A former GOP candidate for the New York Senate was arrested last week for violating provisions of the state’s new sweeping gun control law, the New York SAFE Act.
Gia M. Arnold, 26, was arrested on felony charges for criminal possession of a loaded rifle and a handgun along with a combat knife after being pulled over in Niagara Falls last Wednesday Night, around 10:30 p.m., reports The Buffalo News.
Arnold, a mother of three, who was driving with her boyfriend, 18-year-old Halim Johnson, was pulled over for a traffic violation, according to Niagara Falls Police Capt. Michael Trane.
After allegedly failing to use a turn signal at an intersection, officers Tommie Caldwell and Marsha Gee, who work under the department’s Roving Anti-Crime Unit, pulled Arnold over. While those two officers were conducting a records check, a third officer, Michael Tarnowski, arrived on scene and asked Arnold to step out of the vehicle.
“Before she got out, she had pushed her coat over the rifle, which was wedged between her seat and the door jam, trying to hide the rifle,” said Capt. Trane.
“Tarnowski immediately placed her in handcuffs,” continued Capt. Trane. “Caldwell then had Johnson step out of the vehicle and Caldwell spotted a handgun with a red bandana around its grip in the driver’s side door cup holder.”
Police also said they found a black ski mask in the vehicle.
Both Arnold and Johnson were placed in police custody at the Niagara County Jail in Lockport. Bail was set at $5,000. They were scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
As we all know, there are two sides to every story. To that end, a defense fund has been set up to help Arnold with the legal fees. On the website, the supporters of Arnold tell a different story, arguing that Arnold and her boyfriend are victims of “the NYS (UN)Safe Act and racial profiling.”
Basically, the website claims that the officers “started harassing her boyfriend and accusing him of having drugs.” Apparently, Arnold wanted to know what probable cause the officers had to continue their interrogation. When they failed to provide a satisfactory answer, Arnold stopped answering questions at which point she was “arrested for ‘Obstructing the duty of a Government Official,” states the website.
The vehicle was then searched, however, no drugs were found. The website goes on to state, “But a Non-Compliant rifle under the NY (UN)Safe Act was found. This rifle was never considered illegal before the (UN)Safe Act was passed into law, and many citizens consider this law null and void since it infringes on our 2nd Amendment rights. She was then charged with an illegal weapons charge which is a felony under the (UN)Safe Act.”
So, based on the available facts, which at this point seem to be rather sparse, what are your thoughts? Is this a case of a good gun owner getting ensnared by the overreaching tentacles of the SAFE Act or is there enough evidence to suggest that this young couple was up to no good?
Independent of one’s thoughts on Arnold’s case, one can certainly say the SAFE Act’s expanded ban on black rifles is unfair and unconstitutional.
If you own guns and are stupid enough to live in New State, this is the kind of crap to which you are going to be subjected. As long as the crazies run the legislature, NYS is going to be an increasingly hostile environment for gun owners and a paradise for violent criminals where everyone wears a target on their chest.
How many besides Ms. Arnold still mistakenly believe we live in a constitutional republic and the Constitution including the Bill of Rights is still the law of the land? How many really care?
Two points:
– Had Ms. Arnold not been in the same car as someone who probably tipped off a racial profile in one of the arresting officers’ minds, she’d never had trouble. That’s just wrong.
– “Assault weapons” are the boogeyman here. Not lack of surveillance of problematic people, who are required to enter the picture before any weapon, “assault” or not, can take a life.
The Orlando shooter had lots of red flags in his file. He was amazingly predisposed to violence (in detention over 40 times in high school, mostly for fighting), and apart from that, a power-seeking personality (had tried to become a police officer despite prior convictions for violent offenses). The approach that makes most sense is low-profile surveillance of people like this regardless of their religion. But our President spent a great deal of time at Orlando blaming inanimate objects for a gruesome crime which absolutely depended on the ready mind of someone who ought to have been watched better than he was.
I’m pretty sure that Obama wants a monopoly on armed force to exist in the hands of the State, despite the clear wording to the contrary in the Second Amendment. It makes more sense to allow bar patrons to defend themselves from a gunman than to disarm the entire populace because literally less than a ten-thousandth of the population might misuse a firearm. All Obana demonstrated at Orlando is what a cynical, power-hungry scumbag he really is.
