Opinion
Update: AmmoLand has been able to confirm no Oath Keepers were arrested. At this time we believe the rumors of the arrest of militia members are false.
Mahopac, New York –-(Ammoland.com)- Whiskey_warrior_556 is the Instagram name of Afghanistan combat vet, Alex Booth. On Saturday afternoon, a Carmel, NY police officer showed up at his doorstep to discuss what they say was a domestic incident that took place with his wife earlier in the day. He disputed this claim.
According to Alex Booth, a former friend informed law enforcement that Booth had a New York state illegal standard capacity 30-round magazine and that Booth suffered from PTSD from his combat tours in Afghanistan. He said police were at his house serving an extreme risk protection order (Red Flag Law).
Knowing the deadly past history of red flag gun confiscation orders, Second Amendment supporters across the web were instantly concerned for his safety and his story quickly went viral.
The police officer said he heard what he thought was a gunshot and called for backup. It was later determined that no guns were involved in the standoff. Booth appeared in the doorway in an agitated manner when the additional officers arrived at the residence and retreated to his garage apartment.
Booth barricaded himself in his garage apartment and started a six-hour standoff with the police. He started live-streaming the incident in tactical gear to his Instagram account. His following went from roughly 4,000 followers to over 135,000+ during the confrontation with law enforcement.
The police called in the Putnam County Emergency Response Team, the West Chester County Department of Public Safety’s Special Response and Negotiations Team, and an armored personnel carrier (APC). Booth captured all the law enforcement activity on his Instagram feed. Neighbors said it looked like a warzone. Firearms celebrities started sharing his address and asked people to show up to support him.
According to Carmel Police Chief Michael Cazzari, social media attention prolonged the event. He blamed the internet attention for the length of the standoff.
“The negotiators were very close many times to getting the individual to come out of the residence peacefully, and the posts that were on Instagram were just inviting him,” Chief Cazzari told reporters at the scene. “This is a person in crisis, having mental illness, having issues, and he didn’t need the people on social media telling him that his rights are being violated. He needed help. Medical help.”
Booth’s followers also took to blowing up the phone lines of the Carmel Police as well as the Putnam’s Sheriff’s Department. Callers even overloaded the 911 system causing callers to get busy signals because lines were tied up with supporters concerned for Booth’s safety.
Around 9:30 PM, police were able to convince Booth to come out of his home. They took him into custody on a felony arrest warrant from the earlier domestic incident. Police are also charging Booth with burglary, criminal trespass, criminal contempt, aggravated harassment, and petit larceny.
They also stated to AmmoLand News that Booth did not have any guns, and no magazines were ever involved in the event or even mentioned to police.
Rumors were circulating around the internet that police took Oath Keepers and militia groups into custody at a nearby cemetery. AmmoLand News has not been able to verify these rumors. Around the same time as those reports, there was an individual that fled from the police on foot through a graveyard. That event was unrelated to the standoff or any militia group.
Redcoat Rebellion has set up a GoFundMe for Booth’s legal defense. As of this writing, the campaign has risen over $10,000.
If you or someone you know is a Veteran in crisis please remember there are plenty of people who care for you and you can get instant help and support from following hotlines and service organizations.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
- WTTA (Walk the Talk America): WTTA.org
- Vet to Vet Assistance 888.777.4443 or ONLINE
About John Crump
John is an NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. He is the former CEO of Veritas Firearms, LLC, and is the co-host of The Patriot News Podcast, which can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/patriotnews. John has written extensively on the patriot movement, including 3%’ers, Oath Keepers, and Militias. In addition to the Patriot movement, John has written about firearms, interviewed people from all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and is currently working on a book on leftist deplatforming methods and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, on Facebook at realjohncrump, or at www.crumpy.com.
People are angry and this tyrannical gov bullshit only ends one way. Law enforcement will try to make this event not about firearm rights while we here all know that’s exactly what it’s about. Either we do nothing and become further subjugated or we fight.
QUICK! Notify the law enforcement agencies involved since YOU know the EXACT circumstances of the case and obviously are a witness to the event!
@"MCCLOUD!", What you point out leads to a good point. Maybe the police should do some investigating and surveillance, before they rush to make this kind of arrest. Nothing says that police have to hurry.
Why do you think it was about anything other than them investigating the domestic disturbance. That’s why they were there. That is what he is charged with.
I don’t remember reading that the copper at the front door annouhced the man was under arrest, or was being served with a warrant. Seems they put together that long sheet of no-no’s during the “standoff”. Not cricket. Either they showed up at the front door to serve the warrant, or they showed up to “talk”. The article said “talk”. He declined. WAS he told he was under arrest or detainment at the front door when this whole thing got started?
Police hate witnesses with cameras. It would be good to call all of one’s friends, and have them all show up with camera. Eventually one must go peacefully into custody so that one’s freedom is unlawfully taken by armed police. Might even get some police to point their gun or other unnecessary force.
