Bills' Washington found not guilty of firearm charge

[livingston]

Bills' Washington found not guilty of firearm charge
Bills defensive tackle Adolphus Washington was found not guilty of a misdemeanor charge of improperly carrying a concealed firearm.

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Adolphus Washington Monday was found not guilty of a misdemeanor charge of improperly carrying a concealed firearm, a Hamilton County (Ohio) Court clerk said.

The verdict, reached in a non-jury trial, stemmed from a July 9 arrest at a Cincinnati-area waterpark.

Washington, who joined the Bills last year as a third-round draft pick from Ohio State, could still be subject to NFL discipline
Bills DT Adolphus Washington arrested on weapons charge
Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Adolphus Washington was arrested on a firearms charge last weekend outside an Ohio waterpark, according to a report from the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Washington was charged with improperly carrying a concealed firearm after authorities say he "reached for and displayed a gun while sitting inside his vehicle" outside of a waterpark in Sharonville, a Cincinnati suburb on Sunday.

Washington was booked and later released by police.

"We are aware of the incident regarding Adolphus Washington and have been in contact with him," the Bills said in a statement. "Since it is a pending legal matter, we will have no further comment."

Police say that Washington was near officers as they were clearing out a crowd from the waterpark's parking lot and failed to tell the officers.

Washington, 24, was picked in the third round of the 2016 draft. He started 11 games for Buffalo last season, making 21 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Bills DT Washington arrested on weapons charge

 

[camper4lyfe]

Very odd sounding circumstances/charges. I'm glad they were thrown out.

 

[@thewheels]

Police say that Washington was near officers as they were clearing out a crowd from the waterpark's parking lot and failed to tell the officers.

Evidently Cincinnati LE expected him to yell: Hey everybody, I've got a gun! ?????
Or, this article fails to accurately describe the events that lead to his arrest.

 

[Deplorable Me]

IIRC Ohio is a "duty to inform" state. This could create a unique set of circumstances. I had to explain this to my wife last month when we drove through Ohio. She's normally a lead foot and the speedometer never went over 72.

 

[Bob]

Police say that Washington was near officers as they were clearing out a crowd from the waterpark's parking lot and failed to tell the officers.

I would then say that the law is clear, and if it happened as described, it was a bad arrest.

If a licensee is stopped for a law enforcement purpose and if the licensee is carrying a concealed handgun at the time the officer approaches, the licensee shall promptly inform any law enforcement officer who approaches the licensee while stopped that the licensee has been issued a concealed handgun license and that the licensee currently is carrying a concealed handgun;

Just being near a police officer or having an incidental encounter is not enough. It has to be a contact with a law enforcement purpose. (traffic stop, field interview, etc.)

 

[VietnamEraVet]

That arrest seemed wrong to me to begin with. Admittedly, he may not have made the best move with his handgun in a parking lot full of cops on another call, especially being a big guy in an open vehicle. Seems like he was trying to move it from on body concealment into a glove box perhaps, and an officer caught a glimpse of it and freaked out.

Understandable that could happen in the dangerous climate we have today. That, and not the smartest move on his part. Happy for him that it ended as it did.

 

[dwa12479]

The charges should be dropped for sure. I understand why the cops freaked out, they're breaking up a party and see a guy with an unholstered gun in his hand... that could be cause for alarm. Washington handled everything perfectly though. He put his hands up, he complied, he was polite and respectful. The cops settled down and were cool afterwards too. Everyone went home.