:20 pm today, a driver approached a U.S. Capitol Police officer for directions at Third Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Upon further investigation, the vehicle was deemed suspicious and the driver was detained for further questioning. He was arrested without incident and transported to USCP headquarters for processing.

Out of an abundance of caution, the U.S. Capitol Police swept the vehicle that was driven to ensure that nothing of a hazardous nature was found. All tests were clear with nothing hazardous found. A search of the vehicle incident to arrest recovered two long rifles, three handguns, one sword, and several other items of concern.

The subject is identified as 49-year-old Timothy Whitfield of Long Beach, California. Whitfield has been charged with Carrying a Pistol Without a License, Possession of Unregistered Ammunition, Possession of Unregistered Firearm.

zahc · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2009, 01:02:25 AM »

Caught near the palace with weapons, tsk tsk. Will not do.

The land of the free?

RadioFreeSeaLab · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2009, 02:32:01 AM »

Unregistered Ammunition? You have to register ammo in DC?

gunsmith · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2009, 03:24:36 AM »

Quote from: dasmi on March 11, 2009, 02:32:01 AM

Unregistered Ammunition? You have to register ammo in DC?

I was wondering about that myself, its to bad we don't have a right to keep and bear arms and the things you need to use them, like ammo for instance. I think we need something in our Constitution to protect us from over zealous police states.

Leatherneck · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2009, 06:42:27 AM »

For the nonce, everything is illegal around the capitol. Several challenges to the draconian DC laws are in the works, but little is settled. I was over there yesterday, and the area around the congressional buildings fairly swarms with cops of every stripe.

This guy should at least be subject to charges of stupidity for not doing any homework on just how bad it is.

TC

Jimmy Dean · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2009, 09:41:03 AM »

I wonder if they can articulate reason to search the vehicle. "He seemed suspicious" is not reasonable suspicion and certainly not probable cause, I would love to see all cahrges dropped cause they should not have been searching in the first place.

charby · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2009, 10:41:20 AM »

Why do these guys always have a sword with them?

cassandra and sara's daddy · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2009, 12:10:39 PM »

there can be only one

makattak · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2009, 12:17:31 PM »

Quote from: Charby on March 11, 2009, 10:41:20 AM

Why do these guys always have a sword with them?

It must be a conspiracy! The cops always have a "drop sword" for just such an occasion!

AZRedhawk44 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2009, 12:47:46 PM »

FOPA defense?

Were they loaded, or stowed away discretely?

Need moar info.

jackdanson · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2009, 12:55:42 PM »

Quote

Why do these guys always have a sword with them?

Probably because he is a mall ninja that didn't realise the laws. IMHO he should only be charged with galactic stupidity. He obviously wasn't "up to no good" because he stopped a cop to ask for directions.

Gewehr98 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 11, 2009, 01:41:31 PM »

Why, that's an arsenal!

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #12 on:** March 11, 2009, 01:44:19 PM »

Given media ignorance and hyperbole, probably half of these "swords" are just old, rusty machetes.

slingshot · « **Reply #13 on:** March 11, 2009, 02:16:32 PM »

Machetes, that is probably true. But every mall ninja needs at least one sword. I even have one and I'm not a mall ninja. Like to have a few more.

charby · « **Reply #14 on:** March 11, 2009, 02:35:57 PM »

Quote from: slingshot on March 11, 2009, 02:16:32 PM

Machetes, that is probably true. But every mall ninja needs at least one sword. I even have one and I'm not a mall ninja. Like to have a few more.

Swords are so 15th century. What I want is a Blaster!

seeker_two · « **Reply #15 on:** March 11, 2009, 02:43:32 PM »

Quote from: Jimmy Dean on March 11, 2009, 09:41:03 AM

I wonder if they can articulate reason to search the vehicle. "He seemed suspicious" is not reasonable suspicion and certainly not probable cause, I would love to see all cahrges dropped cause they should not have been searching in the first place.

Agreed. "Suspicious-looking person" seems to be a fall-back for any search that the police have to justify afterward. I want to see how the prosecutor justifies the search in court.....

...but then, I doubt the defendant is the type who'll be able to afford a sharp lawyer....

slingshot · « **Reply #16 on:** March 11, 2009, 04:05:12 PM »

I hope this wasn't the thread author that asked about taking a firearm to DC? But... officer.... they told me on THR that it was my constitutional right.... Just joking, I think.

gunsmith · « **Reply #17 on:** March 11, 2009, 05:39:37 PM »

Quote from: slingshot on March 11, 2009, 04:05:12 PM

I hope this wasn't the thread author that asked about taking a firearm to DC? But... officer.... they told me on THR that it was my constitutional right.... Just joking, I think.

PROBABLY not (caplocksorry), if anything its the open carry people who told him its OK
to travel to D.C.

Probably went something like this

Quote

its youre right to carry anythin indc now becuz the serpreme quart sayd so

PTK · « **Reply #18 on:** March 11, 2009, 09:43:39 PM »

....at first, I had hoped that one brave soul had strolled into DC with loaded 1700s era weapons to prove a point. I can dream.

Gowen · « **Reply #19 on:** March 11, 2009, 10:09:58 PM »

Mistake #1, going to DC.
#2 having kalifornia license plates.

News:

Author Topic: man arrested for guns swords in wash DC (Read 3644 times)