Dude goes walking. While open carrying. With his dog and wife.
A Pants Shitting Hysterical person calls the police.
Cop arrives.
Overreacts. Threatens, Handcuffs
Arrests (for “Inducing a Panic” …. (then Detains) Mr. Open Carry.
Finally cites him for “failing to disclose personal information” and lets him go after a few hours.
Dude sues. Illegal arrest and detainment.
Courts agree to hear argument that the police, at least in this case, have no “Qualified Immunity”.
In this case, they are likely right.
I do believe that a police officer should have a partial shield of immunity if he is doing his job in a reasonable manner and simply makes a mistake. But there has to be limits, which, up until very recently, there have not been.
Good to see the courts are willing to reexamine the concept of blanket “‘Cause I’m a cop and I can get away with it” shield that some police officers use to hide behind for their bad or stupid (or often vindictive) behavior.
Cue Murph in 3…2…