Open Carry Activists In Texas Arrested For Interfering With Police Duty, Obstructing A Highway
Three “cop watchers” who are also Open Carry activists, have been arrested and are facing criminal charges for filming and interfering with a traffic stop in Arlington, Texas on Monday. The group routinely follows and films police officers on duty but this time, they took things a little too far.
Watkins, Joseph Tye, and Janie Lucero
[su_center_ad]Kory Watkins (R-Fedora) of Open Carry Tarrant County, Janie Lucero, Kory’s wife, and Joseph Tye were arrested and now face charges of interfering with public duties, according to CBS DFW.
Instead of a few “cop watchers” standing at a distance in order to film the police, about 20 cop watchers gathered around a traffic stop in a parking lot on a busy six-lane road, according to a blogger who was with the group.
“These arrests had nothing to do with somebody videotaping police officers. That happens everyday,” Sgt. Jeffrey Houston with Arlington Police said. “It had everything to do with people interfering with police officers being able to do their jobs.”
In the description under a video uploaded by Kory Watkins, he writes, “At around the :07 mark the officer tells me not to walk any further down the sidewalk.”
“I ask what law says I can’t, he tells me that’s the orders I was given. I try to let him know about the 1st amendment and the sidewalk is free to travel and report, freedom of press,” he adds.
Which brings us back to interfering with an officer’s job. I’m all for filming the police considering the abuse which has recently been revealed, but interfering with their duties is not the route to take. Open Carry Tarrant County members have a disdain for the police which I’ve noted in previous posts. This group wasn’t just filming the police, they chased them down on foot with cameras rolling. This group went out intentionally looking for trouble, which can be seen in their own video.
The group carried Black Powder revolvers which were confiscated by the police. Kory left a comment on his Facebook page “Abolish ALL POLICE!”
Under that status update, he writes,”Them taking my black powder will result in blowback. Me brining my AK47 to the next stop.” I assume he meant “bringing” and maybe “I’m.”
He also seems very excited about the publicity on Facebook.
Watch:
The group now plans to hold a rally on Saturday evening to protest what they are calling “bogus charges”. The three were charged with interfering with police duty and obstructing a highway.
Images were obtained after they were circulated on social media by the arrested individuals, therefore, they are fair use. Don’t DCMA me again Mr. Tye. I know my rights, too.
Big thanks to my source whose anonymity shall be respected here.
[su_csky_ad]
Image: Arlington Police Department.
edmeyer_able September 9th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
It appears they are looking for some sort of confrontation if they are chasing police. I have no problem with them videoing arrests but if they think this will curry favor w/the majority I think they’re sadly mistaken.
granpa.usthai September 9th, 2014 at 4:15 pm
I think you’re right ,as MOST ADULT citizens realize members of the fine blue line are mostly human beings with an extremely stressful job. May be why we don’t actively go out looking for them doing something wrong and most times condescend to what appears to be a lawful request, and usually cut some slack when their human instincts kick in (slight inebriation occasionally, blowing out the carbon buildup in their vehicle engines, all reasonable exceptions which may be part of what makes the US a nation of exceptionalism?).
juicyfruityyy September 9th, 2014 at 1:43 pm
I have no problem with them filming the cops. But Texas as over-extended and mis-represented the 2nd Amendment. Alone with Stand Your Ground and open carry. They have opened a bad can of worms. Those Militia groups, at some point, will turn on them.
granpa.usthai September 9th, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Those Militia groups, at some point, will turn on them may have been exactly what the founding fathers were thinking when they wrote ‘WELL REGULATED’ into the second amendment? – or, then again, maybe they were just trying to use up some blank space with ‘fill words’ so it’d look nicer when typed?
Foundryman September 9th, 2014 at 1:50 pm
There’s legitimate reason to limit what police can and cannot do and to reign in the militarization, but he wants to “Abolish all police”….LOL…Just what we need a bunch of armed loons like him running around extracting their form of justice.
His next sign should read… “Bring back Judge Roy Bean!”….
Anomaly 100 September 9th, 2014 at 2:09 pm
The “Abolish all police” comment made me LOL.
edmeyer_able September 9th, 2014 at 2:21 pm
It’s every vigilante’s dream to abolish all police.
Anomaly 100 September 9th, 2014 at 2:24 pm
I just noticed that he’s trying to run for Congress.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kory-Watkins-For-Texas/1429953260562406
Maybe he should get a job first.
Obewon September 9th, 2014 at 2:32 pm
TX Open Carry lawmaker campaign slogan: ‘eye r write, abolish police, edgeycation and laws.’
Anomaly 100 September 9th, 2014 at 2:42 pm
Laughing!
granpa.usthai September 9th, 2014 at 3:23 pm
just imagine what their soon to be convicted felon criminal leader could have dun for “Merika?
Lmaris September 9th, 2014 at 3:54 pm
Convicted felon who loses his “right” to firearms.
edmeyer_able September 9th, 2014 at 2:32 pm
If he wins his district deserves what havoc he wreaks.
Foundryman September 9th, 2014 at 2:41 pm
It is Texas…they did elect Gohmert….anything is possible..
granpa.usthai September 9th, 2014 at 3:27 pm
-and Perry, more than enough times to have the entire state declared a mental rehabilitation center. Lest we forget, these are members of his (not so) well regulated militia upholding their rites to do whatever they so desire in public with locked and loaded firearms, just like the NRA version of the constitution sez they kan.
William September 9th, 2014 at 5:01 pm
You bring up a very interesting point.
