Posted on Aug 13, 2015
Florida police officer investigated after challenging US veteran over use of disabled parking space
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Cop Harasses Disabled Veteran for No Reason!
Officer Wilson is going to have some explaining to do.
[Warning: Video has explicit language!]
From: Fox News
A Florida police officer is under investigation after he allegedly ordered an Army veteran to remove his car from a handicapped-accessible parking spot despite the veteran’s vehicle displaying a disabled placard.
According to WPBF-TV, Riviera Beach Police Sgt. Gary Wilson is now on paid administrative leave while he is being investigated by internal affairs following an incident Sunday involving Isiah James, a U.S. Army combat veteran who served nearly 10 years.
The incident, caught on James’ cellphone video, shows an angry exchange between James and Wilson after the officer allegedly asked the veteran to move his Dodge Magnum out of the disabled parking spot outside a Walgreens because he did not look disabled.
Wilson is seen on the video challenging James, 29, saying the veteran is “in the wrong” because he “can walk.”
“What I’m saying is there are people in wheelchairs who can’t get out and you just get out of the car and float right into the store,” Wilson says to James.
“You are not the arbitrator of my disability; you don’t get to decide if I’m disabled or not,” says James, who reveals during the exchange that he served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. James also explains that he has screws in his leg and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Wilson, who asks for James’ license and calls in the plate number to check for outstanding warrants, also appears to knock James’ cellphone out of his hand as the veteran records the exchange.
“Move the camera out of my face,” Wilson says.
“You can’t do that, officer,” James says. “You broke my phone.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VkkOMMmQIg
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/08/12/florida-cop-investigated-after-challenging-veteran-over-use-disabled-parking/
From: Fox News
A Florida police officer is under investigation after he allegedly ordered an Army veteran to remove his car from a handicapped-accessible parking spot despite the veteran’s vehicle displaying a disabled placard.
According to WPBF-TV, Riviera Beach Police Sgt. Gary Wilson is now on paid administrative leave while he is being investigated by internal affairs following an incident Sunday involving Isiah James, a U.S. Army combat veteran who served nearly 10 years.
The incident, caught on James’ cellphone video, shows an angry exchange between James and Wilson after the officer allegedly asked the veteran to move his Dodge Magnum out of the disabled parking spot outside a Walgreens because he did not look disabled.
Wilson is seen on the video challenging James, 29, saying the veteran is “in the wrong” because he “can walk.”
“What I’m saying is there are people in wheelchairs who can’t get out and you just get out of the car and float right into the store,” Wilson says to James.
“You are not the arbitrator of my disability; you don’t get to decide if I’m disabled or not,” says James, who reveals during the exchange that he served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. James also explains that he has screws in his leg and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Wilson, who asks for James’ license and calls in the plate number to check for outstanding warrants, also appears to knock James’ cellphone out of his hand as the veteran records the exchange.
“Move the camera out of my face,” Wilson says.
“You can’t do that, officer,” James says. “You broke my phone.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VkkOMMmQIg
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/08/12/florida-cop-investigated-after-challenging-veteran-over-use-disabled-parking/
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 250
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The police officer was in the wrong but actually seemed very calm until the veteran went completely nuts. I'm definitely not defending the officer discriminating or knocking the cell phone down but the veteran in the video was inexcusably disrespectful and threatening/menacing to the officer.
I have to admit I've seen people get out of a car and walk in a store and wondered whose car they borrowed. I believe the veteran in this video but I also know friends and family of people who are disabled REGULARLY take advantage of that parking placard. I think what started the issue was the officer trying to check to see if he was disabled. The video starts after the initial exchange and at that point it seems the officer was still calm and the veteran was already not.
I have to admit I've seen people get out of a car and walk in a store and wondered whose car they borrowed. I believe the veteran in this video but I also know friends and family of people who are disabled REGULARLY take advantage of that parking placard. I think what started the issue was the officer trying to check to see if he was disabled. The video starts after the initial exchange and at that point it seems the officer was still calm and the veteran was already not.
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MSG (Join to see)
Sorry Sir. I think the officer made a personal (not professional) assumption that the vet was not disabled. That's what escalated the situation.
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MSG (Join to see)
The big problem was the cop told him to move the vehicle, even though the vet proved his right to park there.
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PO2 Jim Foster
Commander, you stated the biggest part of the problem. We do not see what happened up to the start of the recording. The officer seemed calm at first because he was in control of the situation. I propose that the leo reacted poorly. Is it possible that he only started recording once things started going south? I believe that most disabled vets who use a placard like this would be upset when challenged. A simple " I'm sorry for the inconvenience, have a nice day" would have ended the exchange.
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While I am in no way defining the officers actions, and I agree both acted outside of prudent public conduct. If we fired every person that made a incorrect statement or acted in a unprofessional mannerr to a customer, employee, citizen NO ONE would have a Job. Also Video or audio recording is not covered in the 1st amendment. And a law enforcement officer asking or telling you to be quiet is not a violation of your 1st amendment rights. The officer has the right to direct you to remain quiet wile they investigate what they believe to be a crime, whether it is or isn't. Failure to do so is obstruction of justice and now you just gave them all they need to arrest you when, up until that point you didn't do anything. I AN NOT DEFENDING THIS OFFICER"S ACTIONS Just stating the truth.
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SSG David Kuusela
Wrong SPC Baldwin, The SCOTUS just ruled recently that recording leo's is protected under the 1st amendment. Therefore, it is legal. You are correct about the obstruction issue, however, if asked a question. Everyone has the right to answer or as almost every lawyer will advise remain silent. Probably would have been the prudent thing to do in this situation.
