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Published On: Fri, Apr 19th, 2013

CJ Grisham, Texas Vet arrested for ‘rudely displaying his rifle,’ making others uncomfortable, child questioned VIDEO

Army Master Sgt. C.J. Grisham was on a ten-mile Boy Scout hike with his son in Texas when he was arrested and accused of “rudely displaying” his firearm. During the video Grisham and the officer are feuding when he is handcuffed in front of his son when a second officer says they have the right to  ‘disarm’ him. (2:22 mark in video)

“The charge is pending prosecution with the county attorney’s office,” the Temple Police Department said in a very short statement provided to TheBlaze on Wednesday. Temple is located in Bell County, Texas.

Police Sgt. Gary Smith told TheBlaze that they would not be releasing any other statements or commenting on the matter any further. “That’s it,” he replied after being asked if he could provide any additional details.

 (More below)

Evidently people were ‘alarmed’ by him carrying his rifle and Grisham asked if he explained what the law is – “They don’t care what the law is.”

“Do ​you​ care what the law is?” Grisham shot back.

A similar statement was made during gun control debates in Colorado when Rep Harvey

“What we are trying to do here tonight is not to protect ourselves from violent crime. What we are trying to do here tonight is prevent students and teachers from feeling uncomfortable by you carrying a gun to protect yourself,” Harvey said

CJ Graisham YouTube videoPolice took the boy home after Grisham’s arrest. And though Grisham warned him not to answer any questions until his mom was present, police allegedly wouldn’t let the boy out of the car until he spoke.

Todd Starnes at Fox News has more:

As the officers put Grisham in the back of the car, the video picked up sounds of [Grisham’s son] Chris crying.

The officers told Grisham they would take the boy home.

“I told him not to answer any questions,” Grisham said. “I told him not to answer a single question until his mother was there — and she would answer the questions for him.”

But that’s not what happened.

Chris told Fox News that the police officer refused to let him out of the car until he answered a series of questions. The boy had not been arrested.

“The officer told me that I wasn’t getting out of the patrol car until I answered his questions,” Chris said. “He said I didn’t have a choice. I was scared.”

Grisham said his boy was traumatized by the incident.

Every time he sees a police officer he has a panic attack,” he said. “That’s unfortunate because we always taught our kids to respect police officers. My wife and I are angry about it.”  [Emphasis added]

His charges were downgraded from resisting arrest to interfering with a peace officer while performing a duty, but he still thinks the situation is absurd and inexcusable.

 Here is the statement from Grisham on his YouTube post:

On March 16, 2013, my son and I were hiking along country roads among pastures and fields with my 15-year old son to help him earn his hiking merit badge. I always enjoy these father/son hikes because it gives me time alone with my son. As I always do when we go on these hikes and walks, I took my trusty rifle with me as there are coyotes, wild hogs, and cougars in our area. In Texas, it is legal to openly carry a rifle or shotgun as long as you do so in a manner that isn’t calculated to cause alarm. In other words, you can’t walk around waving your rifle at people. I always carry my rifle slung across my chest dangling, not holding it in my hands.

At about the 5 mile mark of our hike, a voice behind us asked us to stop and the officer motioned for us to approach him. He got out of his car and met us a few feet later. He asked us what we were doing and I explained that we were hiking for my son’s merit badge. He then asked me what I’m doing with the rifle, to which I responded in a calm manner, “Does it matter, officer? Am I breaking the law?”

At that point, the officer grabbed my rifle without warning or indication. He didn’t ask for my rifle and he didn’t suggest he would take it from me. He simply grabbed it. This startled me and I instantly pulled back – the rifle was attached to me – and I asked what he thought he was doing because he’s not taking my rifle. He then pulled his service pistol on me and told me to take my hands off the weapon and move to his car, which I complied with. He then slammed me into the hood of his car and I remembered I had a camera on me (one of the requirements of the hiking merit badge is to document your hikes). This video is the rest of that encounter. Up to this point, I am not told why I am being stopped, why he tried to disarm me, or even that I’m under arrest.

We did not set out that Saturday morning to “make a point” or cause problems. Our goal was to complete a 10-mile hike and return home without incident. My son chose a route that away from populated areas but near our home.

The arresting officer is Officer Steve Ermis and the supervisor is Sergeant Minnicks of the Temple Police Department.

