Tunston ring... some lady called the cops on me 😱😱😱😱

[Pull tab mcfoilson]

Found a nice tunsgton ring in a baseball field.

I was walking in w my 2 sons onto baseball field and some lady was yelling at me from her car. I couldn't hear what she was saying.

5 coins and a ring later cops pull up and tell me I can't dig holes.

I explained I wasn't that it was a plug and there were no holes. I think the lady maybe told him I was defacing the place.

I looked up the codes and didn't really see anything about not digging or detecting.

I've detected at that park many times. Never on the baseball field.

Wonder if there's any way to find out for sure.

I wish the lady would have talked to me. I would have respected her. Seems overblown to call the cops on me since I was w my 2 young kids. I'm not some unapproachable badman lol

 

[Rich in Central PA]

All it takes is for some busybody to make a false accusation, and we detectorists have a blackmark over our heads. If you want to pursue this any further, and you prefer not to take the cops words for it, then get to the bottom of it and find out the real truth. Go to city hall and talk to the City Administrator or whoever is in charge. The Mayor is in charge of the police, ask him. Good Luck.

 

[Pull tab mcfoilson]

I asked the officer if there's anyone i could talk to. I think I will ask. Seems overblown.

He said something about defacing but I challenge anyone yo find where I've dug. I'm very good about not leaving a trace.

Thanks

 

[JMac48]

Screw her keep doing it. This is America not some communist country. Time people remember that.

 

[Gene Mean]

Found a nice tunsgton ring in a baseball field.

I was walking in w my 2 sons onto baseball field and some lady was yelling at me from her car. I couldn't hear what she was saying.

5 coins and a ring later cops pull up and tell me I can't dig holes.

I explained I wasn't that it was a plug and there were no holes. I think the lady maybe told him I was defacing the place.

I looked up the codes and didn't really see anything about not digging or detecting.

I've detected at that park many times. Never on the baseball field.

Wonder if there's any way to find out for sure.

I wish the lady would have talked to me. I would have respected her. Seems overblown to call the cops on me since I was w my 2 young kids. I'm not some unapproachable badman lol

Really nice ring! Congrats to you.
Here in NJ in county parks digging is not allowed on sports fields, I guess because some don't fill holes. I agree, most of tnetters will too, that you would be hard pressed to even tell we've been digging after we're gone.

 

[tamrock]

whatta B

 

[Megalodon]

I'd be tempted to go to the police station and offer to help out with your detector if they could use a hand some day. I doubt they will take you up on your offer but if they do, it could be an opportunity to demonstrate digging technique and also learn where in town you can legally detect. And maybe even find a hunting partner. One of my best hunting partners was a k-9 officer.

 

[Digger RJ]

Some people just don't get it. I'd take it like a grain of salt. Happy Hunting!!!

 

[Greastart]

whatta B

With a capitol "C"

 

[ToddsPoint]

Wouldn't she be called a "Karen"? Gary

 

[CTXAgGetter]

1. There's no way to know the lady called the cops.
2. It seems like she did try to talk to OP.
3. We all may believe we are approachable and harmless looking, but that doesn't mean the other party agrees.
4. For a few of you guys to be referring to the lady in derogatory terms without proof she actually did anything (or even if she did) is out of line.

 

[cudamark]

All it takes is for some busybody to make a false accusation, and we detectorists have a blackmark over our heads. If you want to pursue this any further, and you prefer not to take the cops words for it, then get to the bottom of it and find out the real truth. Go to city hall and talk to the City Administrator or whoever is in charge. The Mayor is in charge of the police, ask him. Good Luck.

No, please don't. Just look up the rules yourself. They're not a secret. You should be able to find them in the municipal code either online or in person at the courthouse or city hall in the records department. Asking someone brings their bias into the equation. It also brings what we do to someone's attention, which is not what we want. It's better that they don't even know we exist. Just continue to detect responsibly and come back to that location at a later date and time when everyone's had a chance to forget about it......and what you look like.