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SPC Thomas Baldwin
I didn't say you can't ask a question of the officer. But they are not going to answer until they have separated and made sure the scene is safe first
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He should have a document ready to prove he is a disabled vet. VA provides a document on it's dashboard. would be nice to see the documentation in action. Good vet. Bad cop.
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PFC Michael Dunfee
he doesn't have to prove anything, the cop can run the tag, get the name, pull up the picture and do the work himself. But then again, he would be physically fit if he did a damn thing himself
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SSG (Join to see)
He does have the document the "Blue Tag" hanging on the rearview mirror approved by a doctor and if the officer felt he needed to further verify all he had to do was TACTFULLY ask for his drivers license and make sure that his drivers license number and initials matched to the blue tag hanging on the rearview mirror end of story.
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PO1 Leo Avalos
If you are disabled Vet, the tag alone should suffice, because all of the credentials were taken care at the DMV supposedly. Competent QA. Police officer should at a minimum verified it was his car and his name on that tag
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I have to wonder if FL is like LA where when you a handicap plates or hangtag you have a separate ID card that you have to carry so that if you used it and a cop question you on it, you had to produce it to prove you are the one that is actually suppose to be using.
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LCDR (Join to see)
Maryland has the ID, you are required to have it with you at all times to back the use of the handicap tag.
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I've been there before. I hate using my placard, which I obtained legally, because some days I do feel like people look at me and say you're not disabled. I walk with a cane and am barely 31. Most times I don't use my placards, but when the option is the north 40 of Walmart parking lot, knowing I have to walk around a huge store, I know that a couple hundred yards would definitely save me from pain and agony. I don't agree with yelling back and forth with the Leo, but I can understand his frustration...
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This cop was totally wrong for what he did. I have the handi cap plates on my car and I can walk also. Most vets are to proud to use there canes of other devices to get around and they still do everything under there own power. I would of had some choice words for officer Wilson.
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This is bullshit. The vet pissed me off. I think he was exaggerating his injuries. First he says he was blown up eight times, then he says three. The cop had a right to check him out, but if the vet would have kept his mouth shut and / or his language clean it wouldn't have gone that far. The cop didn't have the right to knock the phone out of the vets hand, but the vet was clearly antagonist toward the cop, and pissed him off. Had the vet showed the cop respect, he would have shown the vet respect. I parked in a handicap spot one time. A cop pulled in beside me and when I got out, he told me I better have a limp. I do limp a little but my Disability is for PTSD and severe depression. I told the cop to look at my plate and he would see I could park there. It was the only spot available so I parked there. Nothing else was said. I wasn't flaunting my plate in his face. I can walk just like the vet in the video, but I don't park in handicap spots because I can walk, and because I know there are disabilities that need the spot more than I do. I see DV plates parked in handicaped spots all the time. Some are necessary, but a lot of them aren't, when I see them walk better than I do. Common sense tells you, if you can walk without a lot of pain, you don't need to park in a handicap spot. If you have a little limp, the exercise is good for you. I take the stairs when I go to the VA. Too many hanging around the elevators and the stairs are quicker and are good exercise.
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Sgt Kelli Mays
you can have DV on your plate, but if you don't have a blue placard or DV plates with the handicap sign on your plate, then you cannot park in a handicapped spot....I'm not sure why some vets think they can park in handicapped spots just cause they have DV plates...you cannot. In San Antonio parking lots and parking garages owned by the county or the city will let you park for free if you have "DV" on your plates....but you cannot park in handicap unless you have the handicap sign on your plate too or the handicapped blue placard.
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SGT (Join to see)
Sgt Kelli Mays, I see vets in handicapped spots, without the handicaped sign all the time. The VA cops are out writing tickets for illegal parking, etc., but not for DV plates in handicapped spots. What you said is the first I've heard this. I gotta check it out.
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PO2 Jim Foster
SGT, Many disabled vets handle their disabilities differently. Problem #1 was when the LEO said he didn't look "disabled enough". What, exactly, is the point of issuing the blue placards if they are subject to the whims of a police officer? The vet in question was angry. Most of us would have been, given similar circumstances. While it is commendable that you refuse to let your disability define you, some folks don't have that option. The physical pain of any disability is subjective. There is no method to quantify it. Yet, this leo seems to think he's a better judge of levels of disability than the DMV or approving physician.
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SGT (Join to see)
PO2 Jim Foster, I'm just saying if he wouldn't have lost it, and made every other word MF, the confrontation wouldn't have been as bad. Thank god it was a black cop that started it. There would have been another riot, in Florida. Here in Texas, I wouldn't try that shit unless I wanted to go straight to jail without passing Go. We don't have a placard. It's on our license plates.
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Somebody tell him to take the video down, edit it, then put it back up. His name, social, driver license number, everything is on this video...
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Personally, I feel that a person with a disability, especially one that isn't obvious, should carry some sort of card with proof that they are the disabled person. I'm sure there are plenty of people that use their family member's vehicle so they can park closer to the stores. I know that officers can run the license plates, but we have my mother-in-law living with us, and her handicap card is kept in our van because she doesn't have a vehicle. We never park in a handicapped spot unless she is with us.
This officer should have stopped after running the plates to see that the car did belong to a disabled person.
This officer should have stopped after running the plates to see that the car did belong to a disabled person.
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