Actually in NYS the rifle is no problem even under the SAFE act if it was not loaded and was not a semi-auto and had no pistol grip any of those “not” items are currently illegal. The Pistol however is a real problem and not just under the safe act. It’s possession without a permit is illegal and even then the law requires it to be on your person when in a vehicle not laying in the auto. If in the automobile it has to be secured (locked or in a lock box) and contain no ammunition. If the permit holder is in the vehicle that that pistol has be on their person and in a concealed manner.
What kind of moron leaves a loaded pistol sitting in a cup holder like it was some kind of soft drink. Also what’s with the bandanna wrapped around the handle and ski mask? No, based upon those two sentences, I think I would have had them out of the vehicle answering questions and profiling not even enter in it. Did the vehicle have a trunk. Why is your rifle wrapped up in blanket between the seat? I don’t, just sounds like two idiots getting pulled over. Being stupid and complaining about it.
Cup holder in the DOOR – Read !!
These cops were waiting for her — No friggin Cop stops somebody for a damn turn signal violation anymore unless they want an excuse – And I”d say that was a BS excuse – and lied about it- I have worked with a lot of cops and I would not trust any of them not to lie- and I”v only worked with and met a couple that I thought (might) be straight up.
It’s a real shame considering you would think they would want the public on their side instead of acting more like the Criminals they are supposed to be protecting the public from.
Another state I’d NEVER visit! The Dems ruined Detroit, which was pretty nice back in the 60’s. Also Chicago, only over 3,500 people shot there last year! And New York with their Nazi idea of banning weapons based on how they look! I remember the picture of Hillary and Mrs. Brady sitting at a table poring thru books with pictures of guns. Picking out the ones they decided were “Assault” rifles! How did that work out? Ontario tried to register all long guns. Only estimated to cost $2 million. Twenty years later, and $2 Billion dollars, they scrapped the system. Law enforcement said the system never helped solve one crime. And on and on these MORONS keep it up. I live in Alabama, where “Open Carry” is legal. Even the Lame Stream Media can’t dig up a story about how our “Streets run red with blood” from all the gunfights. “Beam me up Scotty, I don’t see any intelligent life down here”!
It was in the Door !! not the center console.
(spotted a handgun with a red bandana around its grip in the driver’s side door cup holder.”)
And how did the cops have Any right to make her get out of the car on a traffic stop– These were crooked Cops period !!
And to the Retired cop that moved to Texas– Make sure you don’t have a couple Thousand $ on you going to buy a used car or anything and get pulled over– Cops in Texas — Oklahoma and other states Love to steal your money without even charging you with a crime.
I don’t think there is a Single State anymore that the Cops aren’t corrupt in some form or other.
Of course being a Retired Cop will probably exempt you from being robbed.
And you Heard the Sheriff talking about the Senator in Texas that wants it made Law that they cannot Take and keep your money or property unless convicted of a crime complaining to President Trump about it ?
Were did it say the bf was black
Why wood you has a loaded rifle in the drivers compartment..With a mask..Sounds like racial profiling to me..
How do we even know it was loaded? Because the police say so? Ski mask, uh, it’s freakin New York. It’s pretty cold up there. They included that little detail on purpose to make it look like they were up to something nefarious and you bought it hook, line, and sinker!
Hmmm. White woman, black boyfriend. Sounds like a “driving while with a black bf” incident. They might even know her car from her run for Senate. Pulled over for an ALLEGED failure to use a directional and they want to search the car. Would a search of the car reveal why she allegedly didn’t use her directional? Do all white women with black bf have drugs in their cars??
Sounds like this young woman may well have been targeted by these cops.
Papers! Give me your papers.
Nobody is required to answer questions from police. This is one of our rights under both the Fifth & Sixth Amendments to the U.S.Constitution as applied to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment. It appears that this woman was in custody (not free to leave). If so, and she was not Mirandized, nothing she said would be admissible in court against her anyhow.
In most states that might be true, but we are talking about the socialist state of NY where the Constitution and right and wrong has no meaning.
26 years old….with three kids…and has an 18-yr old boyfriend…..?
I was a 2 time father by 23, what’s your point? My wife, their mother, is 9 years older than me and could easily have had kids before we started dating when I was 19. They are both consenting adults.
