PA Bill Number: HB335

Title: In inchoate crimes, further providing for prohibited offensive weapons.

Description: In inchoate crimes, further providing for prohibited offensive weapons. ...

Last Action: Removed from table

Last Action Date: May 1, 2024

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Houston cop threatens to jail open-carry activist: "I'm tired of you idiots" :: 12/15/2014

A Houston police officer has sparked an internal investigation after an encounter with an open-carry activist legally carrying an AR-15, The Blaze reported Wednesday. The encounter was captured on video, Jon Street said, after the officer attempted to delete the video. After threatening to jail the man for not having ID, he is heard telling the protester that he was "tired" of seeing open-carry "idiots."

The confrontation started with the officer asking for the man's identification. The man said he didn't have any on him at the time.

The unidentified officer then seized the rifle and placed the man in handcuffs, KRIV reported. The officer told the man he was "going to jail for failure to ID because you can't tell me who you are, you can't prove who you are."

"I'm tired of you idiots coming out here," the officer added. After realizing the incident was being recorded, the officer attempted to erase the video, but failed. Street said the officer tapped the record button twice, essentially ending and restarting the recording.

"Take the phone off now because we are going to erase it because you're recording everything," the officer said. But legal experts say the officer's order was illegal.

"That is completely illegal, completely unlawful and a violation of HPD policy," said Fox 26 legal analyst Chris Tritico. "Someone calls up and says this makes me nervous, they were pointing the gun whatever the complaint was the police than have the right to come to you and investigate that complaint and so at that point they lawfully have the right to say give me that weapon while I talk to you and you have to give it up," he added.

David Amad of Open Carry Texas went even further, calling the officer an "un-convicted felon. He went on to tell KRIV he "may not ever get convicted, but the fact of the matter is this one particular officer broke the law big time."

The citizen involved in the incident was released, and no charges were filed, the HPD confirmed. The incident, however, is being investigated and the department declined to provide additional information until that probe is complete. Video of the encounter can be seen above.