FBI Agent Shoots Freezer in Casino

444 · August 29, 2003, 10:09 AM

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_ho.../22024893.html

Friday, August 29, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

BARBARY COAST INCIDENT: Fine, damages paid in freezer shooting

Some say FBI agent got special treatment in case

By J.M. KALIL
REVIEW-JOURNAL

An FBI agent who fired his duty pistol into a Barbary Coast walk-in freezer while intoxicated has paid a $105 fine and thousands of dollars in damages to the Strip hotel to end the criminal case against him, officials said Wednesday.

Supervisory Agent John Hanson III, who remains under internal investigation by the FBI, paid Barbary Coast $12,507 on Aug. 8 for damages he caused when he fired his .45-caliber handgun into the freezer in May, court documents show.

Longtime observers of the local criminal justice system say Hanson, who was cited, but not arrested or jailed in connection with the shooting, received extremely favorable treatment from police and prosecutors compared to others who have committed similar crimes.

"If one of my clients did that, he would be in chains and shackles so quick, and he would be charged with a felony immediately," said James "Bucky" Buchanan, a veteran defense attorney who carries one of the Clark County Courthouse's heaviest criminal caseloads.

Although Hanson was taken into custody by casino security guards after the May 15 shooting, Las Vegas police officers summoned to the 1:30 a.m. incident decided not to arrest him.

Hanson was issued a citation for a misdemeanor charge of discharging a firearm. His gun was released to another agent who, like Hanson, was in town for an accounting seminar, said Special Agent Todd Palmer, a spokesman for the Las Vegas field office of the FBI.

Metropolitan Police Department officials acknowledged this week that most citizens who undertook similar actions would be arrested and jailed rather than issued a court summons.

"Nine times out of 10, we'll make an arrest for that charge," said officer Jose Montoya, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Department. "He probably was not arrested because he's an FBI agent and wasn't considered a threat."

District Attorney David Roger said Hanson's prosecution on a misdemeanor was appropriate, adding that he was not treated differently because he is a federal law enforcement officer.

Roger said the FBI agent at most could have faced a gross misdemeanor.

"This was a guy with no prior record at all," Roger said. "He paid a fine, and he paid restitution."

Buchanan, a former prosecutor with the district attorney's office, disagreed.

He has represented numerous defendants accused of shooting into structures.

"They've been charged with attempted murder, endangering people and a bunch of other charges," Buchanan said.

According to police reports, surveillance cameras captured Hanson pulling out his .45-caliber Glock pistol and firing two rounds into a walk-in refrigerator where cooks retrieve food for restaurants.

No one was inside when Hanson's two rounds punctured the front door.

Security guards took Hanson into custody, recovered two shell casings ejected by his weapon and summoned police.

Arriving officers confiscated Hanson's handgun and notified supervisors that the incident involved an FBI agent, the report states.

Hanson was unhelpful when officers attempted to interview him, the report indicates.

"The suspect stated he did not remember firing his weapon at any time," officer Boyse Francis wrote in the report.

Palmer, the local FBI spokesman, confirmed that Hanson does not recall the incident.

"He was drinking," Palmer said.

A patrol officer issued Hanson a citation and released him.

The report states that Hanson's sidearm and a copy of the videotape were released to the other FBI agent.

According to court documents, Hanson pleaded guilty June 26 to a single misdemeanor count of discharging a firearm.

The case was resolved after Hanson agreed to pay the Strip hotel for damages.

Federal authorities declined to say whether Hanson is on leave from his job instructing future agents at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va.

With the internal investigation ongoing, it remains unclear what discipline Hanson will receive.

"It could run the gamut," Palmer said, adding that Hanson faces forced time off without pay at minimum.

The maximum punishment would be firing, Palmer said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

greyhound · August 29, 2003, 10:20 AM

What the h*** was he shooting at in the freezer?

And the FBI condones drinking while carrying your duty weapon? I don't think so. Something stinks of elitism here if the above is true.