The accusation giving rise to the arrest proved untrue. The mystical hear shots proved untrue. Went into custody peacefully. The only fly in the ointment is that the police got a warrant. I wonder what the police wrote in the affidavit supporting the warrant application?
Sigh. The ignorance is strong with you, Wild Bill. First of all, many officers are now wearing body cameras. And pointing a firearm is not ‘unnecessary force’. A judge issues a warrant and can overrule any affidavit. Do us all a favor and go on a few ‘ride alongs’ with your local PD before spouting any more of your clueless bilge.
@"MCCLOUD!", Pointing a gun is deadly force. Read the cases.
@wjd, The liquor store that he lives over will have some MD2020 on sale, then he will go away.
“Stoopman” has reinvented himself from (sp?) Whitesfyre. Just ignore him as if he had nothing at all to say, because he doesn’t. At least not anything intelligent. Otherwise, the punk in him feeds off it. Word.
No, Superman, aka, Clark Kent has been around for many years. Whitesfyre is another anti-rights incarnate (or just an anti-rights Internet meme).
He wasn’t a “Vet in crisis”. He’s a former Merc who realized that the Government is the true enemy of the people. Whoever the “friend” is who reported the STANDARD CAPACITY MAGAZINE Alex had in his possession needs an asskicking before he betrays any other citizens…
@DCA, Yeah, the police should have gotten a warrant for the false accuser.
Possibly dating his wife or grand allures of doing so ? Get husband out of the way. Another reason for a beating.
Sooner or later those doing red flag laws are going to run into someone who is just not going to comply. Most of us have seen a spouse or someone other’s spouse making trouble in a breakup. Believe it or not divorce lawyers tell them to do that. They run up credit cards, make erroneous claims and use the courts/law enforcement as a weapon against their spouse. Past that anyone can make a claim against anyone whom they perceive as a threat because they didn’t brush their teeth that mourning etc. and all of this without criminal penalties to the… Read more »
@DP —
I am of the opinion that it’s already underway. The first shot was fired, oddly enough, when it became clear that the gov is here to rend our freedoms and liberties asunder through firearms confiscation. Next comes your carbon footprint. That’s when you will know that they will have you by your proverbial balls. Let it be said that we will not be going out with a bang, but with a whimper, somewhere around a high C as they clamp down.
Whatever he said. I’m with him.
This small incident demonstrates how government abuse of the 1st Amendment facilitates abuse of the 2nd Amendment. The government needs to face some form of punishment for this kind of runaway enforcement.
Then why don’t YOU become a police officer and show us all how it SHOULD be done? Put up or shut up.
@"MCCLOUD!", there is a little more to the situation than the actions of the individual officers. Corrupt legislators create unconstitutional statutes. Corrupt divorce lawyers manipulate angry spouses (soon to be ex-spouses). And the modern phenomenon of swatting. So much in our culture hangs in the balance.
I am and have seen first hand how some police departments use heavy handed tactics. Sir you don’t have the corner market with you asshat comment
The way it should be done is all GOOD police officers quit the job and that way when the lead starts flying no GOOD officers will be shot. Just those who “follow” orders and ignore their oaths to the Constitution.
For following up on a domestic disturbance? For doing their job and investigating a crime?
on an ALLEDGED “domestic disturbance”….. apparently when the fisr copper knocked up his door and wanted to talk about that, the subject disagreed. It seems the copper fot pushy, and that triggered the guy’s going off and securing himself. But WHY roll full SWAT when a guy is just holed up in his own home? Did the copper at the door annouhce he had a warrant and was there to serve it? From this article, it would seem not. No warrant, no arrest, at first, not officialy “detained” why shouldn’t he walk off?
We’ll have to wait for more info on the story to come out. The LEO’s who thought they heard shots need to be held accountable for their actions too. Their overreaction caused the situation to become dangerous to everyone in the neighborhood. No guns or ammo were recovered, where did shot come from these LEO’s heard? Reason to ERPO the guy is starting to smell fishy, no mention if a 30 round magazine was recovered either. These red flag laws will prove to be bad news for everyone involved.
The true story will come out, on page 30, bottom right corner……maybe
Government agents (LEO’s) with 30 round magazines coming to take his 30 round magazine??? Sounds legit…
Except that is not what happened
So YOU were there? NOTIFY THE APPROPRIATE AGENCIES PRONTO!
They were there about a domestic disturbance. And that is what he was arrested for.
Have no doubt that the fight for your Constitutional rights IS underway.
It has been since at least 1934.
Close enough! It was 1936 that the Democratic Party fought for, and got, the following 45 point manifesto read into the Congressional Minutes as a record of law. This is where everything went off the rails because the Republicans capitulated to it, by acknowledging it. 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament [by] the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless… Read more »
Putnam County Sheriff’s Department reported no firearms or magazines found at the site when the arrest was made. It appears this lad had an outstanding warrant for a domestic. So why the “Red Flag” order? They already had a felony level domestic warrant. Execute it.
