Few keepers before POLICEMAN came down on me

[mjc_lakedweller]

I have hunted sidewalks for as long as I have been metal detecting. I always stay between the road and sidewalk and if someone asks me to leave I kindly do so, along with all their junk. So apparrently someone, rather than asking me to leave, decided they would call 911. I was thankfully at a house in which the lady who lived there came out and talked with me and was very interested in what I was doing. Of course I was very nice and thanked her and told her that if I came across anything good I would bring it up to her. She was lovin' it. Then not two minutes later the local boys show up, chest extended, and told me I cannot go into anyones yard and "dig trenches or holes". Trenches or holes - I kid you not.
I was polite to him and offered that I only detect between sidewalk and pedestrian walk. He said that I was reported as being in empty lots, abandoned houses, and in peoples yard. I told him that I had to disagree with him and discussed that because people are uneducated about metal detecting I always play by the rules because the hobby has a bad image already and do not want to tarnish it. In one ear, out the other. I was ordered to cease and disist immediately. Just then the older lady came flying out of the house asking what was going on and the officer told her I had to stop what I was doing. She argued with him saying I had her permission and "he is cleaning up trash as he goes along." She was standing up for me like I was her son and really gave the cop a good lashing (all the while I was snickering on the inside and even managed a wink to the lady as she was going off on the officer.
Cop pause, waive her off and told her to go back inside. He again told me to cease and disist. Well, I dug that last hole right in front of him and pulled out a dime then held it up to the lady who was still looking out her front door and offered it to her. She said to keep it or give it to the cop for donut money!!!

God bless our men in blue.

I said nothing got in my car and went home, all the while with cop right on my a** the entire way.
Anyway here is my treasures for my last sidewalk hunt in this town.

1 Vicksburg token and a piper pizza token
1 .925 ring and two other rings
3 toy cars
1 toy car that is huge
several spent bullets
Bike emblem and more

 

[Calvin.Coin]

Apart from the snickering it sounds like you handled the incident in a respectful manner befitting of the hobby! It seems the rules and regulations will increase as the concern of people with their rights decreases. Those are some cool finds and it is really neat that the lady befriended you instead of dog-piling you with cop. After the dime incident I might have grinned my own self...

cheers,
cc

 

[Giant056]

It sounds like that cop was completely full of it to me, as a matter of fact it sounded like he was making it up as he went along. You made some great finds though, congrats on the silver ring and neat old token I found one of those tokens in Prarrieview Park swimming area this sumer

 

[nsdq]

i give kudos to the young lady that stood up for ya and cool finds

 

[Mike from MI]

You did good. I might have to go have a talk with the local boys in blue. I bought one of those tokens on ebay in mint condition, then found one at an old farm a couple months later.

 

[mjc_lakedweller]

I have two of these tokens myself. both of them I found in town but this one is in much better condition. I didn't give the cop a hard time at all but wish he would have been a little more compromising -- I still laugh thinking about when he said "digging trenches and holes"...Seriously?

 

[postalgriff]

funny story, thanks for sharing....cool finds too, love the token!

 

[Michiganne]

Nice rings and token, mjc. Sorry you had a run-in with the police and nice of the lady to stick up for you.

HH

 

[Brentallica]

Congrats on a sweet token!! I like the rings too! Keep swingin lol

 

[flakefinder]

Well at least you found some neat finds before getting ran off by the boys in blue.

 

[dogpound]

wow cops can throw ya off someone's property when you have permission ta hunt.......WTH is that about

 

[snakeyes]

Next time you go out wear a reflective vest and a white hard hat, bet nobody will bother you,they'll think you work for the city.