Arrested: Aimed banana at them

[Jazzy]

Man arrested; deputies say he aimed banana at them

A man is facing a felony menacing charge after two western Colorado sheriff's deputies say he pointed a banana at them and they thought it was a gun.

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reports 27-year-old Nathan Rolf Channing, of Fruitvale, was arrested Sunday.

According to an arrest affidavit, Mesa County deputies Joshua Bunch and Donald Love said they feared for their lives even though they saw that the object was yellow. Bunch wrote in the affidavit that he has seen handguns in many shapes and colors.

He wrote that Love was drawing his service weapon when Channing yelled, "It's a banana!"

The deputies say Channing told them he was doing a trial run for a planned YouTube video and he thought it would "lighten the holiday spirit."

So the real question is, why was he arrested and charged with felony menacing after the law enforcement officers discovered that the 'menacing' object was just a banana? I mean, come on, no damage done except maybe the officers got spooked for a moment. :s

Your thoughts?

 

[DrLeftover]

Somebody is going to say "I've never seen a yellow gun".

So I'll save them the trouble.

While at the range today with Charlie, I was shown a pistol that was nothing short of amazing. Built to commemorate the Camp Lejuene Battle of Court Street, it belongs to a friend of ours with an extensive collection of military firearms. Words can not do this pistol justice. Even pictures can only hint at this pistol's quality.
Tastefully done in the USMC colors:

http://gunhub.com/gun-talk/57645-usmc-commemorative-1911-a.html

 

[DrLeftover]

And

Caliber:
45 ACP
Action:
Single Action
Firearm Type:
Pistol

1911 .45 ACP pistol Commerating the 2010 AFC champions.
This ia a new pistol. I have fired it and it works fine.
The perfect gift for that super fan, or for home defense. I had this pistol color sceme and engraving made locally. It is not a production item. Please feel free to ask any questions, or for more pictures. No California sales. FFL required outside Oklahoma.

http://www.armslist.com/posts/211879/tulsa-oklahoma-handguns-for-sale--pittsburgh-steelers-1911-afc-champions-2010

 

[Evil Eye]

He didn't even hit them with it or throw it at them!

 

[DrLeftover]

I believe there are at least three charges associated with the incident:

Aggravated stupidity in a public place.

Use of a tropical fruit as a prop during the commission of an act of stupidity.

Knowingly and Willingly participating in the rehearsal for a lame-assed stunt for a video.

 

[Sinon]

"Man from Fruitvale threatens cops with banana"

There's so many puns for this.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

In the past I might have said these cops are just being spiteful idiots. But in todays world of tensions with cops and the public we can't have people doing verbal threats let alone a visual threat of hurting a person. But then again I see the slippery slope of cops arresting people in the future for he gave me a threatening look. So I am leaning towards feeling bad for the cops but saying they should not be able to arrest someone for pointing a banana at them. I think?

 

[Webster]

In the past I might have said these cops are just being spiteful idiots. But in todays world of tensions with cops and the public we can't have people doing verbal threats let alone a visual threat of hurting a person. But then again I see the slippery slope of cops arresting people in the future for he gave me a threatening look. So I am leaning towards feeling bad for the cops but saying they should not be able to arrest someone for pointing a banana at them. I think?

Therein lies the rub....was this stupid on the part of Channing? Yes.
Was it stupid what the deputies did in turn? Yes.
Problem is, the way the law's written, it would seem as though the officers were justified...stupidly justified, but still. My guess? This case either gets pled down to a misdemeanor or a judge throws it out....unfortunately, given the justice system's almost preternatural bent towards law enforcement at times, odds are it'll be the former.