https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/29/us/frisco-police-pull-over-family-gun/index.html
Frisco police with guns drawn mistakenly pull over family headed to a basketball tournament
Almost two decades ago, during my college years, when I was living in Austin, Texas, and my parents lived in East Texas, I was driving (on my motorcycle) to go see them one weekend.
I was passing through Buffalo, Texas, when I had to swerve around a car that suddenly stopped to make a left turn. I was fine, no big deal, but one of Buffalo's Finest saw, and thought I made an unsafe maneuver. He pulled up behind me, to get me to pull over, but didn't turn on his siren, and due to the position of my mirrors, I couldn't see a vehicle immediately behind me. So, I didn't know he was there wanting me to pull over.
He followed me for several miles, likely assuming I had deliberately ignored him and wanted to outrun him. When I reached close to the edge of town, and sped up to 80 mph (about twenty over the limit), that probably confirmed his suspicions and he finally turned on his siren, alerting me to his presence, and I pulled over.
I was undoubtedly breaking the law and fully expected a speeding ticket. I stepped off my motorcycle to wait his approach. He stopped over fifty yards behind me, and immediately jumped out of his car with his gun out pointed right at me, as he partly crouched behind his car door.
He yelled at me to throw my keys aside, put my hands on my head and walk backwards in his direction. He told me to step halfway between our vehicles.
I was terrified. I had never had a gun pointed at me. All I had done is break the speed limit. I presented no danger to this officer, but he certainly thought I did.
I got a ticket for the speeding, and because my tires were slightly balding. I continued to my parents' house shaking, and when I arrived, broke down in tears.
I was a grown man, who lived on my own, and supported myself. But I was crying like a little boy in my parents' living room.
A few days ago, my wife and I were talking about a trip we were planning. We live in South Texas (near Houston) and were planning on going to the north side of the state. I was looking at possible routes, and realized that the fastest routes all went through Buffalo. I also noticed that Google Maps reported a police speed trap right where we'd be driving past.
Immediately, those feelings of anxiety and fear came rushing back. I didn't start crying again, but I felt extremely uneasy at that memory.
These people who were accidentally pulled over with guns pointed at them will not be over this experience any time soon. The police made a terrible mistake and traumatized (maybe I should say terrorized) those innocent people, and they will not be ok.