TallPine · August 29, 2003, 10:50 AM

Probably the freezer was advancing upon him while holding a cell phone in a threatening manner. The G-man feared for his life, and ... well, you know the rest.

Those things can happen when you're drinking.

Quote:

"Nine times out of 10, we'll make an arrest for that charge," said officer Jose Montoya, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Department. "He probably was not arrested because he's an FBI agent and wasn't considered a threat."

District Attorney David Roger said Hanson's prosecution on a misdemeanor was appropriate, adding that he was not treated differently because he is a federal law enforcement officer.

Aren't the above two statements in direct contradiction to each other ?

TheeBadOne · August 29, 2003, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Aren't the above two statements in direct contradiction to each other ?

They were made by 2 seperate people from 2 seperate entities. Now if 1 person had said that...

He'd get my vote for Jacka$$ of the year!

444 · August 29, 2003, 11:06 AM

Obviously the issue is:
We can't be trusted with firearms, only the police are responsible enough to have access to firearms.
As a private citizen I would imagine that I would not be allowed to carry my CCW into the casino at all (I am not sure of this and could be wrong).
If I did this, I would be arrested and taken in to custody, I would be fired from my job, my CCW would be revoked, my gun confiscated, I would be permenently 86ed from the casino, I would have to hire an attorney and just being set free would probably cost me everything I have. Odds are I could never own a gun again. I guarentee that every possible charge would be filed against me. This would be used by the media as THE reason why CCW is bad and why civilians should not be trusted with firearms.

FBI agent: $105 fine, no arrest.

"What the h*** was he shooting at in the freezer?"
He was in a drunken blackout and shot into the freezer for no reason.

Keep in mind that this isn't just an FBI agent, this is an instructor at the FBI Academy in Quantico.

El Tejon · August 29, 2003, 11:25 AM

FREEZE, FEDERAL AGENT!

The Clark County DA has a bunch of egg on his face now. However, at least the defense bar has an excellent precedent now.

Mike Irwin · August 29, 2003, 11:34 AM

LOOK OUT NED, IT'S COMING RIGHT FOR US!

Baba Louie · August 29, 2003, 11:37 AM

All animals are equal... some animals are MORE equal...

A little action on the strip eh? Never a dull minute down there boyo.

What I really want to know is... did the two rounds of .45 stop the walk-in, kill it, or just grieviously wound it? Should the FBI change their thinking about proper loads for taking out a walk-in cooler and maybe switch to the newer S&W .500 round as it appears that a .45 acp just doesn't cut the mustard?

444, you're right, should you or I pull the same stunt... we'd being doing a little time somewhere.

I'd love to hear the banter in the FBI locker rooms/staff meetings etc about this poor schmoe. Some of those LEO types have a dark sense of humor. Maybe ya oughta post this on GlockTalks Coptalk forum and see how the good old boys therein respond. Probably not a good idea in retrospect.

Kinda reminds me of the story a few years back about Jeff Cooper's Scout rifle discharge in the Palace Station (oops).

Glad no one was hurt.

Lessons learned?

Something about drinking and carrying?

It pays to be FBI SAC of Walk-in psycho-ops.

big sigh

Adios

Skunkabilly · August 29, 2003, 11:39 AM

[Arnold]"Chill out."[/Arnold]
POK!!!

seeker_two · August 29, 2003, 11:40 AM

Maybe he thought a woman named Weaver was inside...

Quartus · August 29, 2003, 11:41 AM

LISTEN!!! I'M TIRED OF ALL THIS COP BASHING!!! IF AN FBI AGENT (God bless their souls!) SAYS HE NEEDED TO SHOOT A FREEZER, THEN HE NEEDED TO SHOOT A FREEZER! THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!!! AND ANYONE WHO SAYS OTHERWISE IS A COMMIE PINKO TRAITOR!!!!!

seeker_two · August 29, 2003, 11:55 AM

!!!I am not, Comrade Quartus!!!

