Very odd visit from the ATF.

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  • Jackalope

    Active Member
    Had a visit from a gentleman who produced Balto. Co. police det. ID and ATF ID and stated he was investigating a missing AR15 from a local gun range. He had the paperwork from the gun range from when my wife and I visited and she rented a .45 so thats how he got our info. He claimed the AR15 was a rental that had "gone missing" since the last ATF inspection and they were interviewing everyone who had been to the range. He asked about me working for the railroad and if I went cross country or just stayed local, thats when a red flag went up. The gentleman left and I called the Balto Co police who told me to call Anne Arundel Co police and report it which I did and an officer came out but couldn't do too much since my dumb ass forgot the guys name. So then I called the ATF and after talking to a couple agents and getting a call back I was told it was one of their task force officers and he is conducting an investigation but they weren't sure on what. Then I called the gun range and the guy who answered the phone didn't know anything a missing AR15 but he'd have the owner call me back which he did however he claims he knows nothing about a missing AR15 and he has no idea why this detective was at my house.

    So no one knows why this guy has my info or what he's investigating only that he is a cop and he is working with the ATF and unless the gun range owner is lying there's no missing AR15.

    Is it just me or does this sound fishy to anyone else? Or am I being paranoid?
     

    Trbo6gn

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 30, 2011
    2,801
    Harford Co.
    Sounds to me like you better lock your house up like a fort. Hide all firearms. With questions about your travel schedule it sounds to me like someone could be caseing the joint.
     

    PowPow

    Where's the beef?
    Nov 22, 2012
    4,712
    Howard County
    I like your checkups on his story! I think you have every right to be concerned about "investigational" visits to your home, especially those that are accompanied by questions of a personal nature regarding your travel habits.

    I hope this is the last visit you will have from that guy or any of his colleagues.
     

    ADR

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 17, 2011
    4,171
    OP, it sounds like you were able to verify that he was legit via contacting the ATF field office so I wouldn't be overly concerned about the questions he asked in regards to your work travels. He's contacting you in reference to an investigation so it would be prudent on his behalf to gather information from anyone he contacts.

    As far as the range owner not knowing anything, I suspect most business owners would decline to acknowledge an investigation being conducted by the ATF with customers.

    You didn't commit a crime, you were just part of a paper trail that the investigator is following up on and you answered/interacted with him accordingly.

    If you happen to have similar interactions in the future, try to remember to ask for a business card and/or write his information down while he's still there. (Sometimes tough to remember when you're caught off guard.)
     

    BradMacc82

    Ultimate Member
    Industry Partner
    Aug 17, 2011
    26,177
    Uhh..., don't know what to tell you.

    If the Field Office verified his affiliation and that the individual is still active, I'd take the paranoia down a notch. If they couldn't verify the persons' credibility, then I'd be worried some.

    Sounds like your just another name to check out, and that's what's happening, so don't sweat it, don't get too wound up, it'll be in the past soon enough.
     

    ADR

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 17, 2011
    4,171
    Uhh..., don't know what to tell you.

    If the Field Office verified his affiliation and that the individual is still active, I'd take the paranoia down a notch. If they couldn't verify the persons' credibility, then I'd be worried some.

    Sounds like your just another name to check out, and that's what's happening, so don't sweat it, don't get too wound up, it'll be in the past soon enough.

    Exactly. (Of course he could have been visiting to check the layout of your house for the follow up visit to be conducted in the early morning hours. :lol2:)
     

    Jackalope

    Active Member
    OP, it sounds like you were able to verify that he was legit via contacting the ATF field office so I wouldn't be overly concerned about the questions he asked in regards to your work travels. He's contacting you in reference to an investigation so it would be prudent on his behalf to gather information from anyone he contacts.

    As far as the range owner not knowing anything, I suspect most business owners would decline to acknowledge an investigation being conducted by the ATF with customers.

    You didn't commit a crime, you were just part of a paper trail that the investigator is following up on and you answered/interacted with him accordingly.

