Posted on Mar 29, 2018
I have conflicting feelings over this. I know that open carry is a thing in Texas, but who crossed the line, if anyone?
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CJ Grisham, President of Open Carry Texas, Army veteran and recent candidate for State Representative in District 55, along with a couple of other people was arrested yesterday in Olmos Park, TX (Bexar County). He was tazed and subsequently injured in that arrest with a head injury and was hospitalized. I was told that the head injury was a large gash on the back of the head. He also suffered numerous scrapes on his wrists and arms.
Grisham and crew were legally opening carrying pistols and long guns in response to an event last week when an Olmos Park police officer drew guns on and detained someone with a protest sign solely for the reason of open carrying a pistol (which turned out to be a training fake).
Grisham had a phone conversation with the Olmos Park Police Chief, Rene Valenciano about their policies, etc. in which the chief seemed entirely unconcerned with his officers illegally detaining people for a perfectly legal activity. (The conversation will be linked in the comments below).
Grisham and crew went to Olmos Park yesterday and were legally and peacefully open carrying and got arrested for it. There is a video of the arrest. There was no articulated probable cause for the arrest. The police showed up, including Chief Valenciano and ordered Grisham and his crew to the ground. Grisham at least refused. It was Valenciano that personally tazed and arrested Grisham.
Between the phone call and video from the site, it's very clear this was an illegal arrest by an oath breaking police officer and they will be held accountable.
Grisham and crew were legally opening carrying pistols and long guns in response to an event last week when an Olmos Park police officer drew guns on and detained someone with a protest sign solely for the reason of open carrying a pistol (which turned out to be a training fake).
Grisham had a phone conversation with the Olmos Park Police Chief, Rene Valenciano about their policies, etc. in which the chief seemed entirely unconcerned with his officers illegally detaining people for a perfectly legal activity. (The conversation will be linked in the comments below).
Grisham and crew went to Olmos Park yesterday and were legally and peacefully open carrying and got arrested for it. There is a video of the arrest. There was no articulated probable cause for the arrest. The police showed up, including Chief Valenciano and ordered Grisham and his crew to the ground. Grisham at least refused. It was Valenciano that personally tazed and arrested Grisham.
Between the phone call and video from the site, it's very clear this was an illegal arrest by an oath breaking police officer and they will be held accountable.
Posted in these groups: 
Open Carry
Bexar County
Open Carry Bexar County
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 432
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I have a concealed carry permit in my state which is accepted in a number of others. Wanted to preface my comments so my comments aren't misunderstood. It strikes me as interesting that refusal to follow police orders often ends in someone receiving injuries. It would appear this police department has some issues. Hope it gets sorted out and corrected
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That is messed up... Someone stepped on their poncho this time and will pay. smfh...
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This was unacceptable and any law enforcement officer that participated should be indicted and tried and convicted and do prison time for violating not only their oath to protect the Constitution but for violating the Constitutional Rights of those arrested and physically abused! I have absolutely no use or tolerance for actions such as these!
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First I hate open carry. I love the anonymity of concealed carry. But this sounds like an illegal arrest.
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I read through many of the responses so if I missed someone addressing this I apologize. 1SG Cj Grisham did nothing wrong in not complying to the Chief's directions. Would it have made things easier? Sure. The fact is every citizen of our nation has the right to resist an illegal/unlawful arrest. Some would say that you have an obligation to do so. I won't go that far but some would. The law is in place for situations where someone would be concerned about their safety if arrested by an officer or agency that has shown an intent to do harm. I believe that the 1SG had reason to be concerned for his safety as this particular Chief showed that he had no regard for the law or people's rights.
As a retired MP and someone who has taught LE in my community, I would not normally advise people to disregard a police officer's orders. In this situation, I would have done just as 1SG Grisham did. I am a very strong and vocal advocate for our God-given rights as laid out in our Bill of Rights so I believe that a public display as was executed here was needed and correct.
May God bless you, CJ and the Great State of Texas and our Great Nation, The United States of America.
As a retired MP and someone who has taught LE in my community, I would not normally advise people to disregard a police officer's orders. In this situation, I would have done just as 1SG Grisham did. I am a very strong and vocal advocate for our God-given rights as laid out in our Bill of Rights so I believe that a public display as was executed here was needed and correct.
May God bless you, CJ and the Great State of Texas and our Great Nation, The United States of America.
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From the info here this is a big, fat fail for the Chief. I suspect they will be advertising for a new chief in a very short order.
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I am not a lawyer but what crime was CJ committing? So if no crime was being committed and the officer took action based on no violation of a law, then did he violate the persons basic rights. Was CJ flashing the weapon or minding his business walking with a weapons visible on his person as the law allows? The city ordinance was illegal by the fact that the state has passed laws stating it is legal to open carry a weapon. Sounds like a lawsuit is in order. The voters of this city should clean house next election. I wonder what is next. Maybe they will start just walking into homes and searching them without warrants. After all you can take it up with the judge when we’re done. This is not what we should be hearing from a LEO in my opinion.
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1SG Cj Grisham
No law was violated. The prosecutors wouldn't even take the cases. Yes, we are suing. We tried getting the city to come to the table outside of a lawsuit, but they think this will just go away if they ignore us. They're sorely mistaken.
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Is the Police Chief related to Adolf Hitler? The cops that took orders from him happily, must be SS Brown shirts in training.
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Well as the saying goes.... there's always two sides to every coin. On one side is the officer who set everything in motion by detaining the protester. On the other side of the coin is Mr. Grisham and company who appeared to be looking for a confrontation. They should have known in today's society and especially in Texas given the numerous shooting incidents that have occurred in recent years, that a group of men carrying guns and rifles in a public park would quickly get back to local law enforcement who would have to act on such information. Unfortunately, as far as the sheriff and his deputies are concerned, I think it goes back to the old west mentality. "I'm the law around here and you will do as I say"...... regardless of the right or wrong of the situation. I hope Mr. Grisham gets a good lawyer because the way I see it.... the sheriff over stepped his authority and definitely infringed on Grisham's and his friends rights under the 2nd Amendment and Texas law; however being a veteran and someone seeking public office, you would think 1SG Grisham would have know better.
As far as any injury claim ( if any) caused by the tazing, and any subsequent injuries, one could say they were a result of him refusing to follow a lawful order given by the sheriff.
As far as any injury claim ( if any) caused by the tazing, and any subsequent injuries, one could say they were a result of him refusing to follow a lawful order given by the sheriff.
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SSG Jeffrey Leake, While CJ Grisham was technically correct, he was wrong in not obeying the orders of a LEO. Had he obeyed, this would not have happened and he could have his case heard in court. End of story! BTW, I live in two states where open carry is legal, Virginia in the summer and Nevada in the winter. I have a CHP (concealed handgun permit) in Virginia, which is honored in Nevada but I very seldom open carry, but I carry whenever I leave home. When concealed, I always advise the LEO if approached, that I am carrying.
One other thing, the Commonwealth of Virginia does not require classroom or range certification when applying for a CHP if you are a veteran. Just present your DD-214 or retired card to the county clerk when applying. We have a lot of people that are from north of the M/D line that live there because of our handgun laws.
One other thing, the Commonwealth of Virginia does not require classroom or range certification when applying for a CHP if you are a veteran. Just present your DD-214 or retired card to the county clerk when applying. We have a lot of people that are from north of the M/D line that live there because of our handgun laws.
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