DJJ · August 29, 2003, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Palmer, the local FBI spokesman, confirmed that Hanson does not recall the incident.

"He was drinking," Palmer said.

[shaking head in amazement smilie]

Well, as drunken comedian Foster Brooks used to say, "I've got a good reason for being drunk tonight: I've been drinking all day."

2dogs · August 29, 2003, 12:25 PM

Does anyone (other than Mr. FBI agent) know if the freezer stopping power of the .45 is superior to a .357?

Yes, I know that you can't necessarily go by the studies done on this, but still, if attacked by a dangerous freezer- one would like to be as prepared as possible.

rock jock · August 29, 2003, 01:05 PM

Ballistic gelatin? beh

Now, a commercial freezer door? That's where the real world testing starts.

Nightfall · August 29, 2003, 01:08 PM

Another check in the .45 ACP column: It can stop a cold hearted attacker that stores body parts in it's freezer!

Aikibiker · August 29, 2003, 01:30 PM

You are all forgetting the importance of shot placement. Even a .22 will stop a freezer if you hit the compressor. ^_^

Re the FBI agent: I wish I was a supercitizen who was above the average serfs. Must be nice.

Sleeping Dog · August 29, 2003, 01:35 PM

Did he yell "FREEZE!" before he shot?

greyhound · August 29, 2003, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Did he yell "FREEZE!" before he shot?

He was probably so drunk it came out as "Freem".

Anyone volunteer to repeat the experiment to see if a "civilian" gets the same treatment?

Marko Kloos · August 29, 2003, 04:22 PM

One set of rules for the common peasants, and another set for the King's Men.

And people are amazed that there's a rift between LEOs and peasantry these days. When you have two sets of rules and laws, you have effectively created a two-class society. If one of these gets to bear arms while the other one doesn't, you have laid the groundwork for a new feudalism.

Back in feudal Japan, the Samurai enjoyed "kiri sute gomen", the right to kill and depart, over the unarmed lower class. A Samurai could kill a disrespectful peasant by the side of the road with impunity, and not face any legal sanctions. I hate to sound like a gloomy fatalist, but between stuff like this, Ruby Ridge, and Waco, we are fast approaching a state like that in this country as well.

CWL · August 29, 2003, 06:14 PM

Let's not forget the Medieval lord's right to take a peasant woman's virginity on her wedding night if he so chose.

Power will always be abused.

PlayTheAces · August 29, 2003, 06:40 PM

Well it's obvious to me why he's an instructor.

How many of us could be hammered beyond belief, and still manage to pull off a two shot stop on such a large threat? Heck, that freezer must have been bigger than an elephant.

It must have been such a terrifying experience, his mind went into defensive mode and repressed his memory of the entire affair.

I'm sooo glad this guy's out there protecting me.

**4v50 Gary** · August 29, 2003, 08:03 PM

I guess they didn't teach that guns & alcohol didn't mix when he went to Quantico. A stain on the agency, especially since he is a supervising agent. No doubt that had it been any of us, it would have been headline material, another call for restricting firearms ownership, and a lengthy time in the "cooler."