    If you happen to have similar interactions in the future, try to remember to ask for a business card and/or write his information down while he's still there. (Sometimes tough to remember when you're caught off guard.)


    Kinda along the lines of what I was thinking AFTER he checked out.

    The range owner I can also understand as he probly doesn't want it getting out his range LOST an AR15! That sort of thing can hurt a business, also why I'm not mentioning it here. ;)

    No crime's here!

    I know, I know. He came up on me while I was working on my next door neighbors van, kinda caught me off guard when he knew my name but then he showed me the paper work with mine and my wifes driver's licence's copied onto the range's paperwork for the lane rental.
     

    fivepointstar

    Thank you MD-Goodbye
    Apr 28, 2008
    30,714
    3rd Rock from the Sun
    looks like the Range you visited is up sh*ts creek for a missing AR15. you don't have anything to worry about.

    ATF task force deputises police officer with federal powers since they are so shorthanded.
     

    mdoffroad

    Looking to Learn
    Aug 26, 2011
    1,606
    Abingdon, MD
    or the range owner might have reported one missing that was sold off the books? who knows.. I would alway ask for ID, a business card and if you think you can get away with it, take a picture of him/her.
     

    Inigoes

    Head'n for the hills
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 21, 2008
    49,353
    SoMD / West PA
    looks like the Range you visited is up sh*ts creek for a missing AR15. you don't have anything to worry about.

    ATF task force deputises police officer with federal powers since they are so shorthanded.

    Not really, step back and think about it.

    AR15 is a semi auto rifle = no big deal.

    The unit I commanded in the Army, lost an M16 (fully automatic) in the 70s. The FBI investigates whether it was found every year.

    The dude was up to no good casing the OP. The OP should take some prudent measures to increase his personal security.
     

    sgt23preston

    USMC LLA. NRA Life Member
    May 19, 2011
    3,994
    Perry Hall
    Sgt Preston here...

    Here is my advice to everyone...

    When someone knocks at your door & claims to be on official business...

    Get their business card & write down their name, height, date, cel phone number, etc...

    Don't talk to them at all UNTIL you know who you are talking to...

    Ask pertinent questions..?

    What gun range, What was the date, What make AR, etc..?
     

    Billman

    Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
    May 18, 2010
    1,273
    Sykesville, MD
    I think this is how it all started for Randy Weaver, better hide the family now. The snipers are watching...
    All jokes aside, this would appear to be a reasonable line of questioning. Shouldn't we want the ATF to find missing weapons? I would have asked for proper credentials and a business card or at a minimum taken note of the officer/agent's name. These guys are just doing a job and providing for their family.
     

    alpha2delta

    Member
    Sep 7, 2011
    61
    Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't
    out to get you. I have heard of raids on the houses of many
    people for no reason. Notes were left saying that ATF was
    there and they found nothing.All this was in the late 80's.

    Hope that this strange visit was not laying the ground work
    for something worse. Good Luck
     

    Half-cocked

    Senior Meatbag
    Mar 14, 2006
    23,937
    I'm not a BATF agent, but I slept in a Holiday Inn Express last night.... well not really.

    If an AR-15 went missing from a range, wouldn't the obvious place to start looking be the last person who rented it, and didn't check it back in? :D

    And if it wasn't checked out, why would you case up every renter who had been there that (day/week/whatever time frame)? Wouldn't you (a) suspect the people who work there first, and (b) check out surveillance tapes?
     

    Afield

    Active Member
    Jul 3, 2010
    183
    Rockville, MD
    I would have asked the agent to double check if it maybe was one of the ones they shipped to Mexico.

    Or just assure them that it already has been sent to a good Mexican cartel and no more reason to worry about it.

    Hopefully they have a sense of humor, although it is only half joking.
     

    Samuel

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    Mar 12, 2012
    297
    Someone needs to post that video about not talking to the police about anything, ever, even if you're innocent.

    I'd have shut the door in the mans face mumbling something about a warrant.
     

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