Support NeoGAF

[cdyhybrid]

"I'm the Police": Video Shows King County Sheriff's Detective Pulling Gun on Motorcyclist During Traffic Stop

Alex Randall, a motorcyclist known as Squid Tips on YouTube, posted a video on Monday afternoon reportedly showing a plain-clothes King County Sheriff's detective pointing a gun at him during a traffic stop on August 16.

King County Sheriff John Urquhart responded to the video on Facebook, where he said that he was "deeply disturbed with the conduct and tactics" he observed and that he had ordered that the detective be placed on administrative leave as of this morning pending an investigation.

It's unclear what preceded the stop, but the three-minute video appears to show the detective approaching Randall from behind without warning, and with his gun already drawn and pointed at the motorcyclist.

For reference, Seattle is in King County

Video: https://youtu.be/YSNb6NPoCy0

 

[Princess Carl]

Lmao that thumbnail. Pig

 

[Crankshaft]

What's going to happen when we all lose trust in law enforcement?

 

[Nyoro SF]

What a nutcase. I would've been scared shitless if I had been in that situation.

 

[Vincent Alexander]

What's going to happen when we all lose trust in law enforcement?

Too late. Already happened for me.

 

[Slayven]

Shit happens

 

[dopplr]

What the fuck, turning around and you see a guy pull up on you with a gun yelling and angry at you.

 

[GK86]

What a thug, rolling up with a gun drawn on a civilian. Must make that piece of shit feel like a badass.

 

[Attack You]

That looked more like a hold-up than a traffic stop from the biker's POV. :\

 

[F34R]

Wow... hopefully he's fired at least.

Didn't identify himself until AFTER pulling a gun on someone, and taking their wallet. smh

 

[PhantomThief]

Jesus christ man.

Why do you have a gun on me?

Cause im the police, thats right!

How do these kinds of videos NOT get Nationwide coverage??? If police acted like this in The Netherlands this "cop" would be out on his ass and serving a sentence!

This shit infuriates me

 

[Zenner]

The motorcyclist, who just a month prior posted a video on how to avoid attracting police attention while riding a motorcycle...

Hehe.

 

[Volimar]

Terrifying. I probably would have sped off as soon as I saw the gun and no uniform and been shot in the back.

 

[Captin Quacker]

Shit happens

Well done

 

[g11]

I'm not 100% sure I believe that guy wasn't actually driving aggressively or speeding (whether or not he hit 100mph) but even if all that's true, there's NOOO need for the officer to approach him with the fucking gun drawn.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

"He's speeding..lemme get my gun."

Shit happens

 

[GoldenEye 007]

Wow... hopefully he's fired at least.

Didn't identify himself until AFTER pulling a gun on someone, and taking their wallet. smh

I'm sure the union will do everything in it's power to ensure the longest paid vacation possible is awarded.

 

[bounchfx]

I still can't get over the fact that police are more lax on their bad eggs than any other job. a position of power like that should come with far greater consequences if there is misconduct. they should lose their jobs immediately and not be trusted in any position of power henceforth. and shit like this? man... I don't wanna say jail time, but that's serious abuse of power and intimidation.

grown up children with guns
"im the police"

 

[kmfdmpig]

What's going to happen when we all lose trust in law enforcement?

I suspect that if people 20-45 were polled the support for police would be quite low, at least at this point I hope that would be the case as they have issues like this again and again and instead of trying to clean up the issues they more often than not circle the wagons and protect their own. When police put Punisher skulls on their cars, have "you're fucked" inscribed on their guns, and regularly abuse their powers it seems like a broken system to me.

 

[Easy_D]

What's going to happen when we all lose trust in law enforcement?

"When" ???? I wouldn't trust a single cop in the US

 

[Jencks]

Reckless driving? Might as well threaten his life.

smh.

 

[Chmpocalypse]

Thugs in uniform.

 

[Chris R]

Detective should be fired no matter what.

IF the driver was driving in a reckless manner, apply the proper punishment for those crimes as well (no jail time, just suspend the licenses for a period and give him a fine)

 

[WinFonda]

That looked more like a hold-up than a traffic stop from the biker's POV. :\

That's exactly what it was. The guy on the bike scared the cop, and so he wanted to scare him back by taking his ID at gunpoint. Gotta love vindictive law enforcement.

 

[fluffydelusions]

That's exactly what it was. The guy on the bike scared the cop, and so he wanted to scare him back by taking his ID at gunpoint. Gotta love vindictive law enforcement.

Literally reached in his pocket and took his wallet

 

[JoeBoy101]

One question from the cyclist on his video is why he was trying to hold the gun like he was hiding it. My take on it was he was trying to keep it at arm's length from the cyclist.