August 29, 2003, 10:09 AM	#1
444 Member Join Date: December 26, 2002 Location: Pahrump Nevada Posts: 7,733	FBI Agent Shoots Freezer in Casino http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_ho.../22024893.html Friday, August 29, 2003 Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal BARBARY COAST INCIDENT: Fine, damages paid in freezer shooting Some say FBI agent got special treatment in case By J.M. KALIL REVIEW-JOURNAL An FBI agent who fired his duty pistol into a Barbary Coast walk-in freezer while intoxicated has paid a $105 fine and thousands of dollars in damages to the Strip hotel to end the criminal case against him, officials said Wednesday. Supervisory Agent John Hanson III, who remains under internal investigation by the FBI, paid Barbary Coast $12,507 on Aug. 8 for damages he caused when he fired his .45-caliber handgun into the freezer in May, court documents show. Longtime observers of the local criminal justice system say Hanson, who was cited, but not arrested or jailed in connection with the shooting, received extremely favorable treatment from police and prosecutors compared to others who have committed similar crimes. "If one of my clients did that, he would be in chains and shackles so quick, and he would be charged with a felony immediately," said James "Bucky" Buchanan, a veteran defense attorney who carries one of the Clark County Courthouse's heaviest criminal caseloads. Although Hanson was taken into custody by casino security guards after the May 15 shooting, Las Vegas police officers summoned to the 1:30 a.m. incident decided not to arrest him. Hanson was issued a citation for a misdemeanor charge of discharging a firearm. His gun was released to another agent who, like Hanson, was in town for an accounting seminar, said Special Agent Todd Palmer, a spokesman for the Las Vegas field office of the FBI. Metropolitan Police Department officials acknowledged this week that most citizens who undertook similar actions would be arrested and jailed rather than issued a court summons. "Nine times out of 10, we'll make an arrest for that charge," said officer Jose Montoya, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Department. "He probably was not arrested because he's an FBI agent and wasn't considered a threat." District Attorney David Roger said Hanson's prosecution on a misdemeanor was appropriate, adding that he was not treated differently because he is a federal law enforcement officer. Roger said the FBI agent at most could have faced a gross misdemeanor. "This was a guy with no prior record at all," Roger said. "He paid a fine, and he paid restitution." Buchanan, a former prosecutor with the district attorney's office, disagreed. He has represented numerous defendants accused of shooting into structures. "They've been charged with attempted murder, endangering people and a bunch of other charges," Buchanan said. According to police reports, surveillance cameras captured Hanson pulling out his .45-caliber Glock pistol and firing two rounds into a walk-in refrigerator where cooks retrieve food for restaurants. No one was inside when Hanson's two rounds punctured the front door. Security guards took Hanson into custody, recovered two shell casings ejected by his weapon and summoned police. Arriving officers confiscated Hanson's handgun and notified supervisors that the incident involved an FBI agent, the report states. Hanson was unhelpful when officers attempted to interview him, the report indicates. "The suspect stated he did not remember firing his weapon at any time," officer Boyse Francis wrote in the report. Palmer, the local FBI spokesman, confirmed that Hanson does not recall the incident. "He was drinking," Palmer said. A patrol officer issued Hanson a citation and released him. The report states that Hanson's sidearm and a copy of the videotape were released to the other FBI agent. According to court documents, Hanson pleaded guilty June 26 to a single misdemeanor count of discharging a firearm. The case was resolved after Hanson agreed to pay the Strip hotel for damages. Federal authorities declined to say whether Hanson is on leave from his job instructing future agents at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va. With the internal investigation ongoing, it remains unclear what discipline Hanson will receive. "It could run the gamut," Palmer said, adding that Hanson faces forced time off without pay at minimum. The maximum punishment would be firing, Palmer said. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

August 29, 2003, 11:25 AM	#6
El Tejon Member Join Date: December 24, 2002 Location: Lafayette, Indiana--meanwhile, back in the Wabash Valley . . . zzzzz. Posts: 17,894	FREEZE, FEDERAL AGENT! The Clark County DA has a bunch of egg on his face now. However, at least the defense bar has an excellent precedent now. __________________ I [heart] Wal-Mart threads.

