Police officers are understandably sensitive about being aware of all firearms present at traffic stops, for very good reasons, most of which have to do with gravemarkers of their fellow officers who ended up getting surprised by them.
In this case, though, a fair viewing of the videotape shows that the driver did attempt to notify the officers on more than one occasion before stepping out of the car, and tried to do so when the officer approached his window several minutes into the stop. He may not have done it very well, but it certainly doesn’t appear that the driver intended to keep the information from the police. The officer told him repeatedly to keep his mouth shut while they checked out the other two people involved in the stop. Threatening death and/or a beating to a man who tried repeatedly and finally succeeded in fulfilling his legal obligation to inform them is irrational and should be illegal.
The driver faces [first-class misdemeanor] failure-to-inform charges.
http://hotair.com/archives/2011/07/21/video-police-officer-threatens-concealed-carry-driver-with-execution-beating/
EDIT: Here is more information on the event, including comments from a fellow police officer
I have just received, well, multiple copies of a police cruiser dash-cam video of a stop performed by two officers of the Canton Police Department in Canton, Ohio.
I am speechless.
After sitting through that, I have some questions.
1) Is it Standard Operating Procedure for Canton PD Officers to threaten to assault handcuffed and compliant prisoners?
2) Is it SOP for Canton PD Officers to search the back seat of a car with the driver not only still sitting in the car, but not even Terry frisked yet?
3) Is it SOP for Canton PD Officers to threaten the murder of handcuffed and compliant prisoners?
Now.
That lead officer in this video needs a psych evaluation. Sooner, rather than later.
I neither know, nor care, what snakes he's got in his head, what sort of shift he had or what personal problems he's got, but he is a loose cannon on deck and does not need to be driving anything with more horsepower than a desk, nor carrying any gun that uses anything other than water for ammunition.
As a law enforcement professional my-own-self, I state here and now that that man makes me ashamed of my chosen profession.
If you can not handle that traffic stop in the video, my old lad -- that certain, particular and exact traffic stop in the above video -- with more self-control, more decorum, more professionalism, and more basic, common courtesy than what you show ... tell me, do: what the hell are you going to do on one that really goes rodeo?
Insults are no substitute for self-control. Threats are not better than self-discipline. Screaming is not a replacement for dignity and courtesy.
Burger King is hiring. Do yourself a favour; do your department a favour; and do the rest of us a favour -- find a job doing something else ... before you cripple or maim an innocent "putting lumps" on them, or you "put ten rounds" into someone who doesn't need killing.
You complete, utter and total jackass.
LawDog
http://thelawdogfiles.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-hell.html
EDIT: According to the Canton PD facebook page, the office has been relieved of duty.
http://www.facebook.com/CantonPD?ref=ts
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