If you agree this was a gross act of exceeded authority, please help me fight these charges: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/2nd…

 

 

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About the Author

- Writer and Co-Founder of The Global Dispatch, Brandon has been covering news, offering commentary for years, beginning professionally in 2003 on Crazed Fanboy before expanding into other blogs and sites. Appearing on several radio shows, Brandon has hosted Dispatch Radio, written his first novel (The Rise of the Templar) and completed the three years Global University program in Ministerial Studies to be a pastor. To Contact Brandon email [email protected] ATTN: BRANDON

Displaying 31 Comments
Have Your Say
  1. Steve Ermis, Sergeant Minnicks | Riding with the King says:

    […] Spread their names. […]

  2. Jay says:

    The only threat was an imagined one. Someone sees an AR and its a problem. Had he been carrying a bolt gun, it wouldn’t have been an issue however the law is the same regardless. The law allows for his ability to carry. He was legally carrying concealed and had the correct identification for that as well. The Police overstepped here. I wouldn’t say he would have been wrong on a weekday but it would have caused more concern. That said, had the police officers been respectful in their efforts, all parties would have gone on their way. There was no resisting, the video shows that. Despite him being vocal, which he has the right to do, he did as he was asked the entire time. I will be interested to see how this turns out. The police were in the wrong here and they know it as they have already reduced the charge. My guess is a civil lawsuit will be filed and I can see there being a decision in Mr. Grisham’s favor.

  3. Kristian Sparks, 5-year-old Kentucky boy receives rifle as a gift, shoots his sister, Caroline Sparks, age 3 - The Global Dispatch says:

    […] You May Also Like… Texas Vet arrested for openly carrying his rifle […]

    • Curtis says:

      what’s the point of linking that sad story about the boy who shot his sister? this is the story of an adult legally carrying on a country road. you may as well post an article about a teen driving drunk, it’s not more pertinent to this story. the only thing common is a gun was involved.

  4. Bster says:

    The only part of the story I know of where Grisham was foolish was when the cop asked him about his firearm and Grisham replied “What’s it matter?” That’s what a criminal would say…just answer the simple question. Do you have a legal right to remain silent? Sure, but I’d try to recognize when a cop is just trying to do his job and asks a simple question. Grisham admitted to that response on his youtube posting. Other than that, the police certainly made the situation worse by using unnecessary force and keeping the situation hostile even after they learned there was no threat.

  5. HNEIL says:

    Absolute and blatant violation of law abiding citizens rights. The police were way out of line, and using power they simply don’t have. Yes, they could have cordially asked the man a question or two, and then gone on thier way. The police chose to escalate the issue, and the Dept. should be sued for violating the man’s rights.

  6. Stan says:

    You are out on a nature hike enjoying the scenery. You see the following.

    Coyote it see’s you and runs away.

    Mountain lion it see’s you and runs away.

    Wild hog it see’s you and runs away.

    A man openly carrying a rifle in the ready position past a school, an airport and along a popular hiking trail, you run away.

    • Anon says:

      A wild hog will attack you as they can be aggressive. A coyote can also. It is obvious you don’t spend much time in nature.

      • Stan says:

        How’s your math ?

        US average firearm murders per year 11,078

        US fatal animal attacks average per year
        Bee/Wasp 53
        Dogs 31
        Spider 6.5
        Rattlesnake 5.5
        Mountain lion 1
        Shark 1
        Alligator 0.3
        Bear 0.5
        Scorpion 0.5
        Centipede 0.5
        Elephant 0.25
        Wolf 0.1
        Horse 20
        Bull 3

        • curtis says:

          there are also criminals on the roads, jackwagon. 13,636 murders in the USA in 2009.

          348 were killed with “rifles”. 801 were killed with “hands and feet”. 1,836 were killed with knives.

          By your illogic, it would make sense to stop everyone on a hike carrying a knife.

          • Stan says:

            Hmm math time

            348+801+1836=2985

            13636-2985=10651 the vast majority of deaths are unexplained in your numbers.

            I take it the 10651 are handgun deaths. Your numbers prove that guns are bad, thanks for your (unwitting) help.

            And yes I would ban knives for hikers, if you can’t improvise a cutting tool you really shouldn’t be messing with nature. Stay at home and polish your gun collection. People who feel “dis-empowered” without a weapon are usually inadequates who should not be allowed access to firearms.