August 29, 2003, 11:37 AM	#8
Baba Louie Member Join Date: December 26, 2002 Posts: 3,259	All animals are equal... some animals are MORE equal... A little action on the strip eh? Never a dull minute down there boyo. What I really want to know is... did the two rounds of .45 stop the walk-in, kill it, or just grieviously wound it? Should the FBI change their thinking about proper loads for taking out a walk-in cooler and maybe switch to the newer S&W .500 round as it appears that a .45 acp just doesn't cut the mustard? 444, you're right, should you or I pull the same stunt... we'd being doing a little time somewhere. I'd love to hear the banter in the FBI locker rooms/staff meetings etc about this poor schmoe. Some of those LEO types have a dark sense of humor. Maybe ya oughta post this on GlockTalks Coptalk forum and see how the good old boys therein respond. Probably not a good idea in retrospect. Kinda reminds me of the story a few years back about Jeff Cooper's Scout rifle discharge in the Palace Station (oops). Glad no one was hurt. Lessons learned? Something about drinking and carrying? It pays to be FBI SAC of Walk-in psycho-ops. big sigh Adios __________________ "If a man neglects to enforce his rights, he cannot complain, if, after a while, the law follows his example." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

August 29, 2003, 11:39 AM	#9
Skunkabilly Member Join Date: December 23, 2002 Location: Los Angeles, Untacticalifornia =( Posts: 9,730	[Arnold]"Chill out."[/Arnold] POK!!! __________________ http://www.skunkabilly.com If Chuck Norris and The Skunk logged onto THR at the same time, the servers would crash, for they could not contain that amount of pure awesome.

August 29, 2003, 11:40 AM	#10
seeker_two Member Join Date: December 26, 2002 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Lone Star State (TX) Posts: 3,488	Maybe he thought a woman named Weaver was inside... __________________ !RKBA! !ATMD! !Keep Praying for The Troops! Heller is our beachhead....our Normandy.....now it's time to take the fight to the enemies of freedom.....

August 29, 2003, 10:20 AM	#2
greyhound Member Join Date: May 17, 2003 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,665	What the h*** was he shooting at in the freezer? And the FBI condones drinking while carrying your duty weapon? I don't think so. Something stinks of elitism here if the above is true.

August 29, 2003, 11:06 AM	#5
444 Member Join Date: December 26, 2002 Location: Pahrump Nevada Posts: 7,733	Obviously the issue is: We can't be trusted with firearms, only the police are responsible enough to have access to firearms. As a private citizen I would imagine that I would not be allowed to carry my CCW into the casino at all (I am not sure of this and could be wrong). If I did this, I would be arrested and taken in to custody, I would be fired from my job, my CCW would be revoked, my gun confiscated, I would be permenently 86ed from the casino, I would have to hire an attorney and just being set free would probably cost me everything I have. Odds are I could never own a gun again. I guarentee that every possible charge would be filed against me. This would be used by the media as THE reason why CCW is bad and why civilians should not be trusted with firearms. FBI agent: $105 fine, no arrest. "What the h*** was he shooting at in the freezer?" He was in a drunken blackout and shot into the freezer for no reason. Keep in mind that this isn't just an FBI agent, this is an instructor at the FBI Academy in Quantico.

August 29, 2003, 11:34 AM	#7
Mike Irwin member Join Date: December 22, 2002 Location: Below the Manson-Nixon line in Virginia... Posts: 7,952	LOOK OUT NED, IT'S COMING RIGHT FOR US!

August 29, 2003, 11:41 AM	#11
Quartus Member Join Date: January 13, 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,172	*LISTEN!!! I'M TIRED OF ALL THIS COP BASHING!!! IF AN FBI AGENT* (God bless their souls!) *SAYS HE NEEDED TO SHOOT A FREEZER, THEN HE NEEDED TO SHOOT A FREEZER! THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!!! AND ANYONE WHO SAYS OTHERWISE IS A COMMIE PINKO TRAITOR!!!!!* __________________ Gone to TheFiringline.com

August 29, 2003, 11:55 AM	#12
seeker_two Member Join Date: December 26, 2002 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Lone Star State (TX) Posts: 3,488	!!!I am not, Comrade Quartus!!! __________________ !RKBA! !ATMD! !Keep Praying for The Troops! Heller is our beachhead....our Normandy.....now it's time to take the fight to the enemies of freedom.....

