DC Cop Brings Gun to a Snowball Fight

[Luthor Rex]

I understand the cop wanting the pedestrians to stop throwing snowballs at cars, but pulling out a GUN? Um.. what?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAgQKJuriIo

As Jesse Walker noted earlier today, an armed confrontation between snowball-throwing DC residents and police took place during the day's historic snowfall.

Around 2.30PM on Saturday, December 19, residents at the intersection of 14th and U Streets NW started throwing snowballs at passing Hummers.

One of the cars pelted was driven by a plainclothes police officer identified only as Det. Baylor. Baylor got out of his car and brandished his gun at the crowd.

Reason.tv's Dan Hayes was on the scene, capturing the tense confrontation between police and citizens who chanted "Don't bring a gun to a snowball fight!"

Approximately 5 minutes; harsh language throughout.

 

[thedude4242]

man if that would have happneded in my town those cops would have tasered and went after all them kids. them cops looked scared and didnt do anything back when the kids said **** you pig. how did they get away with all this.

 

[Julius_Seizeher]

People actually think this is OK? Go read the Declaration of Independence.

Cops work for us, cops should be terrified of pissing US off, not the other way around.

What's that cop gonna do next, see a couple girls playing hopscotch and arrest them under the Patriot Act? More and more cops are sticking their fvcking noses in places they DON'T BELONG! Just because they didn't get laid in high school doesn't mean they should be able to put on some jackboots and fvck everyone up. Jeezus.

The pedestrians were not without fault in this encounter, however. Snowball fights are cool. But as soon as that gets boring, the kiddies started throwing snowballs at passing cars, and they're lucky they didn't hit the wrong truck and have some guy with an AK get out and start liquidating their assets!

 

[The Piano Master]

Can't wait for the copper apologists to scramble to this thread.

 

[Kerpal]

What a d!ck.

 

[taiyuu_otoko]

dang, when i watched that vid yesterday it only had about 300 views, now it has over 40 thousand. that cop is going to be famous for being a deuche before he knows it.

 

[Belmar2009]

dang, when i watched that vid yesterday it only had about 300 views, now it has over 40 thousand. that cop is going to be famous for being a deuche before he knows it.

It amazes me how many people hate the police.

This crowd was a bunch of whiny, liberal anti-war protesters.

I agree, the guy should not have brought out his gun.

However, RESPECT the POLICE and they will RESPECT YOU!

 

[Wiesman44]

Belmar, they hate the police until they need something. I agree with your point. Drawing the gun was a bit much. He could have at least identified himself.

 

[bigjohnson]

The pedestrians were not without fault in this encounter, however. Snowball fights are cool. But as soon as that gets boring, the kiddies started throwing snowballs at passing cars, and they're lucky they didn't hit the wrong truck and have some guy with an AK get out and start liquidating their assets!

Or be the cause of a horrible traffic incident. Law enforcement should keep order, and that includes protecting the right of peaceful assembly and breaking up riots, which is what this was turning into.

 

[BlakeW5]

^ It almost turned into a riot, but why? Because the good detective thought he'd flex his muscles and pull a gun.

The other cops were professional about it but that pr*ck still couldn't even admit he was wrong all throughout the video. The whole time all he could state was how he was a detective like it made it okay to do what he did. Fact is a badge doesn't give you free reign to do whatever you want, contrary to Detective Bailer's belief.

My point being the actions of the detective set the whole thing into motion. Funny that such a bad-a$$ wouldn't even talk to the crowd until all the other cops showed up. If you're ballsy enough to pull a gun be ballsy enough to approach them.

Anyway, hope he feels like a big man now because he just committed career suicide and at least three people there caught it all on film.

Personally I'm surprised some of you have admitted the gun thing was a bit much, much as you're probably surprised that I approve of the way the other cops handled the situation. Once again it's a case of one idiot ruining for the rest though.

 

[taiyuu_otoko]

I hope the cop won't be disciplined. In fact, I can see his point of view. The video starts out with him holding his gun already. Nobody knows what happened before. He never pointed it anybody. He even got hit in the side of the face with a snowball and didn't react.

