Arkansas Cops Detain Men for Photographing Police Department While Open Carrying

Carlos Miller
PINAC
Sep. 23, 2015

Two Arkansas men wearing guns on their hips ended up detained after they started taking photos of a police department.

But it wasn’t the guns the Bald Knob cop was worried about as it is legal to open carry in Arkansas. Supposedly.

It was the photos.

“I’m not playing around,” said Bald Knob police officer Chester Wright after pulling up in his patrol car and coming to a screeching stop.

“Are we being detained,” asked Kalab White, a 22-year-old open carry advocate who regularly does audits on Arkansas police departments and their reaction to open carry.

Wright confirmed they were being detailed, ordering them both to place their hands on the hood of his patrol car.

“Under the suspicion of what crime” White asked, keeping the phone in his hand, letting it continue recording.

“Taking pictures,” Wright responded.

Wright continued pressing the officer to articulate a reasonable suspicion that they were both committing a crime, but the officer was unable to do so.

“I have reasonable suspicion ….,” the officer said.

“Of what crime?” asked White.

“We’ll figure that out here in a minute,” the officer responded.

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