Oklahoma City police officer pulls man over for anti-Obama sign on vehicle

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The police officers who stopped Oklahoma City motorist Chip Harrison and confiscated a sign from his car told him he has a right to his beliefs, but the U.S. Secret Service "could construe this as a threat against President Obama," according to the incident report released this morning.

The sign, which read "Abort Obama Not the Unborn," was returned to Harrison later that day, the report said.

Police spokesman Steve McCool said this morning that the sign was taken in error, and Oklahoma City residents should not be worried that their First Amendment rights will be violated. He said a supervisor "intervened and quickly returned the sign" after Harrison called the police department.

"Obviously, it was not a good decision to confiscate the sign," McCool said.

Harrison, who could not be reached for comment this morning, told the officers that in his opinion the words "Abort Obama" meant to impeach him. He told the officers he does not believe in abortion because he is a Christian.

Harrison was stopped while driving a white truck on westbound Interstate 44 at SW 119th at 8:45 a.m. on Feb. 12, according to the police report.

According to Harrison, an official said the Secret Service had been contacted on the matter and had told them the sign was not a threat to the president.

Harrison was asked if he would like to file a complaint. He said he was not sure but would take the paperwork, just in case.

But his run-in with the law wasn't over yet.

''The Secret Service called and said they were at my house," Harrison said.

After talking to his attorney, Harrison went home where he met the Secret Service.

''When I was on my way there, the Secret Service called me and said they weren't going to ransack my house or anything ... they just wanted to (walk through the house) and make sure I wasn't a part of any hate groups."

Harrison said he invited the Secret Service agents into the house and they were "very cordial."

''We walked through the house and my wife and 2-year-old were in the house," Harrison said.

He said they interviewed him for about 30 minutes and then left, not finding any evidence Harrison was a threat to the president.

''I'm still in contact with a lawyer right now," Harrison said. "I don't know what I'm going to do."

Harrison said he feels his First Amendment rights were violated.

McCool said the officer who pulled over Harrison misinterpreted the sign.

''We had an officer that his interpretation of the sign was different than what was meant," McCool said. "You've got an officer who had a different thought on what the word 'abort' meant."

McCool said the sign basically meant Obama should be impeached and it was not a threat.

''(The officer) shouldn't have taken the sign," McCool said. "That was (Harrison's) First Amendment right to voice his concern."

McCool said although the sign should not have been confiscated, the situation was made right in the end.

''We always try to do the right thing and in the end we believe we did the right thing by returning the sign," McCool said.

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[justashooter 430]

sounds like he waived his 4th amendment rights, too.

the police are not your friends. when one asks to enter your house just to walk through the correct response is "do you have a warrant?" they may answer "no, but we can get one." in that case, your answer should be "fine, i'll wait". most times you'll be waiting till the sun explodes.

[alienlovechild 75]

sounds like he waived his 4th amendment rights, too.

the police are not your friends. when one asks to enter your house just to walk through the correct response is "do you have a warrant?" they may answer "no, but we can get one." in that case, your answer should be "fine, i'll wait". most times you'll be waiting till the sun explodes.

I don't think there's a 4th Amendment issue here as it was a plain view search. If I have a bag of weed hanging outside my car or just inside a window in my house, the cops don't need a warrant.

Abort Obama Not the Unborn

Clearly that's a political statement protected by the Constitution and it's not possible to abort Obama at this late date.

[justashooter 430]

I don't think there's a 4th Amendment issue here as it was a plain view search.

Harrison said he invited the Secret Service agents into the house and they were "very cordial." = waive

this is not "plain view".

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

i guess it's not a good idea to be critical of the pres nowadays

[spookyturtle 9,465]

i guess it's not a good idea to be critical of the pres nowadays

Correct, and anyone who is should be subject to Siberian exile.

[Kevin and 10]

i guess it's not a good idea to be critical of the pres nowadays

Correct, and anyone who is should be subject to Siberian exile a FEMA Camp.

Fixed it for you.

[Peikko 1,575]

Sounds like it was a bumper sticker - all of those should be illegal, they are so lame.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I thought all criticism that hinted at presidential assassination was regarded as a threat by the feds. I've heard similar anecdotes during the bush administration so no surprise perhaps that its no different here.

Idiotic all the same to connect obama with abortion.

[Danno 1,228]

This cop was so lame, I absolutely would file a complaint.

Anyone who would use his badge to hassle someone over a clear political point would or has abused this power before and it needs to be in his records.

No president was Savaged as badly as Bush was by the left. We now have a new and lower threshold on Civility shown to our President.

This guys bumper sign was nothing compared to whats to come, so get used to it.

One of my favs

[Jasman0717 9]

A threat Leno and Letterman beware

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

This cop was so lame, I absolutely would file a complaint.

Anyone who would use his badge to hassle someone over a clear political point would or has abused this power before and it needs to be in his records.

No president was Savaged as badly as Bush was by the left. We now have a new and lower threshold on Civility shown to our President.

This guys bumper sign was nothing compared to whats to come, so get used to it.

One of my favs

i have to wonder where all the self-righteous were when bush was being called a monkey.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

sounds like he waived his 4th amendment rights, too.

the police are not your friends. when one asks to enter your house just to walk through the correct response is "do you have a warrant?" they may answer "no, but we can get one." in that case, your answer should be "fine, i'll wait". most times you'll be waiting till the sun explodes.

You said it brother.

[Danno 1,228]

sounds like he waived his 4th amendment rights, too.

the police are not your friends. when one asks to enter your house just to walk through the correct response is "do you have a warrant?" they may answer "no, but we can get one." in that case, your answer should be "fine, i'll wait". most times you'll be waiting till the sun explodes.

You said it brother.

And I'll bet you anything, because of that Jack-#### cop, this guys name is on some "list" with the secret service now.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

This cop was so lame, I absolutely would file a complaint.

Anyone who would use his badge to hassle someone over a clear political point would or has abused this power before and it needs to be in his records.

No president was Savaged as badly as Bush was by the left. We now have a new and lower threshold on Civility shown to our President.

This guys bumper sign was nothing compared to whats to come, so get used to it.

One of my favs

i have to wonder where all the self-righteous were when bush was being called a monkey.

But look at the resemblance.