Throwing snowballs at cars is dangerous. Icy roads, people not used to driving on the snow. Those innocent citizens could have caused an accident resulting in death. Cop gets out of his car and sees a hostile crowd. He had no idea if they were armed or not. He pulled his gun out as a precaution. He didn't fire it, he didn't point it. He was playing it safe.

Those morons throwing snowballs at cars were lucky they didn't hit a car belonging to a guy with a gun that wasn't a cop.

But sadly, this video has already made it to the front page of yahoo news. This cops career is likely over, or at the very least, he'll be sitting beside a desk. Even if they do an investigation and find him within procedure, he won't likely get off the hook.

I'm behind the cop all the way.

 

[Quiksilver]

All parties were at fault, making blanket statements doesn't help anything.

Citizens throwing snowballs and ice chunks at cars are endangering innocent people. Fines should be given and community service required.

Police gripping weapon and pulling his gun out OFF DUTY when no ones lives were in immediate danger, that is wrong as well. Fine should be given, and 30 days on the job without a firearm.

Police need better training when dealing with mobs/groups. Reason, common sense and good judgement don't prevail in large groups of people, so approaching them in the way he did doesn't help anyone.

 

[Stagger Lee]

I think the crowd got it backwards, don't bring snowballs to a gunfight lol. Actually I agree with taiyuu_otoko. I think DC is statistically a dangerous place in some areas. But also DC is crawing with law enforcement, so it's pretty stupid even stupider than it already would be for this crowd to throw snowballs at vehicles.

 

[Desert Fox]

Why are these little sh1theads throwing snowballs at cars anyways???

I'm all for that cop pulling out a gun. Shoulda popped a few caps that day too!!

 

[The Piano Master]

Or be the cause of a horrible traffic incident. Law enforcement should keep order, and that includes protecting the right of peaceful assembly and breaking up riots, which is what this was turning into.

Who the hell are you to decide what "peaceful" is, buddy? Looks like you're back to your holier than thou act.

Now that I'm done with this guy, we'll get back on topic. The cop clearly needs some sort of counseling. Does that thing even happen for these crazies in uniform?

 

[user43770]

How else was he supposed to control that mob by himself? It seemed to me that he wanted to stop the crowd from throwing ice at cars, but at the same time not be attacked by it. He kept his cool better than the average person would have.

 

[PRMoon]

Who the hell are you to decide what "peaceful" is, buddy? Looks like you're back to your holier than thou act.

Now that I'm done with this guy, we'll get back on topic. The cop clearly needs some sort of counseling. Does that thing even happen for these crazies in uniform?

No offense but you really need to do more investigating into law enforcement and culture. You're coming off as very ignorant as to the actualities of police work. If you're going to make all these accusations and statments you should at least have some idea what you're talking about.

 

[bigjohnson]

Who the hell are you to decide what "peaceful" is, buddy?

Endangering lives of fellow citizens, throwing objects at passing cars, etc. is not peaceful assembly. Anyone with an IQ over the temperature of the weather in this video would know that.

No offense but you really need to do more investigating into law enforcement and culture. You're coming off as very ignorant as to the actualities of police work. If you're going to make all these accusations and statments you should at least have some idea what you're talking about.

Pulling a gun in metro DC and never pointing it at anyone while facing down an escalating riot ALONE and while off duty .... maybe he could have done it better maybe not but he got it done, no one was injured and everyone went home.

Some people just hate the police.

 

[The Piano Master]

Endangering lives of fellow citizens, throwing objects at passing cars, etc. is not peaceful assembly. Anyone with an IQ over the temperature of the weather in this video would know that.

The sarcasm again, huh? :nono: :nono: :nono:

 

[Phenomenal One]

Citizens throwing snowballs and ice chunks at cars are endangering innocent people. Fines should be given and community service required.
Police gripping weapon and pulling his gun out OFF DUTY when no ones lives were in immediate danger, that is wrong as well. Fine should be given, and 30 days on the job without a firearm.

Immediate danger?
So they should wait until a accident is causes and someone gets hurt, then take action?
Don't take immediate action now, lets wait for something bad to happen.

Police used to have the same attitude about stalkers, well until the people gettin stalked started gettin assaulted and killed.

Used that same logic with other examples and you'd see why it's so damn stupid.