I find it strange that 3 officers are on the scene for a failure to signal stop.
Oh and we’ve been married over 20 years.
Why would a simple traffic stop elicit a long string of questioning?
Cops have never wanted anything more from me than proof of insurance and a drivers license. Sometimes they will ask if I know why they stopped me. My answer is always “No”. They go ahead and inform me of the reason for the stop, check for open warrants for my arrest and then give me the ticket.
I can’t imagine what sort of information that officer had any right to ask for beyond the minimum necessary to issue the traffic citation.
This was, I suspect, a political hit.
Still sounds uncommon, but glad it worked out for you, champ. So what color was the bandanna on the pistol in your cupholder?
We all read her law proposal last month that was to make open carry and some concealed carry legal in an anti gun state. Now she is targeted and made to look like someone out to rob a liquor store.
Legal description should be long gun. Which is legal.
I think the police officers should be taken to court for unlawful search and seizure which is prohibited under the U.S. Constitution.
The Safe Act is B.S., but lets be honest here – a 26 year old, mother of 3, with and 18 year old boyfriend, is not somebody who would be prone to making smart decisions in life.
I agree, what the heck was she thinking, this is NY. Regardless of the SafeAct restrictions, NY law has forever been, No loaded
long guns in or on a vehicle, handguns require a permit always and knifes over 3.5 and 4″ blade length draw attention unless you are hunting! I wonder who really owned the rifle , handgun and question the ski mask unless it for severe weather etc.Lots of red
flags here, If I were the arresting officers I would have felt good with this collar. Tuff , expensive lesson, and she was running for office-WOW. Hope some one is their with more sense to watch over here kids. She should pray for a compassionate judge.
After your post I read the original twice….just where did it say the rifle or pistol were loaded??? or are you just embellishing the article??
It’s New York. It’s February. It’s winter. It’s cold.
Ergo: ski mask.
Cops say the rifle was loaded. But was it?
Does this mean I need to get rid of my balaclava, that I wear in cold weather? I assume that’s what a “ski mask” is similar to. Obviously the police thought that a ski mask was evidence of a crime, right? Sheesh. Total insanity.
I’d like to know what the real reason was for the stop in the first place. How many people get pulled over for not using their turn signals? Since there’s no picture of the guy she was with is it possible that he’s black and the police officers are white and might just harbor some racism themselves? That was what went through my head at the mention of racial profiling. Why did they ask her to get out of the car? I’ve never been asked to get out of my car by a LEO and I’ve been stopped a few times over my 50 years of driving.
Yeah, it work like this, Chris. Most traffic stop training currently calls for having the subject remain in his vehicle and keep his hands visible to the officer until ‘ordered’ to produce the license. Supposedly this tactic is safer for the officer. Back in the days it was a lot different. The stops were not ‘automatically’ geared forAsset forfeiture drug searches. Did you know that Asset forfeituires steal more than criminals? Traffic violations were not supposed to be considered a ‘criminal’ offense.
failure to use a turn signal is NOT probable cause for a car search. Seeing a gun in plain view in the car can be ‘reasonable suspicion’ for an officer to inquire further and order the person out of the car for ‘their own safety, and then perhaps investigate further for more probable cause to perform a search, especially in Totalitarian enclaves like New York if it is not ‘legal’ to do so like in states where pickup trucks drive around with gun racks with loaded ARs in them, in the back window and nobody gives it a second look. In some Constitutional States if it is just a simple traffic stop the cop cannot even inquire if you are carrying concealed. And i think Wisconsin just passed a law restoring the right to carry automatic push button and switchblade knives, God bless ’em! Even though there are still a few porcine Fascist Wenches in that state who recently tried to initiate a bill to ban all ARs and AKs, etc. and all high cap mags, but was fortunately ‘shot down’, in the effort, figuratively speaking.
But obviously if this version is accurate, they ordered her out of the car first, and then spotted the guns. but this may or may not be a ’cause’ to legally search the car without consent, depending upon the particular Marxist state illegal statutes.
In the Bloomberg political totalitarian paradigm, special “Roving anti-crime units’ likely amount to special Gestapo gun hunting units with enhanced profiling measurements for people/cars likely to have weapons. A mixed racial couple, clothing, type of car, etc. all would ‘apply’ with this type of unit.
