Last Sunday I met a forum member in High point to consummate a deal. After meeting him LJ and I wandered up into Kernersville (we used to live there) to see the old house and have lunch at a favorite spot.
We parked at the little cafe and I made sure Lucy had plenty of ventilation and the temps were cool enough I didn't leave the AC running. We were inside about 10 minutes when Barney showed up and we had the following encounter......
Dawn Morgan, Mayor, Kernersville, NC
Dear Mayor Morgan,
On Sunday, July 29, 2018 at 12:15 pm I had occasion to visit your fair city and was enjoying lunch at Mickey’s Café on Mountain Street when I was called outside by one of your police officers, (Officer xxxxxx) because he had received a dispatch to investigate my dog being inside my truck. Even though the outside temperature was only 79 degrees at the time he said he was concerned about the dog being inside the truck.
Upon exiting the restaurant, and as prescribed by NC law, I immediately informed Officer xxxxxx that I was in possession of a concealed handgun to which he asked what type handgun I had. I questioned the need for him to know this and never received a reply. He then began questioning me concerning the dog and I assured him that the animal had ample ventilation and was in no danger as the temperature was relatively low (79 degrees) and we had been in the restaurant less than 10 minutes.
He continued asking a line of questions that were in no way related to the original call and investigation and when I refused to answer those questions he became very agitated. When asked if I was being charged with an offense he said that he could charge me for several offenses. At this point he asked for my drivers license which I provided. He then went to his patrol vehicle and ran my information for wants and warrants which came back negative.
Upon his return I asked if I was being detained or cited and he said that he hadn’t decided yet. He asked if I wanted to speak with his Sargent and I declined as I saw no point. He continued with his unrelated questions and I continued to not respond to any of them as they were not relevant to his investigation. Finally, he returned my license and then drove his patrol vehicle across the street into a parking lot and sat and waited for me to leave Mickey’s.
Upon my departure from Mickey’s parking lot he immediately began following me down Mountain Street and as I turned onto Highway 66 he continued following me. Obviously frustrated he followed me all the way to Interstate 40 before he ceased. I suspect that he was responsible for the unmarked Forsyth County Deputy that began following me from the Highway 311 entrance ramp onto Interstate 40 all the way into Davidson County at the Childress Vineyard exit.
It’s officers like this that destroy all confidence that the public has ever had in them. Officer xxxxxx’s lack of interpersonal skills and professionalism when dealing with the citizens of Kernersville and the public in general don’t reflect a very favorable light on the City of Kernersville.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Bill White XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
By noon on Monday I had consulted with my attorney to get his thoughts on the matter. He felt it should be handled by a letter to the Mayor, NOT the police chief as it could be swept under the rug into oblivion. I drafted the letter, he reviewed it, I made his suggested modifications and sent it to the Mayor and all of the Council Aldermen late yesterday.
By this morning I had received replies from the Mayor, the Police Chief, and 2 of the 5 Aldermen. The Chief's response says that it's being referred to Internal Affairs on Monday morning. Maybe Officer xxxxxx has a track record of such behavior??
We parked at the little cafe and I made sure Lucy had plenty of ventilation and the temps were cool enough I didn't leave the AC running. We were inside about 10 minutes when Barney showed up and we had the following encounter......
Dawn Morgan, Mayor, Kernersville, NC
Dear Mayor Morgan,
On Sunday, July 29, 2018 at 12:15 pm I had occasion to visit your fair city and was enjoying lunch at Mickey’s Café on Mountain Street when I was called outside by one of your police officers, (Officer xxxxxx) because he had received a dispatch to investigate my dog being inside my truck. Even though the outside temperature was only 79 degrees at the time he said he was concerned about the dog being inside the truck.
Upon exiting the restaurant, and as prescribed by NC law, I immediately informed Officer xxxxxx that I was in possession of a concealed handgun to which he asked what type handgun I had. I questioned the need for him to know this and never received a reply. He then began questioning me concerning the dog and I assured him that the animal had ample ventilation and was in no danger as the temperature was relatively low (79 degrees) and we had been in the restaurant less than 10 minutes.
He continued asking a line of questions that were in no way related to the original call and investigation and when I refused to answer those questions he became very agitated. When asked if I was being charged with an offense he said that he could charge me for several offenses. At this point he asked for my drivers license which I provided. He then went to his patrol vehicle and ran my information for wants and warrants which came back negative.
Upon his return I asked if I was being detained or cited and he said that he hadn’t decided yet. He asked if I wanted to speak with his Sargent and I declined as I saw no point. He continued with his unrelated questions and I continued to not respond to any of them as they were not relevant to his investigation. Finally, he returned my license and then drove his patrol vehicle across the street into a parking lot and sat and waited for me to leave Mickey’s.
Upon my departure from Mickey’s parking lot he immediately began following me down Mountain Street and as I turned onto Highway 66 he continued following me. Obviously frustrated he followed me all the way to Interstate 40 before he ceased. I suspect that he was responsible for the unmarked Forsyth County Deputy that began following me from the Highway 311 entrance ramp onto Interstate 40 all the way into Davidson County at the Childress Vineyard exit.
It’s officers like this that destroy all confidence that the public has ever had in them. Officer xxxxxx’s lack of interpersonal skills and professionalism when dealing with the citizens of Kernersville and the public in general don’t reflect a very favorable light on the City of Kernersville.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Bill White XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
By noon on Monday I had consulted with my attorney to get his thoughts on the matter. He felt it should be handled by a letter to the Mayor, NOT the police chief as it could be swept under the rug into oblivion. I drafted the letter, he reviewed it, I made his suggested modifications and sent it to the Mayor and all of the Council Aldermen late yesterday.
By this morning I had received replies from the Mayor, the Police Chief, and 2 of the 5 Aldermen. The Chief's response says that it's being referred to Internal Affairs on Monday morning. Maybe Officer xxxxxx has a track record of such behavior??
