Security Guard points gun at uniformed deputy because gun free zone

[Zundfolge]

source (video at source)

Security guard pulls gun on Lucas County Sheriff's deputy
TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - Scary moments caught on tape. A Lucas County Sheriff's deputy in uniform has a gun pulled on him by a security guard.


Now that security guard is facing criminal charges as the deputy wraps his head around almost being killed in what should have been a very basic situation.

That deputy came here to 4 Seagate to ask a question at the IRS office. A step that nearly cost him his life.

As Lucas County Sheriff's deputy Alan Gaston enters the IRS office, he's in full uniform with his badge with his firearm visible.

He was on duty May 31st but says he stopped at the office for a phone number to ask about a letter he got from the IRS. Deputy Gaston says the guard told him he needed to put his gun in his car. Gaston said he couldn't do that. The conversation ends with a gun pointed at the deputy's back. Gaston vividly remembers "that" moment.

"Basically preparing myself to be shot at that moment. Bracing for a shot in my back," said Gaston.

The whole thing caught on security cameras, as the guard follows deputy Gaston to the elevator with the gun out and it appear his finger very close to the trigger.

The guard then tries to take Gaston into custody, once again with the gun drawn.

"There's really no way to know how you're going to act when there's a gun pointed at you and when you think you're going to lose your life," said Gaston.

Gaston works as a defensive tactics instructor. He says he felt the best way to de-escalate the situation was to walk away. Eventually Toledo police arrived after getting a 911 call. But the caller from inside the IRS office never tells 911 the man with the gun is a uniformed deputy sheriff.

Gaston's biggest concern as this incident unfolded were the other people in the office.
"If I'm going to get shot, like I thought I was, it's not fair. They came in there to do their business," said Gaston.

Gaston and his wife have now filed a civil lawsuit against that security guard Seth Eklund and the security company seeking compensation after Gaston allegedly suffered emotion and psychological distress and lost wages.

He's currently on medical leave from the Lucas County Sheriff's department. Gaston has a message for the guard.

"I would say "Clearly your training is lacking and the fact that you went 0 to 100. Lethal force is unacceptable," said Gaston.

That guard, Eklund, is facing one charge of aggravated menacing. He's set to be in court next week.

I agree the security guard should be fired (and he's facing aggravated menacing charges) ... but the civil suit for "emotion [sic] and psychological distress and lost wages..." is idiotic ... if you're that psychologically damaged over some excitable, fat fuck with Punisher gloves pointing a gun at you, you need to find another line of work.

[CS1983]

Is an IRS office a Federal building?

If so, are county LE allowed to have firearms in a federal building; if so, even when not on official business in an LE capacity?

Do they have jurisdiction there otherwise?

In the grand scheme of things, does a security guard in said building "outrank" anyone other than Federal LE?

[Gman]

Excellent questions.

If the IRS building is on fire, are county fire services allowed to put out the fire, or must they wait for a federal fire dept?

[TFOGGER]

I would think LEOSA provisions would cover the Deputy. The security guard, on the other hand, was presumably authorized to carry under the provisions of his company's contract. Either way, the security guard is a total dumbass.

[Bailey Guns]

Ho. Lee. Fuck.

But the civil suit and the "emotional distress" is over the top BS. Shame on the cop for that.

[fitz19d]

Generally off duty LEO etc don't get to carry in most federal buildings. Uniformed doing their duty yes. This guy was kinda in grey area because he was coming for personal business but otherwise fully uniformed. If he'd had any kind of longer business hanging around on personal stuff, locally he'd probably have had it explained and asked to come back unarmed. That he was there on a quick question which should have been apparent after more than a brief exchange in any sensible situation would have been answered and him merrily on his way.

[Skip]

This is bananas.

But I think local LEOs realizing they are potentially not the supreme authority and can be subject to GFZs and other gun control (especially when off duty) is a good thing. It will help show the insanity of the policies. That LEO was an asset in that building. His presence doubled the amount of violence they could project against an attacker. But security guard saw "gun!" and freaked.

[MrPrena]

There are some who works at federal buildings.
I wanna know if on duty/off duty can pass the check points.

[CS1983]

This is bananas.

But I think local LEOs realizing they are potentially not the supreme authority and can be subject to GFZs and other gun control (especially when off duty) is a good thing. It will help show the insanity of the policies. That LEO was an asset in that building. His presence doubled the amount of violence they could project against an attacker. But security guard saw "gun!" and freaked.

The LEO was *potentially* an asset, just like every other person who carries.

[FoxtArt]

Caveat: Guard is definitely an idiot.

Devils Advocate: (In slightly different circumstances).

A guy walks in wearing clothing that represents him to be a SWAT officer, with an assumed SMG on a sling on his back. Are you relaxed because his mere clothing proves he is an officer, or are you aware that knock offs are commercially available and people occasionally pretend to be LEO?

Basically, how can you trust, 100%, that someone is what they claim to be. That said, the guy is an idiot for pulling a gun on him.

TLDR: LEO really should be subject to disarmament in gun free zones for all the reasons previously stated, but also under liberal logic of we're one mass shooting away from bad actors realizing they can just dress up as LEO. The liberal dilemma might make their eyeballs explode in rage.