And that's the beginning and end of where I don't completely condemn the detective's actions here. That fucker walked up fully drawn and ready to go, with no siren, word, or otherwise before the gun was in his face. Then you have all the usual fuckitude surrounding it like him not caring about who was in the gun's background, not getting out of the street, not filing a report, etc and etc.

They want all the toys and badassery feeling of being a military force without any of the oversight, ROE's, or mission goals.

 

[shintoki]

One question from the cyclist on his video is why he was trying to hold the gun like he was hiding it. My take on it was he was trying to keep it at arm's length from the cyclist.

So other people driving by don't see it. That's the hold up and keep quiet position. Not joking either.

 

[Trojita]

WHAT THE FUCK at that video.

 

[TetraGenesis]

Fucking disgusting. Can't believe the system is so broken that bad people like this feel empowered.

 

[Effnine]

Maybe the cop just wanted a paid vacation? Probably ran out for the year.

 

[mackattk]

How are we, as civilians, supposed to know who a plain clothes cop is compared to other people? I would have freaked out and probably got the hell out of there if someone in normal clothes came up to my car with a gun pulled out. There wasn't any lights or sirens on that undercover car. Dude turned around and saw a man with a gun pointed at him.

 

[Eppy Thatcher]

King County cops don't quit
even when a young brotha's legit.

 

[Socreges]

Hehe.

Pretty ironic. The video is actually pretty good and instructive. Admittedly I didn't watch the second half (yet) but the important thing to note is he's not coaching people on how to get away with anything.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Holy fuck. Now imagine if the biker had responded more aggressively to a complete stranger in civilian clothes fucking sneaking up on him with a gun out. Cop would have probably shot him and would have gotten away with it. Hell, he'll probably get away with this. Too many police officers are dumb as hell.

 

[shiba5]

What's going to happen when we all lose trust in law enforcement?

They get more military equipment.

 

[F34R]

edit: wrong thread lol

 

[Zee-Row]

I fear to think what would happen if he was black.

 

[Westbahnhof]

Same people from the slam thread

Smh

What does this mean? Seems like a weird statement unrelated to this incident.

On topic, wow, that video is fucking scary. If some shabby looking dude with a gun appeared behind me? I think I'd just assume I'm about to die.

 

[RPGCrazied]

Administrative leave is so stupid. How about you just fire them? Maybe why cops do awful things to get free vacations with pay.

 

[flkraven]

jesus my heart stopped when I saw that guy with a gun. Terrifying

 

[JeTmAn81]

I expected another case of overblown GAF outrage but...this is pretty bad. Approaching someone out of nowhere with your gun pointed at them and no identification. Dude should be suspended at the very least.

 

[PJV3]

I'm always stunned watching cops in the US, they act like the country is an open prison and everything with a pulse is a threat.

 

[Aselith]

He had it stuck against his body like a fucking stickup. Stole the guys wallet too.

 

[UpDownLeftRight]

One question from the cyclist on his video is why he was trying to hold the gun like he was hiding it. My take on it was he was trying to keep it at arm's length from the cyclist.

And that's the beginning and end of where I don't completely condemn the detective's actions here. That fucker walked up fully drawn and ready to go, with no siren, word, or otherwise before the gun was in his face. Then you have all the usual fuckitude surrounding it like him not caring about who was in the gun's background, not getting out of the street, not filing a report, etc and etc.

They want all the toys and badassery feeling of being a military force without any of the oversight, ROE's, or mission goals.

Honestly the way he's holding it close to his chest like that looks more to me like he's trying to hide it from view of the majority of people around. Which I'd also assume is because he knows he's not supposed to be doing this shit.

 

[Westbahnhof]

I'm always stunned watching cops in the US, they act like the country is an open prison and everything with a pulse is a threat.

Right? Pretty sure this happening in Austria would lead to the officer being out of a job at least. Instantly.

 

[RPGCrazied]

jesus my heart stopped when I saw that guy with a gun. Terrifying

Yep, one wrong move he could have killed the guy on the motorcycle, just wtf.

 

[SigSig]

So from the motorcyclists perspective:
He's waiting at the traffic stop, when suddenly some guy pulls a gun on him, shouts at him (which the he can't really understand) then grabs his wallet. Yeah, real nice police work there, detective.

 

[thesoapster]

Fuck that cop. What a shitbag.

 

[Mesoian]

What's going to happen when we all lose trust in law enforcement?

What do you mean when?

 

[Trouble]

Administrative leave is so stupid. How about you just fire them? Maybe why cops do awful things to get free vacations with pay.

In most cases they literally can't fire them without an investigation. Police are unionized and have contracts that prevent that.