August 29, 2003, 12:25 PM	#14
2dogs Member Join Date: December 25, 2002 Location: the city Posts: 1,865	Does anyone (other than Mr. FBI agent) know if the freezer stopping power of the .45 is superior to a .357? Yes, I know that you can't necessarily go by the studies done on this, but still, if attacked by a dangerous freezer- one would like to be as prepared as possible. __________________ TFL Alumnus "Why doesn't everybody leave everybody else the hell alone?" -Jimmy Durante- "An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." -Jeff Cooper "That rifle hanging on the wall of the working-class flat or laborer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." --George Orwell "If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed, if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not so costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no chance of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves." - Winston Churchill DISCLAIMER: This post is not meant to offend any individual or group.

August 29, 2003, 01:05 PM	#15
rock jock Member Join Date: December 24, 2002 Location: In the moment Posts: 3,009	Ballistic gelatin? beh Now, a commercial freezer door? That's where the real world testing starts.

August 29, 2003, 01:08 PM	#16
Nightfall Member Join Date: February 24, 2003 Location: WA Posts: 1,819	Another check in the .45 ACP column: It can stop a cold hearted attacker that stores body parts in it's freezer! __________________ Peace is good. Freedom is better. "Now now, perfectly symmetrical violence never solved anything." - Futurama

August 29, 2003, 01:30 PM	#17
Aikibiker Member Join Date: December 27, 2002 Location: Daytona, Fl Posts: 379	You are all forgetting the importance of shot placement. Even a .22 will stop a freezer if you hit the compressor. ^_^ Re the FBI agent: I wish I was a supercitizen who was above the average serfs. Must be nice. __________________ ~Joel

August 29, 2003, 01:35 PM	#18
Sleeping Dog Member Join Date: December 25, 2002 Location: MI Posts: 1,257	Did he yell "FREEZE!" before he shot?

August 29, 2003, 04:22 PM	#20
Marko Kloos Moderator Emeritus Join Date: December 20, 2002 Location: Enfield, NH Posts: 2,589	One set of rules for the common peasants, and another set for the King's Men. And people are amazed that there's a rift between LEOs and peasantry these days. When you have two sets of rules and laws, you have effectively created a two-class society. If one of these gets to bear arms while the other one doesn't, you have laid the groundwork for a new feudalism. Back in feudal Japan, the Samurai enjoyed "kiri sute gomen", the right to kill and depart, over the unarmed lower class. A Samurai could kill a disrespectful peasant by the side of the road with impunity, and not face any legal sanctions. I hate to sound like a gloomy fatalist, but between stuff like this, Ruby Ridge, and Waco, we are fast approaching a state like that in this country as well. __________________ "I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend." --J.R.R.Tolkien, The Two Towers the munchkin wrangler.

August 29, 2003, 06:14 PM	#21
CWL Member Join Date: January 6, 2003 Posts: 5,464	Let's not forget the Medieval lord's right to take a peasant woman's virginity on her wedding night if he so chose. Power will always be abused. __________________ Vae Victis

August 29, 2003, 06:40 PM	#22
PlayTheAces Member Join Date: December 29, 2002 Location: Sometimes California / Sometimes Nevada Posts: 369	Well it's obvious to me why he's an instructor. How many of us could be hammered beyond belief, and still manage to pull off a two shot stop on such a large threat? Heck, that freezer must have been bigger than an elephant. It must have been such a terrifying experience, his mind went into defensive mode and repressed his memory of the entire affair. I'm sooo glad this guy's out there protecting me.

August 29, 2003, 08:03 PM	#23
4v50 Gary Moderator Join Date: December 19, 2002 Posts: 12,232	I guess they didn't teach that guns & alcohol didn't mix when he went to Quantico. A stain on the agency, especially since he is a supervising agent. No doubt that had it been any of us, it would have been headline material, another call for restricting firearms ownership, and a lengthy time in the "cooler." __________________ TFL Aluminium. Molon Labe!

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