Ex-Marine Can Wear Medals He Didn’t Earn. A Court Calls It Free Speech.

[theIowaHawk]

Charles Barry went to jail hungry, after Florida police arrested him for allegedly impersonating a cop in an effort to buy discounted doughnuts.

The Trinity, Fla., resident, 48, had previously made multiple visits to Dunkin' Donuts, flashed his deceased father's New Jersey police badge and claimed to be a U.S. Marshal in order to receive discounts on doughnuts, police said.

But cops were ready Tuesday afternoon after a suspicious store clerk tipped them off.

"Yesterday, we had an undercover deputy in the store," Pasco County Sheriff's Office spokesman Douglas Tobin said. "He usually comes in at the same time. This time, he didn't show his badge, but we had enough reason to arrest him."

The previous alleged incidents occurred June 6, 7, and 12.

Police said they found a .38-caliber revolver in his pocket during the arrest, as well as ammunition in the vehicle.

Barry was charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer and improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon. He was released Tuesday on $5,150 bail.

Dunkin' Donuts released a statement, saying, the company was "aware of the incident that occurred in New Port Richey, Fla. The safety and well-being of our guests and crew members is important to Dunkin' Donuts and we are pleased that the suspect has been apprehended."

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlin...d-of-impersonating-cop-for-discounted-donuts/

Good find. I would challenge it as unconstotutional. Remember, it was illegal to wear service medals in the OP until this ruling. But good find nonetheless.

Edit to add: I think the gun charge is unconstitutional as well, what say you?

 

[The Tradition]

Well now I don't think you understand ownership. My name is written in my underwear, yet that guy I sold it to owns them.

Okay, both of these concepts are freaky.

An adult putting his name on his underwear and someone buying used underwear.

 

[theIowaHawk]

Okay, both of these concepts are freaky.

An adult putting his name on his underwear and someone buying used underwear.

What do you do with your underwear after you wear them? Mine get too stretched out after a few uses.

 

[KitingHigh]

WEST COVINA - A man wanted for impersonating a police officer drew suspicion when he turned up at a sporting goods store on Friday wearing a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s jacket, showed a gun and wanted to buy a holster.

Store employees called police who arrested the man, according to West Covina Police Lt. Travis Tibbetts.

He said 23-year-old Steven Roseren of Covina turned out to have a $500,000 warrant for impersonating an officer in San Bernardino County and is on parole for impersonating an officer.

The incident at Turners Outdoorsman was reported to police at 11:13 a.m.

Tibbetts said a man wearing a green sheriff’s jacket entered the store at 357 N. Azusa Ave. with a concealed gun in his waistband. The man pulled the gun out and asked for a holster, he added.

The man couldn’t provide a law enforcement ID. Tibbetts said store employees got suspicious because of the man’s behavior.

Police also found out the man bought the jacket at Keystone Uniform Depot at 125 S. Citrus Ave. in Covina.

http://www.sgvtribune.com/general-news/20151218/covina-man-accused-of-impersonating-officer

I asked for a conviction. I also asked for one that didn't involve another crime.

 

[hawkifann]

Completely disagree with your tortured logic.

Let's say you falsely claim to have a medal in order to get a federal job.

Free speech or illegal conduct?

How is that different than falsely claiming you have a degree to get a job? If your claim proves false during the hiring process, you won't get the job and you will likely never work for that company. If your claim proves false later, there's a pretty fair chance you'll be terminated for falsifying your resume. I've never seen anyone face charges for that.

What if I interview for a job with someone who has Cardinal trinkets all over their desk and I pretend I'm a lifelong Cardinal fan to establish a bond? Jailtime?

 

[The Tradition]

I asked for a conviction. I also asked for one that didn't involve another crime.

All he did as ask to buy a holster for his gun. The only other "crime" is that he was not allowed to have a gun due to a criminal history.

 

[The Tradition]

How is that different than falsely claiming you have a degree to get a job? If your claim proves false during the hiring process, you won't get the job and you will likely never work for that company. If your claim proves false later, there's a pretty fair chance you'll be terminated for falsifying your resume. I've never seen anyone face charges for that.

What if I interview for a job with someone who has Cardinal trinkets all over their desk and I pretend I'm a lifelong Cardinal fan to establish a bond? Jailtime?

It's different because my example involved a FEDERAL job. It could certainly be made a crime to lie during the federal employment application process.

 

[The Tradition]

What do you do with your underwear after you wear them? Mine get too stretched out after a few uses.

You wear underwear after more than one use? Must be one of the poors.

 

[KitingHigh]

All he did as ask to buy a holster for his gun. The only other "crime" is that he was not allowed to have a gun due to a criminal history.

He already had a warrant out for his arrest and he was carrying a gun without a permit.


Here is a better example for you. The majority got it wrong, but that happens.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-LB-43254

 

[hawkifann]

It's different because my example involved a FEDERAL job. It could certainly be made a crime to lie during the federal employment application process.

It could be, but if it's a verbal claim, it's not nearly as "on the record" as written documentation. I agree with others, though -- this would apply to anything fraudulent you put on a government document seeking something. There's nothing inherent to the service medal claim itself.