Failure to use a turn signal, left of center, ‘unsafe’ driving, are all the bullshit reasons that can’t be proven either way that allow Gestapo to get ‘illegally nosey’ for some ‘other’ agenda.
I think she was on a secret Bloomberg shit list and any Government Storm Trooper worth his weight in chocolate eclairs probably already had a below radar ‘BOLO’ on her to do a secret fishing expedition ‘stop’ on her vehicle ‘ just to gain points on their totalitarian punch card if they found anything. Fill your card and you get a free box of donuts at ‘Dunkin Bloombergs’
Too bad she didn’t video record the whole stop.
So far as profiling goes … they already have her vehicle make and license number and know that she owns a firearm because she filled out the paperwork when she bought it.
Thus the questioning while they waited on backup FOR A TRAFFIC STOP.
This stinks to high heavens.
Again no is talking about the “loaded long gun, and “pistol”. Maybe she is a ccw permit holder and that would clear the handgun. exception could be a local law in the cities or town she was stopped in to be reviewed.
Criminals break the law and drive with loaded weapons too, risky business, she new better (or he also should have but let the judge determine the case).
The article is misleading. Having lived in NY many years ago it was illegal even before the safe act to have a loaded rifle in a vehicle. The article doesn’t state whether the owner of the handgun had a ccw and therefore, if not, again a loaded handgun in a vehicle predates the NY safe act. In fact here in Nevada you would be arrested for the same thing.
The fact that they threw in the ski mask seems like they were trying to imply they were up to something. It’s upstate NY, right near the Canadian border folks! At this time of year it can get well below 0 degrees Fahrenheit…duh! If you’re going shooting outdoors and there’s any kind of wind, you NEED a ski mask. Why the need to add that to the police report? That alone gets my radar going. I was a cop (NYPD) in NY for 21+ years and am familiar with the Buffalo area. There’s enough crap going on up there that they don’t need to make stuff up to find a collar. It’s plentiful up there as it is. I suspect there’s more to the story on both sides. Perhaps Ms. Arnold and/or Mr.Johnson got a little mouthy and things escalated, I don’t know. But NY gun laws are definitely out of control and seek to make criminals out of otherwise law-abiding citizens for just for political hay. Not to mention the fact that they waste BILLIONS on programs for troubled kids in their public schools whose real problems stem from their dysfunctional families leaving nothing for the “normal” or advanced students and causing the teachers to teach to the bottom dragging everybody down.
On top of that, the state legislature had to pass a law in 2009 (I think) to limit the increase in property taxes that was happening to make up for all the businesses leaving the state for Texas and others that didn’t tax the life out of them.
That’s why I and so many others left to come to Texas. Within 1 month of getting here, my daughter was in the Gifted and Talented program at school and has been at the top of her class ever since (5 years now). I have a home that would easily cost $1/2 million in NY, can carry and shoot whatever I want and can say “God bless you” without having anyone look at me with the hairy eyeball or like I have 3 heads.
Welcome to Texas, Joe.
Joe, It takes a special kind of guy or lady to be a cop for 21+ years. Thanks for your service.
You cant get around the fact that they broke basic laws that have been on the books for years that have serious repercussions.
Article indicated a loaded long gun in a vehicle, regardless if it was a assault rifle or not. Also a loaded handgun that was in clear view of the public regardless if it was ccw valid- Not legal in NY for as long as i can remember and long before the SAFEACT. You were a police officer in the past, in todays world you cant tell me you would side with the people in that vehicle with out serious concerns about your own safety and fellow officers or the immediate public for that matter.
Ok, ski mask (in upstate NY during winter months) give me a break. Now was she smart keeping her rifle next to her seat (absolutely not) handgun in the coffee cup holder, really in NY that spot is reserved for Starbucks Coffee only. When are the citizens of NY going to stand up and take back their State. NY has become a hot bed of socialism and it needs to change. I used to be a NY’er but living in TX for 20+ yrs has shown me there’s a better way to live as a citizen and a human being. I love my guns and most of all the ability to own, carry and protect myself and my family with any number of guns I want to.
NY a great place…..to be FROM!!!
“Obstructing the duty of a government official”? What happened to excercising the right to remain silent, until you talk to a lawyer?
