My New Friend at Hill 582

[Holloran Grade]

I had posted these on another site after having a conversation with the Friday night contingent at Fullerton Depot. (I suppose I am a "de facto" member of the Fullerton, Friday night contingent since I am down there just about every Friday.)

So here it is for my other friends here......

I Met a new friend a few days before Christmas out at Hill 582.Tha Man Waving 12 23 08 1400.JPG

He was getting some really good shots of the choo choo trains.Tha Man on the Tower.JPG

He is not afraid of heights, or getting busted by the BNSF bulls......The Man at 58.2 12 23 08 1400.JPG

He was on that block tower facing West at the base of the hill.The Mans Car.JPG

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Its ok though, he is allowed to climb up there cause he is more special than the rest of us.

How do I know this?

He showed me his badge on the drive back to Hwy 138 when he illegally initiated a vehicle stop on my vehicle by closing the gap between our cars to less than 10 feet and honking his horn incessantly and holding his badge to the windshield - all without probable cause.

I would not have stopped had he not put his badge up to the windshield. Did I feel "detained" and submit to authority? - yes, cause he had a badge right, and by virtue of the badge I assume he is armed?

The Man Up Close 12 23 08.JPG

Why did the encounter end the way it did?

I don't know, at the time I thought it might get rather ugly, but perhaps the women in back seat of man's car had something to do with it. (I hope she did because the whole deal was going South really fast.)

Funny how your gut tells you something is amiss and it is time to go home - now, and fast.

I figured this guy was a wack, cause why would he be 30 feet off the ground with an external flash unit on his camera, and up that tower in the day light at Hill 582? - first train crew that comes by and he is totally called in to Fort Worth.

Moreover, I was concerned that he was probably armed. (As I chose to be a good citizen of California and forgo my side arm on the day in question.)

Too bad I was right on all accounts.......


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The day was not a total waste:

BNSF 778 at ECBS Cajon BNSF 7778 at ECBS Cajon 12 23 08 1400.JPG

Hummers at Summit Hummers at Summit 12 23 08 1400.JPG

UP DPU at Summit UP 7754 at Summit 12 23 08 1400.JPG

That shot of Mormon Rocks that I posted before. Mormon Rocks 12 23 08 1400.JPG

[Pennsy]

Some new friend. Did you get a good look at that badge ? That is, good enough to check it out. He might have gotten that badge from central casting.

[EngineCo16]

I don't recognize him. Did he identify himself, what was the conversation after he stopped you??? I'd contact BNSF and let them know about it.

[randy]

Send 'em the photos. If he's wacko enough to do that with civilians in his car he might do anything. If he confronted someone trackside with no one around it could get ugly, especially if he picks someone who's packing his own piece. If he's slow to identify himself--assuming the tin is real--HE may get hurt.

[Jaanfo]

Did he give you his name? His attitude and appearance reminds me of someone I worked with for the briefest time...

[Nscalemike]

The guy must have an enormous set of cajones....to think he can get away with this.

[Holloran Grade]

Originally Posted by Nscalemike

The guy must have an enormous set of cajones....to think he can get away with this.

Well, that is the whole point.

Had he met your average railfan then yes, he might have been able to intimidate them into giving up their memory stick or otherwise not doing anything with the pictures.

However, on that day, he met me.

I am not afraid of bad cops... I eat them for lunch and then the person in the black moo moo grants my Suppression Motion, my Pitchess Motion or my Motion to Dismiss.

It is all part part of the big game of life.

The only way these slime balls can survive is if people are too afraid to act.

Sorry, woody_K and David W. Too bad a few bad apples have to spoil the pie.

[martyc]

Thanks for the tip, HG.
Words fail me. Glad you came out of the encounter okay.
You would have been perfectly in the right to proceed without stopping for this individual. At least head over to Summit where there is supposed to be a guard on duty.

[woody_k]

Originally Posted by Holloran Grade

Well, that is the whole point.

Had he met your average railfan then yes, he might have been able to intimidate them into giving up their memory stick or otherwise not doing anything with the pictures.

However, on that day, he met me.

I am not afraid of bad cops... I eat them for lunch and then the person in the black moo moo grants my Suppression Motion, my Pitchess Motion or my Motion to Dismiss.

It is all part part of the big game of life.

The only way these slime balls can survive is if people are too afraid to act.

Sorry, woody_K and David W. Too bad a few bad apples have to spoil the pie.

I'm not offended, in fact somewhat embarrassed that a LEO thinks he can get away with stuff cuz he/she has a badge. I won't deny that having a badge does grant certian prilvileges but to use it under color of authority like that is soo wrong in so many ways.

Do you notice what agency he works for? I would contact the chief and tell him what this loser did along with the pics of criminal tresspass. Just cuz you have a badge doesn't mean you can break the law. Tresppasing wouldn't get this guy fired but stopping you the way he did and then asking for your pics cuz he didn't want evidence of his actions.

For the record....if someone in a private vehicle honks and displays a badge...you are not required to stop. The vehicle code says you must yield to a solid red light...not a horn. If you do stop ask to see the I.D. card. Anybody can buy a badge at a gun show.

lastly why can't crap like this happen to me or to you when I am with you all. I'd like to see the look on their faces when they get called out.

[GroundHog]

I've got to say, words fail me. The only ones that come to mind wouldn't be appreciated here, so I'll not post them. Please don't try this angle guys, even if you think you can get away with it.