That’s what they were trying to do!
Sounds (sadly) like the shot fired or not was irrelevant. They showed up to investigate/arrest him for a domestic incident. Sounds like they didn’t need a bunch of tac units to do it (probably pushed a stressed close to breaking person past that limit). I’m just glad no one was hurt. The courts can sort out that mess. It will be nice if someone can find a link to the charging documents.
Right!?
You know who else was “just doing their job”?
The damn Nazis.
@USA, a most dry sense of humor, bro.
You would not know a real Nazi if it bit you in your fat azz.
This is only the beginning.
Or perhaps the shady stuff the police did to homeowners during their search for the Boston Marathon bombers.
I don’t seem to need to “strike a nerve” USA, all I have to do to have someone down vote me is to make a post. I have requested that that feature be taken off because it serves no good purpose. And it allows trolls to do their thing in the darkness.
What, specifically, DID those police officers allegedly do? I’m waiting….
Superman (Barney) shut up and let people vent here. I did 31 years on the street, and after retirement, on the outside looking in, and still being involved in LE activities involving helping those with PCIS, I would say some of these good people are right with their opinions. So shut up, and grow up barney.
I fell into the trap….Galatians 5:15. I need to do better.
And yet: Jesus drove them out with a whip.
Well said, brother.
It is good to hear that many people stood up to defend him. Had they not been there we know the whole procedure might have gone the wrong way. It is good to know there are patriots that will stand up for their fellow man when he is being persecuted by law enforcement. In New York state the police have their orders and a family to feed.
Was it a domestic disturbance, like the police say. Or was he SWATted by his ‘former friend,’ who told police he had illegal magazines and PTSD? An erroneous police report of a shot fired needlessly escalated the situation, he’s lucky the police didn’t kill him. From his point of view the cop at the door lied about a domestic disturbance, then lied again when he reported a shot fired. I wouldn’t have wanted to come out either in those circumstances.
“According to Carmel Police Chief Michael Cazzari, social media attention prolonged the event. He blamed the internet attention for the length of the standoff.” I am in complete agreement with Chief Cazzari. If it wasn’t for social media attention, we would have kicked his door in, shot the dog and anything else that moved, and had it over in half an hour. We were deathly afraid of that 30 round magazine killing every cop there (even though no guns were ever discussed OR FOUND), and we just wanted to get home to our fambly.
That’s pitiful that a 30 round mag will get a swat team out. Sounds like a waste of tax money to me. What’s new.
They like to talk a good game, but LEO’s in general are neither pro-2A, nor Constitutional Patriots.
I’m here because of John Mark, btw. His great commentary can be found on YT and Bitchute.
“According to Carmel Police Chief Michael Cazzari, social media attention prolonged the event. He blamed the internet attention for the length of the standoff.” Meaning they couldnt just murder the unarmed veteran like the rest. I can see how this almost started the civil war. It probably still did.
Funny but what is written here seems at odds with the actual whats and whys
https://westchester.news12.com/story/41364769/police-man-wanted-in-domestic-incident-causes-7hour-standoff-in-carmel
I don’t think it is at all.
Any verification of the “shot” that supposedly was heard? Have no trouble believing NY LE would lie about something like that to give them an “in”.
You have trouble believing that the largest criminal organization in the country would lie?
How’s that bootleather taste?
No bootlickin gonna happen here my friend. 🙂
@DCA, Easy there brother. If we squabble among ourselves, then no one will show up when you put out the call for support, witnesses and cameras.
DC Andy, I think you misread what Ansel wrote. He was saying that he DIDN’T have any problem believing that the police would lie for their own purposes. Attacking him is inappropriate.
Thank you Dave. DC may not be familiar with posts of mine in the past about my father going through WWII in German occupied Holland. There will be no guns taken from me and mine. There will be no bootlickin if there’s a knock on my door. And there will be no peaceful into custody either.
Ansel, You are more than welcome, my FIL was a Timberwolf. We had a lot of your countrymen come to the reunions. Gen York was at a number of them, I don’t know if you were.
Blah, blah, blah. You are just another drugstore commando full of crapola.
Then why don’t YOU become a police officer and show us all how it SHOULD be done? Put up or shut up.
Determined they were “mistaken”
AZ Lefty, The only discrepancy that I see is the lack of mention by the newspaper of the magazine reporting by the “friend”. If failure to report something by the “news” is the test of whether it happened or not we live in vastly different worlds.
Domestic disturbance? One of the MOST DANGEROUS for our local police. They HAVE to be on edge every time they have to do this. Either one of the 2 or more people in there , historically, have ended up shooting someone – often the cop. Bad news!
Should I assume you meant the LEO shoots someone? At least that is typically what we read in the news, anyway.