If the police were asking questions of the boyfriend and she got in the way, she would have been obstructing. The boyfriend had the right to remain silent, but unless she was his attorney then she had not recognized status to get in the way. Pretty simple really.
A quick “You don’t have to answer his questions, Fred” would have been sufficient to trigger that charge … the cops were hunting for “add-ons” that would make it easier to get them to cop to the firearms charges.
Cops never ask innocent questions or make innocuous chit-chat. Once you open your mouth to protest your innocence you can lose your 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Refuse to play their game because YOU will always lose.
“Obstructing the duty of a government official”? What happened to excercising your right to remain silent, until you can talk to a lawyer?
Let’s see how they fare compared to Colin Ferguson. He is the SAFE Act supporter caught carrying a firearm into a school. NY dropped felony charges and gave him community service.
A roving anti-crime unit…….. pulling a motorirst over for a signal violation…… Another car dispatched to the seen…. Accusations of drugs…… This is why, after several decades of respecting and even assisting, on several occasions, the police that are supposed to be there to help us, I wouldn’t piss on one if he was on fire these days. These bullies, along with all the alphabet agencies, are the ones we citizens need to worry about when it comes to ANY of our freedoms. We don’t have to worry about the military, they are us. The members of Law enforcement agencies have abrogated their duty to uphold the constitution and only care about their retirement packages and the feeling of power that their badges give them. That is why they enforce, with gusto, the obviously unconstitutional laws passed by our enemy, our government (at all levels.) The few that are true to their calling, and there are a few, are vastly outnumbered by their bully associates. The reason the anti-bully programs in schools don’t work is that they are not supposed to! Government needs these breeding grounds for bullies somthat they have a good supply coming up to take the police exams. Nobody is more law and order than me but the only laws that count for me are those that do not violate the constitution protections that we are all garaunteed. The few police I know that are trustworthy can’t fight against the super-majority of their bent fellow officers. What is it about the oath to uphold and defend the constitution that we have taken as officers and soldiers that the don’t understand. A word of advice for them: I was only following orders didn’t work for the Nazis and it won’t work for you when the s hits the fan. Ok, bullies, fire away!
Most excellent response. At first, I thought I wrote it. Perfect.
Yeah, Gestapo tactics, for sure. I know a lot of cops, and the only thing i can say is don’t trust them, NONE of them!
Very well stated my ,Brother. And I would just like to add, that like you say, there are those LEO’s that respect law abiding citizens and maintain professional and lawful behavior,they have my respect,but, yet the “good” cops know who the a-holes in uniform are and if the good remain quiet saying nothing when they see these special events and then they themselves become just as bad as their bullying cohorts. The above event is typical and becoming a very bad standard in OUR country and unfortunately will get worse before it gets any improvement and that will not happen until “We The People” stop this and WE can take back what those in public office are stealing from us, just look at how many new laws are written every month in Federal,State and Local governments. We do not have to worry about our U.S. Constitution being physically degraded by time,but, we do have to worry about is what our ,so called “representatives” are doing by twisting and turning the intended definitions of words of the founding fathers, into what these hacks think what they want it defined as………………. Just Sayin’
Having a ski mask is a crime in cold weather ? Stupid people trying to stay warm.
New York State = COMMUNISTS
New York State law states a rifle must be unloaded in vehicle but not a handgun but with a handgun you must have a valid pistol license as far as knives I haven’t heard that they’ve been outlawed yet. So what are the facts in this story. Was the rifle loaded , did someone have a pistol license , arrested for turn signal , pretty stiff . Mask is a zero.
NYS-CCW Permit is for concealed carry only and concealed in auto also. can not be visible to public in the car.Open carry for handgun in NY during hunting is allowed but must be concealed after you leave the woods. NYC and other municipalities have limits on overall length and types of knives.
Unless youre a cop
Time has come to shake the tree of Liberty. Time to remove the corrupt from the offices they hold. Unlike a Statesmen/ woman a politician looks out for their own interests and not those of the people who elected them , where as a Statesmen/ woman looks out for the interest of the of those he /she is sworn to work for.
Reading that the two cops followed them out onto the road, then pulled them over, suggests that the probable cause was false. They targeted them for reasons of their own. Another case of police abusing the law, instead of enforcing it.
Someone may have reporeded seeing the weapons in the vehicle. See sometime say something, it not a bad thing. today is a different world.
