Aurora teen walks on busy streets with shotgun, videotapes encounter with police POSTED 6:45 PM, AUGUST 1, 2014, BY DAVE YOUNG AND DAVID MITCHELL, UPDATED AT 09:05PM, AUGUST 1, 2014 Discover Remembering teen killed in crash Denver police accused of excessive force in recorded incident Making a vow Denver teen seeks alternative to protest regarding Ferguson AURORA, Colo. — A teenager carrying a loaded shotgun on a busy street in Aurora was stopped by police. But he says he should not have been stopped and he videotaped his encounter with officers. Police have a different opinion. The 18-year-old posted his cell phone video online. He spoke exclusively with reporter Dave Young Friday. Young also spoke with police as the two sides debated open carry gun laws and public safety. Steve Lohner claims he was well within Colorado law while he walked in the area of South Buckley Road and East Iliff Avenue while carrying a shotgun. Police who were called to the scene say they weren’t able to determine if he was doing it legally. Lohner refused to show them an ID to prove he’s 18. “I simply carry this for the protection of myself and those around me,” Lohner says. His shotgun is a Stoeger P-350 12 gauge. “I’ve been stopped close to a dozen times for this and this is actually the first time I’ve been forced to provide ID,” he says. The teen says he’s on a campaign to call attention to open carry laws. “I feel like a lot of people now they see a weapon like that and they think, you know, James Holmes or Sandy Hook,” Lohner says that’s why he started walking along major streets with his gun. “It’s alarming to the citizens — alarming enough to where they call,” says Aurora police spokesman Frank Fania. Colorado law backs up Aurora police when asking to see an ID while investigating a possible crime. “He may be within his rights and legal, within the law to carry this gun but if we’re investigating it and he refuses to cooperate that may violate other municipal laws,” Fania says. In fact, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that police who are investigating a suspected crime can require an ID from people reasonably believed to have information or were involved with that crime. In this case police couldn’t even determine if Lohner, who they determined looks younger than 18, was old enough to legally possess the weapon. Lohner says, “The police treat open carry like you’re a criminal until proven innocent.” But police say it raises questions of public safety and takes officers off of other calls. “It ties up our resources whether you’re right or wrong,” Fania says. Lohner, who just turned 18, plans to continue his protest walks. “If enough people were to lawfully open carry in those areas and do it in a safe and lawful manner then these people would end up feeling comfortable around it.” The teen admits that the Aurora theater shooting makes police in the city cautious. Police say they have to respond to 911 calls when people call about what Lohner is doing. They reiterate they may be getting pulled away from other real, life-threatening situations. Lohner faces a misdemeanor obstruction charge for refusing to show his identification. We spoke to Lohner’s mother and she told us she is concerned about his safety.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 03:19:16 +0000
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