Interesting Day Today

[xpur3l0g1cx]

Tell me what yall think of this. Today before the football game I just finished assembling an ar15. I had my buddy over and we decided to go out back and try it. I live outside city limits and about 10 acres of woods behind me. I still had a dirt berm setup that I shoot into to make sure it isn't going to go anywhere. I have been shooting out here for years as well as some neighbors. So I shoot about 10 rounds and give the ok and go back inside to clean it. As the game is on I get a knock and go outside to find out that the police had surrounded my house and had 3 shotguns on me and 2 ars on both sides of the house. They told me to come out and handcuffed me and my friend. They had to clear my house and such looking for anyone else. They let me know that there had been a vietnam vet that was shooting at houses around there and thought that it was our house. Anyway to make a long story short in cuffs I had to show them my berm and woods behind the house. They thought my berm wasn't high enough and that I needed more. So after everything was said and done they let me go, and told me it could have been deadly conduct. Never again will I shoot in my own backyard. I felt really embarrassed with my neighbors wondering wth is going on, just never again! On top of that I just happened to have my dogs in their cage and they let me know that if my dogs were running loose in my house they were going to shoot them

[karl]

Sounds a little extreme, they didn't call dispatch to check your address and info?

I think (especially here in Montgomery County), that lots of officers just want some excitement in their day. I'm a pessimist when it comes to LEOs and have a history of uncomfortable and lawful exchanges.

[xpur3l0g1cx]

The funny thing i noticed is one of them had a benelli m4, and another had a full auto colt. Alot of firepower to point on a good guy

[karl]

The funny thing i noticed is one of them had a benelli m4, and another had a full auto colt. Alot of firepower to point on a good guy

You're a dangerous individual. Get your heart rate going?

On top of that I just happened to have my dogs in their cage and they let me know that if my dogs were running loose in my house they were going to shoot them

Sounds about right. I give you an A+ for calm-cool-collect mode.

[davidtx]

did they have a warrant?

[xpur3l0g1cx]

no warrant or anything. I have my chl and stay out of trouble as much as I can. i just said yes sir, no sir and went with it. It just left an empty feeling in my stomach and felt like I could have been shot just for looking at them wrong.

[Rex B]

It sounds to me like they were seriously out of line.
You have a right to shoot on your rural property as long as no bullets leave your property. Even then it's just a misdemeanor ticket if no damage is done.

I think I'd have to follow up on that a bit. Perhaps a visit with the chief LEO

[dicion]

I agree. Call a lawyer and relay your story. Contact the Chief. This was harassment, plain and simple.

[xpur3l0g1cx]

A Sergeant was there as well. I think it was anyway. On his uniform he had all his color pins on. I would really like to find out more about this.

[PeteCamp]

IANAL,but I hope you're not going to tell us that this was Austin PD responding to a call outside the city limits. If it was, they have no jurisdiction. Your county Sheriff is the Chief Law Enforcement officer in the county. Is your property right on the boundary between city and county? If it was Sheriff Dept. officers, remember that your Sheriff is an elected official and much more responsive to calls from citizens.

I would not call the PD Chief, if it was his folks, except as a courtesy to let him know I would be talking with the Mayor and City Council (the elected folks who hire and fire the Chief) through my lawyer and that litigation would likely be the result for him and his out of control department. From what I hear about the Chief of the Austin PD, he richly deserves it. I would also contact your Sheriff and tell him the story.

[xpur3l0g1cx]

This is Harris County

[cbunt1]

This is Harris County

Not sure what the law is in Harris County. I seem to remember that in Montgomery county, you must own (or control) 10 acres, and if that's the case, you can pretty much do as you please (as long as it's safe).

I do think noise concerns come into play with Montgomery County as well, but I'm not sure of the statutes. I'll have to see what I can find.

If you're in a position that you're statutorily sound, I'd make a fuss...

[xpur3l0g1cx]

When they came I double checked by asking them if I broke the law by shooting out here. They said it was ok that I shoot back here, they just didnt care for my backstop but behind that i have so many woods it didnt matter. They wanted my backstop to be " As tall as the telephone poles"

[gregthehand]

This sounds strange. They had no reason to clear your house. I'm not sure how high your berm is but if it's about 6-8 ft that would be more than enough. I would be pretty dang upset if this happened to me.

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

I agree. Call a lawyer and relay your story. Contact the Chief. This was harassment, plain and simple.

You should most definitely follow up on this with a lawyer.