Lmaris September 9th, 2014 at 3:53 pm
And Ohio elected Boehner, Alaska elected Palin, Minnesota elected Bachmann. This nonsense is nationwide.
Cosmic_Surfer September 9th, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Don’t forget Kansas Huelskamp; CA Issa; CO Gardner (about to take the senate if Udall doesn’t do something), Coffman (hopefully will lose to Romanoff), Lamborn, and Tipton
Foundryman September 9th, 2014 at 2:40 pm
And learn to spell….
granpa.usthai September 9th, 2014 at 3:30 pm
-and be an actual ‘working’ member of the taxpayer funded GOP Republican 2 years at a time do nuthin’ party?
ChrisVosburg September 9th, 2014 at 11:19 pm
Listed under Activiities: Fighting for Liberty full time.
Hey, Yay, Yay, I’m In Love With a Working Girl.
Anomaly 100 September 10th, 2014 at 8:40 am
“Volunteer for Ron Paul & Ted Cruz in 2012,”
I see he’s into comedy, too.
granpa.usthai September 9th, 2014 at 3:32 pm
– why the US Government sent Wyatt Earp back to Tombstone with a US Marshal Badge.
granpa.usthai September 9th, 2014 at 3:22 pm
Judge Bean would have hung the idiots for giving up their black powder without a fight.
mea_mark September 9th, 2014 at 1:55 pm
When “cop watchers” are showing up in larger and larger numbers and they are carrying firearms, this should be expected. They are interfering with the duties of a public servant. They are providing a distraction, even if they aren’t actually physically getting in the way. I hope the Arlington Police Department is considering getting wearable body cameras soon as this confrontation is likely to escalate and having plenty of footage will be invaluable in sorting out whatever happens.
Scooter September 9th, 2014 at 2:46 pm
This poor idiotic country… give me illegals tenfold over the overwhelming cancer of whitetrash… PLEASE!
granpa.usthai September 9th, 2014 at 3:53 pm
if you do that, you could actually wind up with someone from an island and not the mainland as the POTUS. – which would no doubt lead to a whitetrash rebellion most likely around ‘tea time’.
M D Reese September 9th, 2014 at 3:00 pm
I liked the “me brining” part. They do seem to be pickled on something.
Foundryman September 9th, 2014 at 3:03 pm
” Them takin my blackpowder” …at first I thought he was talking about his Skoal….
Arvids Driksna September 9th, 2014 at 3:06 pm
These gun nuts are going to lead to the abolishment of the second amendment.
edmeyer_able September 9th, 2014 at 3:12 pm
Not in our lifetime but it would be nice to see it amended to include universal back ground checks and maybe a few safety regs like requiring safe storage and liability insurance.
granpa.usthai September 9th, 2014 at 3:44 pm
why not allow each state to have their own interpretation of a ‘WELL REGULATED militia’ with their governor being the state militia’s CIC who will be legally fully responsible for the actions of it’s militia members? -Worked pretty good until the NRA opted to go for profiteering off of their version.
Lmaris September 9th, 2014 at 3:50 pm
Or maybe return the interpretation to the actual language and meaning of the Amendment itself. NONE of these morons are in any “Well regulated militia”, which was expected to protect the government as no standing army was anticipated. The idea perpetrated by these ammofetishists that it was intended as a deterrant to a tyranical government is absurd.
Dwendt44 September 9th, 2014 at 7:12 pm
Not only has the National Guard replaced the ‘militia’ and the need for one, but part of the reason for the 2nd Amendment in the first place was to support private ‘armies’ that chased down and returned run away slaves.
granpa.usthai September 9th, 2014 at 3:37 pm
-or actually have it enforced the way it is WRITTEN. The purpose of allowing citizens to keep and bear arms … to have a WELL REGULATED militia, not idiot dorks walking around locked and loaded under the NRA for profit version.
William September 9th, 2014 at 5:26 pm
Agreed. If the second amendment is ever abolished it won’t be because of a left wing agenda, it will be because of these yahoos that do more damage to the image of responsible gun owners than any anti gun organization could ever do on their best day.
Leslie September 9th, 2014 at 3:34 pm
What is going to happen is one of these numb-nuts is going to shoot an officer. Open carry is a mistake.
Leron September 9th, 2014 at 3:44 pm
Nope, it’s every “criminals” dream to abolish police.
granpa.usthai September 9th, 2014 at 3:49 pm
not really, as some “criminals” work with/in/by using the police as their cover.
Janet Price September 9th, 2014 at 4:20 pm
These 3 idiots need jobs…….or second jobs. They have no LIFE.
edmeyer_able September 9th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Or a twitter account…lol
Jeff Spicoli September 9th, 2014 at 4:34 pm
Wonder how those pigs would have treated them if they were black. Would have probably killed all three of them in cold blood and gotten away with it too.
William September 9th, 2014 at 5:04 pm
We should all remember that it is after all Texas (Yee Haw)
Jeffrey Zamora September 10th, 2014 at 12:34 am
Haha I love how these Pathetic cowards talk big with their challenges to come and take it, yet the cops easily took their guns and they did nothing about it. Typical cowardly teabaggers.
SRD September 17th, 2014 at 9:23 pm
Fort Worth PD part of decade long theft and burglary ring at antique mall. CCPD is fake.
http://www.fwweekly.com/2014/03/26/antiques-and-angst/
Chris Davis November 19th, 2014 at 10:13 pm
actually korys facebook group is called cop block
Chris Davis November 19th, 2014 at 10:15 pm
kory also has a criminal history,quite surprising one