 

[Pull tab mcfoilson]

1. There's no way to know the lady called the cops.
2. It seems like she did try to talk to OP.
3. We all may believe we are approachable and harmless looking, but that doesn't mean the other party agrees.
4. For a few of you guys to be referring to the lady in derogatory terms without proof she actually did anything (or even if she did) is out of line.

The officer told me someone called. She didn't try to talk to me she yelled from across the parking lot. Am I supposed to approach random people yelling across the parking lot. I didn't even know if she was yelling at me till after the cops came 30 min later.

Funny you take the other side, like you just decided that nonthing i said was true, for what reason I've never proven to be a liar on here? I've never had the police approach me before this. My 7yo was as confused as I was.

I am very approachable. I had random conversations all day w people while running errands.

From my perspective she just didn't want to get out of the car and decided to call the police. So again am I supposed to go uo to her. If I'm so scary wouldn't that be scary. Maybe she would have grounds to say I threatened her.

 

[Jon Stewart]

Check with city hall on the rules for detecting. I know in my city you can detect the parks but you can't dig holes. It was explained to me they are more worried about the sprinkler systems than anything else. I don't think non detectorists understand how this works but they set the rules.

I know in Michigan you detect most of the state parks. I had one ranger tell me that only the campers can detect because they pay to get in. I told him I paid to get in also and kept detecting. He left me alone.

 

[Pull tab mcfoilson]

Definitely have to go there and check. I checked online w my wife and we didn't find anything. Found something about dogs digging but covering their holes.

 

[Erik in NJ]

Most towns have an ordinance about disturbing vegetation. That can be *stretched* to digging a plug in grass. Of course they ignore the events like art shows/flea markets where the grass looks like it has all been destroyed or the impromptu soccer games by gaggles of illegals that also rip it up. I'm with CudaMark in not bringing attention to it. I've been approached by several nut jobs over the years (if they get nasty I tell them to "where to go"...if they are reasonable I'll talk reason with them) I've also been approached by many cops over the years...most have been cool about things when they see there is no damage and some even engage in talking about the hobby--most don't want to be called to deal with a guy metal detecting somewhere by some busybody. City/town workers can sometimes be trouble and say I don't want you digging in my turf--next thing you're going to tear up my football field even though I am miles from it.

Having said that, I'd avoid detecting in or near sports fields as it invites trouble. Even nicely plugged holes can easily be pulled up by an athlete or a curious animal. Kids can get hurt and it just draws unnecessary attention to the hobby that you don't need.

I think you handled it well and I'm on your side. Especially if you have your kids with you (wish I could get mine to detect with me ) you sure don't need cops showing up as they might worry about Daddy potentially getting arrested or something like mine have in the past. Keep your cool like you did and (friendly suggestion) I'd try to remain under the radar away from manicured sports fields etc.

 

[boogeyman]

1. There's no way to know the lady called the cops.
2. It seems like she did try to talk to OP.
3. We all may believe we are approachable and harmless looking, but that doesn't mean the other party agrees.
4. For a few of you guys to be referring to the lady in derogatory terms without proof she actually did anything (or even if she did) is out of line.

Yes there is! It takes a little time & effort though. You can request a copy of the officers report for the call and the original call & log.

Carry a small notebook with you in your gear. Any contact with PD you should be asking for the officers name & badge #, and DR# write down the unit # from his vehicle make a note of the time. This does two things, gives you the info you need to get copies etc. (records clerks are more apt to help you if you have the info to make their job easier.) And sort of puts the officer on notice you're paying attention & might possibly be filing a complaint in a polite way. If the officer closed the DR as unfounded, it's possible to go after the lady for filing a false report, since you didn't do damage to the park.

Option #2 (easiest) get used to it. Too many people with too much time on their hands due to the lockdowns etc. wanting to tell everyone how to run their worlds.

 

[cudamark]

The last thing I want to do is piss off a cop. Most of them are on our side, and I do my best to keep it that way. You give them the 3rd degree wanting all this information, and guess what happens the next time he's called to investigate what you're doing? Yup, you're going to get the same treatment, or, worse. As mentioned, there are all kinds of archaic rules on the books that can be stretched to include our hobby. You really want to open that can of worms?

 

[Wildcat1750]

Nice find...
Sorry about the 'Lady'.