Were you one of the cops who pulled them over? Its very easy to tell that Doug is one of those who you would not want to have stop you for not using a turn signal. He fully dupports what these thugs did, and would no matter what the facts were, to the very endbecause its an us versus them thing with the police today
Gia is a hero to us in the NY state 2A movement. we have to help her.
Most likely she was targeted by the police because of her stance for the Constitution; and against their illegal laws! It’s winter. I have a ski mask in my vehicle!
Black ski mask when it’s -10 degrees outside with a wind chill of -25, my question why was only one mask found. As for having a rifle in the car, so what? Americans have the right to own rifles. Calling the rifle things like an “assault weapon” and “combat rifle” are inserted by media and politicians for low information voters and law makers who can be manipulated into thinking such things exist and must be regulated for public safety. It’s a modern sporting rifle, a rifle purchased by more Americans than any other rifle, the modern sporting rifle is America’s rifle of choice. Americans have the right to purchase the best and most modern rifle available at the present time. Buy one for yourself and you’ll see why. Unconstitutional law like the Unsafe Act targets Americans that have rifles, rifles that in the middle of the night are fictitiously renamed into “Assault weapons”. False arrest like this one are the result. She should get a good law and get compensated for false arrest, if this goes to trial a jury will nullify the the charges by finding her not guilty. What ever happen to the NY Safe Schools And Buses Act? Threat stopped , Constitution Intact.
The reason they passed this law/’s is for one reason and one reason only. They want control over they people, that’s it. Now the police officers on the other hand. Should be refusing to enforce such a law, when in fact as the Constitution so clearly states they are themselves braking the law. The law of the land supersedes local and state law. This is what Americans need to understand.
Exactly!
Ooooh, a black ski mask… Life without parole!
Sounds like a minor traffic violation that had to end in an arrest. I don’t agree with the law but it’s their job to enforce it.
Really? NY politicians have created a police state which allowed these police officers to turn an ordinary low key traffic stop into an illegal search and arrest. It sounds like it should never have gone beyond a stop and ticket incident. BUT, if you have aspired to be elected to a public office, you should realize that laws on the books, at the time, no matter how much you disagree with them, should be followed until they can be changed. This couple were either ignorant or stupid to be carrying these firearms the way they were. They knew they were going to have a problem by the way they tried to hide them when they were stopped.
The police officer is bound by his oath to protect the constitution. This means, among other things, to FIGHT aginst unconstitutional laws. One way is by not enforcing them. But the vast majority are only on the force to last long enough to get their nice retirement package. They go along to get along….. And most thatbgo into that job are either full fledged bullies aor latent bullies that bloom as they wear their badges. I feel bad for the ones that are police for the right reasons. They must feel very lonely….. and vulnerable.
The police officer is bound by his oath to protect the constitution. This means, among other things, to FIGHT aginst unconstitutional laws. One way is by not enforcing them. But the vast majority are only on the force to last long enough to get their nice retirement package. They go along to get along….. And most thatbgo into that job are either full fledged bullies aor latent bullies that bloom as they wear their badges. I feel bad for the ones that are police for the right reasons. They must feel very lonely….. and vulnerable.
I have to agree with others, sounds like this vehicle was targeted. IMO anytime I hear of a minor traffic violation stop resulting in an arrest with multiple charges, the police were looking for a reason to pull the vehicle over, and they will always be able to find a reason if they follow any one of us long enough.
Cops could have / should have said “Is the rifle loaded?” “Yes sir, it is.” “For the moment, leave it where it is. As soon as I pull the squad car in front of you so that you are no longer on camera, I want you to unload it.” “Yes officer.”
“People have seen me make this stop. I’m giving you a ticket for failure to use a turn signal. Do you understand me?” “Yes, officer, I do. And thank you.” “Don’t let me catch you with a loaded rifle in the passenger compartment of your vehicle again. Period. Not even once.” “Yes sir.” “Vote Republican and get these silly laws off our books.” “Yes officer, I AM a Republican running for office … you could vote for me.” “I just might, lady, I just might.”
There, now that I’ve fixed the dialog, the stop comes out as it probably would have almost anywhere else in the country. I have relatives who live there and I hate visiting them because New York sucks.
Well just roll over and stick your rear end in the air why don’t you . JEEEZ.