          • Thunder says:

            “People who feel “dis-empowered” without a weapon are usually inadequates”

            Projection much?

  7. GI_Journalist says:

    The people who reported seeing Army Master Sgt. Grisham hiking with a slung weapon did the right thing. Even though there is nothing illegal about it, in this day and age it’s healthy to be suspicious and concerned. The police also did the right thing by investigating it. However, they could have avoided violating his rights while still ensuring their own safety. Perhaps Master Sgt. Grisham could have been more understanding about their concerns and less vocal about his rights, but he is accustomed to fighting for those rights for all Americans.

  8. Arlie says:

    In Texas it is completely legal to carry a rifle just about anywhere! Most of texas laws pertain to handguns not long guns the police in this case violated Mr grishams rights! They should be sued until they have no home no cars no retirement! Until cops are held accountable for their action this blatant excessive force will continue! As a retired Tactical Medic it’s very obvious those two cops need to be given a chance to be security guards at walmart or someplace!

  9. Fred says:

    Kind of hard to carry a rifle in the “ready position” if it is slung across a backpack. Also, if the law states you may carry as long as it is not in a threatening manner then he has the right to carry it in any postion that isn’t a firing position. A person walking by a school with a weapon does not automatically make them a criminal. You can’t bend laws that are in placee to suit what you think is politically correct. If the man has a right to carry in a non-threatening manner then so be it.

  10. ED says:

    I am from Temple and know all of the people involved in this. The media has done it again….they’ve failed to report the whole story. The video is only half of what happened and its been chopped a bit. The truth is that Mr. Grisham’s “hike” took him right past a school that was full of children and then right past our local municipal airport. I should add that he was walking with his rifle in the “ready” position. Now, what are we supposed to think when we see someone walking in our town and past our school with a gun in the ready position!?!?! He was trying to cause a scene. Shame on him and shame on the media for telling such a half cocked version of this story. The arresting officers are both gun collectors and NRA members….and good men. Now they’re receiving death threats. This isn’t right, this is ridiculous.

    • Mary says:

      Thanks Ed! It amazes me how many people can’t see the police officers side on this AND the dangers they are put in daily. I support our rights too but this guy is a jerk and trying to ake a buck.

      • Jim says:

        Mary- the cops are not in danger every day!!! (The military is when they are deployed for far less pay and benefits)in fact the vast majority of cops never see danger they just ride the benefit wave of the inner city cops who for the most part act like thugs (like the temple officer) and bring on the disrespect they get. I am from a family of police officers and friends who got out and became cops, my mom trained me to “find a police officer if your ever lost or in trouble” but that was when they were from the neighborhood and truly protected and served. now they live miles away from where they patrol, could care less about the community, give fines for quotas (all our tax money is gone so you have to fund somehow) they just want the benefits and get off duty as quick as possible.

    • CJ says:

      ED, really? Last I checked, there was no school on Saturdays. Nice try, buddy.

    • Wendy says:

      <blockquote cite="The truth is that Mr. Grisham’s “hike” took him right past a school that was full of children and then right past our local municipal airport."

      Ummmm, on a Saturday the school was “full of children” and he’s lived next to that airport with all his scary weapons for years and yet has never shot down a plane so far.

      Is that really the best you could do to spin the story, Ed?

    • Roberto Borke says:

      Ed,

      Sorry. These officers should all be fired. Their pensions revoked; and subjected to criminal and civil lawsuits. I hope they each have to pay hundreds of millions. Pay to educate other so called law enforcement people who don’t know diddly squat.

      I could easily see these three criminals doing 3 to 10 years each for violating this man’s federally mandated rights. In what could easily be caste as a “hate crime”.

    • Off-Broadway Valerie says:

      What school is “full of children” on a Saturday?

  11. People need to writhe the Texas governor and let him know that this type of behavior from public servants of his state is totally unacceptable

  12. phredjones says:

    What an idiot. You don’t argue with police if you’re armed.

    • Mary says:

      Amen!

    • Stan says:

      Thanks for supporting a criminal cop you idiot.

      • real Stan says:

        Use your real name, don’t hide behind mine. In your post under the name Thunder why have you disabled the reply option ?. Because you are scared of rational debate. The reason you are scared of debate is because you know you are wrong.

        Who’s projecting now ?.

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