An officer pulled his gun on me this weekend

[B Cart]

I thought I would share this story so others could learn from my mistake and hopefully not make the same mistake in the future. I don’t blame the UHP officer in this story for pulling his gun on me, as I would have probably done the same thing in his situation.

This is what happened: I was driving to southern Utah last weekend to meet up with my family for a camping trip. It was about 5:30 in the afternoon, so it was still light outside. Just outside of Nephi I got pulled over by a Highway patrol officer. As I’m pulling over, I rolled down my passenger window so the officer could talk to me on the safe side of the car farther away from traffic. The officer comes up to the window and I hand him my CFP and my driver’s license. I was carrying my Walther PPQ on my hip at the time, however I made a big mistake by forgetting I had one of my other pistols in my glove box.

The officer took my license and CFP and asked me to get my registration. I reached over and opened the glove box, and without really thinking about it I reached in to grab my registration, which was UNDER MY OTHER PISTOL. The officer saw the pistol in the glove box and saw me reaching in, and thought I was going for the gun. In a flash, he grabbed his gun and cleared leather, and before I knew what was happening, he had his gun up yelling “Get your hands on the wheel, Get your hands on the wheel!”

It only took me a second to realize my huge mistake. I immediately put my hands on the wheel and started apologizing profusely for forgetting I had my other pistol in the glove box. He seemed pretty pissed and shaken up and didn’t really know what to do. He grabbed the gun out of the glove box and unloaded it as I tried my best to help him understand that I really wasn’t going for the gun and I just forgot I had set it in there. He took the gun back to his car and proceeded to write me a ticket for why he pulled me over. He came back about 10 minutes later with my unloaded gun and ticket and let me know that I really shouldn’t forget where I put guns.

The experience taught me a few lessons and I learned a lot about how I react in a stressful situation. First of all, I was very calm through the entire event and was never nervous or shaken up. Even when he was yelling at me with his gun pointed at me, I felt very calm and rational as I realized my mistake and calmly explained I wasn’t going for the gun. It felt good knowing I didn’t freak out or get shaken up at all by the incident and could react rationally and calmly with a gun pointed at me.

Secondly, and most importantly, I realized that I made a huge mistake and need to never get complacent with my firearms. I carry every day and train a lot so being around pistosl and having quick easy access to one all the time has made get used to having them around. Subconsciously, I noticed the gun in the glove box as I was reaching in, but in my mind I just thought that I would grab my registration like he asked, and didn’t think about how it looks as I reach in the glove box with a gun sitting right there. It was a big mistake on my part a great reminder that I need to constantly be vigilant about the location of my firearms.

Sorry this story is long, but I thought I would share it simply so you guys can learn from my mistake and not make the same mistake. I feel like I am extremely vigilant about gun safety, but obviously even I can get complacent by being around guns constantly. Stay safe out there!

[muddy]

As soon as I started carrying I could see the problems with having registration in the glove box even though I don't carry a weapon there. Not only is it a reach in a full sized rig I could see the problems with reaching into a dark hole while a officer is watching every move. I have since put my registration and insurance papers in an envelope that is clipped to my visor on the drivers side of my rig. I can have my wallet out of my pocket and the envelope off the visor and seating on the dash before the officer gets to the window with very little movement and it dosn't look like I am trying to hide anything. I suppose if I used the visor I might not like my registration hanging off it but since I tend to hate visors as I am tall enough that they block my vision I never use one. Thats what hats and sunglasses are for anyway.

[slykly1]

I have always told my wife that from time to time I have left my 9mm in the glove box and to never look in there for the registration because I clip it under the garage door opener that is hooked to the drivers sun visor. My wife would have been crying her eyes out if she was put in this same situation. I am glad the UHP office showed some restraint but like you don't blame him for him reacting to a situation that no officer ever wants to find themselves in.

[moyler]

Glad no one (you) weren't hurt, BC.

Thanks for sharing, that's not a fun lesson to learn the hard way as you did.

I like and follow muddy's advise on registration/insurance paper location.

[gravedancer]

Yet another reason to have a mini vault in your car, and put guns in that rather than the glovebox...

[sigmanluke]

I'm glad you learned your lessons from that incident. It's always nice to find out how you will react to a pressure situation, especially involving a gun.

I work with and live near most of the Troopers that patrol Juab County.....Do you remember which Trooper it was? If so, I'd be interested in finding out who it was....you could PM me if you don't want it posted publicly.

[B Cart]

I'm glad you learned your lessons from that incident. It's always nice to find out how you will react to a pressure situation, especially involving a gun.

I work with and live near most of the Troopers that patrol Juab County.....Do you remember which Trooper it was? If so, I'd be interested in finding out who it was....you could PM me if you don't want it posted publicly.

To be honest, I didn't even think to get his name. He looked a little older (probably mid 40s), and drove one of the newer white Dodge Chargers. I don't know how standard the Juab county kit is, but he was carrying a full sized Glock (Glock 22 maybe) in what looked to be the Safariland ALS holster. Maybe all the gear is standard there, but those were the details I remember. I'll see if I can find his name on the Ticket he wrote, and I'll PM you.

The funny thing is, (and this shows you how much of a gun nerd I am), is the very first thing I thought when I saw him pulling his gun was, "cool, he carries in a Safariland. I like those holsters".

Funny the things you notice in a situation like that

[B Cart]

I have since put my registration and insurance papers in an envelope that is clipped to my visor on the drivers side of my rig. I can have my wallet out of my pocket and the envelope off the visor and seating on the dash before the officer gets to the window with very little movement and it dosn't look like I am trying to hide anything.

Good idea. I'm going to take my registration and insurance papers out of my glovebox from now on. It's not worth taking a bullet to the grape over a mix up like forgetting you have a gun in the glove box you're reaching into.

[Paul]

Thanks for sharing. Great story to share so others can learn.
Not to be critical (or hijack), but why have a gun in the glovebox at all? Maybe lots of people do that, but I have never put a gun there. Seems like the best spot to "forget" about it. I like my guns in holsters on me.
Although after having asked this i just realized I spent a week in yellowstone with a "second" gun in the little garbage thing on the side of my car door down below the door handle. It stayed there for a week. So maybe a glove box isn't that different. I just can't really reach a glove box fast when driving. Anyway I'm just curious why people put guns in glove boxes.

[Kevin Jensen]

...the little garbage thing on the side of my car door down below the door handle...

I was sure that only I thought that those were trash cans.

[MichaelD]

I often put my pistol, MTAC holster and all, in my glovebox when I have to disarm for one reason or another and have been known to leave it in there while I'm driving. I gotta make sure to not do that anymore.

[Gunlvr]

Yet another reason to have a mini vault in your car, and put guns in that rather than the glovebox...

[Cinhil]

The officers name is on the citation, you can check there and pm the site user who lives in Juab County so he can help with future situational awareness with fellow officers.

I had a similar situation back in March but remembered my pistol was in the glove box and expressed this to the officer first. He remained relatively calm and had me get it as he carefully watched. I agree that placing that info in an envelope, or available in a visor would be a better idea for future. Thinking about it you are lucky he didn't draw and fire especially considering the way officers in this state have become so worrisome over constitutional rights versus their ability to have complete control over what they want in any given situation.

[Hawk87]

Glad everything turned out ok. This is the reason I keep all my stuff in my visor. Not that I keep a gun in the glove box, but still.

[JoeSparky]

...the little garbage thing on the side of my car door down below the door handle...

I was sure that only I thought that those were trash cans.

That isn't a trash receptacle It is a windshield scrapper holder as well as a great place for extra napkins from fast food places ect!