Bad incident on our trip

[Hikergirl]

OP, If he pulled you over 30 seconds to 1 minute after you got in the car it is totally possible that the driver did do something before she picked you up. He may have gotten a report about it and just happen to find her after she picked you guys up. He most likely had no idea who else was in the car, and I think if they do suspect suspicious behavior they will question everyone in the car.
This doesn't excuse anything he did, he sounds like he was on a big power trip. I would guess she maybe did something wrong, and may not have even realized it and unfortunately you and your ds were caught up in the whole situation.

 

[Alicefan]

Is it April Fools Day??

OMG I just thought this same thing.

 

[lustergirl]

OMG I just thought this same thing.

Hard to believe this story.

 

[AngiTN]

Thanks everyone for your concerns. To answer a few of your questions.. Yes it could have been another vehicle other than a golf cart but looked exactly like one . It was dark but certainly was not a car just an open air cart. As far as him addressing us as passengers, the window was down and with his flashlight he began asking his questions to us all. To pull out my phone at that time to make any call I feel may have caused more aggression by him so we just cooperated hoping nothing else would happen. Maybe we should have notified police on our way back to S/D but as I said we just didn't know what to do at that moment. As far as any gate he claimed we went through I'm sure I would have heard something hit the car. There was no gate for sure. It was less than one minute from the time we entered the car , maybe only 30 seconds to the incident . Where the driver went I really don't know but I do know we did not go through any gate. I will take everyone's advice and follow up my report at Epcot Guest Relations with a neither email as suggested and will send and contact Orange County Police Dept. We are back now in Pa. hoping to hear some response from my initial reporting to them. Thanks again to everyone for your help and support and I will give any update to this as I find more out.

But there are gates/arms to both enter and leave Disney resorts. They are similar to railroad arms. Leaving they raise automatically as a car approaches. So there had to be some sort of gate you went through, even if you didn't notice it. But as you said, if it had be struck you would have noticed

 

[rwdavis2]

I can almost guarantee that Disney does not care. Call the police department yourself.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I can almost guarantee that Disney does not care. Call the police department yourself.

Totally agree. I guess I'm confused as to why someone in this situation wouldn't call the police him/herself rather than waiting 12+ hours to report it at guest relations at a theme park. I'll admit that course of action doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If it was the police, Disney has no control over that. If it wasn't the police, the real police need to be investigating. Why get a middle-man (Disney) involved at all?

The thing that really makes me think that this wasn't the real police is that if a police officer were really on that kind of power trip, he would have issued a citation of some kind. The driver wouldn't have been pulled over by the real police if she hadn't done something wrong.

 

[lampshadehead]

Its sounds like they didn't issue a citation, because the back up that arrived, decided to let them go?
And yes I agree with the person who said it probably wasn't a golf cart, but rather a utility vehicle. Those are used at my job, and they can go fast and get over some landscapes better than regular cars in some instances.

 

[SharonZ]

OP, here's a suggestion - with a situation like this, don't waste your time asking people on the DisBoards what they think . . . call the police!

 

[Kindermouse]

I defence of the OP some people are so taken aback in shocking and uncomfortable circumstances and so inexperienced with the feelings caused by situations that they dont think logically and objectively about the next steps of action. They can be in a state of shock and they simply respond by going to the first person in authority that they are comfortable with. Since the OP obviously didn't doubt in the moment that the person who interrogated and threatened her the night before was a member of OC law enforcement she likely sought comfort and resolution from Disney guest relations because in her experience they are on the side of the guest as well as being quick to action, decisive and well mannered as well as being in authority to some extent over what happens on their property. While she wanted resolution she also didn't want to risk another uncomfortable aggressive encounter so she stayed away from those that in that moment stood for that uncomfortable behavior according to her experience and schema of oc law enforcement.

Now after the fact she clearly realized her error which is why she posted here about if she should contact someone else. And now that we who weren't effected by the moment and have the gift of impartiality make some good points she surely now is even more sure that she needs to pursue this further with more appropriate channels and that her initial reaction likely had some avoidance in it.

No worries OP I just hope that you pursue this matter so that future guests like myself have less chance of dealing with such a hot mess in the middle of our vacations.

 

[butternut]

Well I'll end my conversation about what happened to us. Most people on this board have been very helpful while some are making a joke about it and think it's an April fools joke. I would like to see how they felt if it happened to them. As far as the decision we made to report to Guest relations, wether it was the right decision or not, is what we did. Can't take that back now. Thanks again to those who really tried to give their best advice on my post.

 

[lustergirl]

OP, here's a suggestion - with a situation like this, don't waste your time asking people on the DisBoards what they think . . . call the police!

Oh why do that, when you can come on the boards and make up such a grand story. Sorry, not buying it for a minute.

 

[lustergirl]

Well I'll end my conversation about what happened to us. Most people on this board have been very helpful while some are making a joke about it and think it's an April fools joke. I would like to see how they felt if it happened to them. As far as the decision we made to report to Guest relations, wether it was the right decision or not, is what we did. Can't take that back now. Thanks again to those who really tried to give their best advice on my post.

Actually I work in law enforcement and if that situation happened to me I would know how to handle it. I have a hard time believing any of this is true, let alone Orange County law enforcement acting in such a manner, especially with all of the negative outcomes law enforcement is receiving nowadays.

 

[lovedisneycruise]

Well I'll end my conversation about what happened to us. Most people on this board have been very helpful while some are making a joke about it and think it's an April fools joke. I would like to see how they felt if it happened to them. As far as the decision we made to report to Guest relations, wether it was the right decision or not, is what we did. Can't take that back now. Thanks again to those who really tried to give their best advice on my post.

Butternut i'm sorry you had to experience this and I appreciate you sharing your story with us. I am always wary of using Uber or even a cab when at Disney and this confirms it more for me. Ignore the doubters because it's really irrelevant to the info in this thread and please come back and let us know what the OC police tell you once you speak with them. It will be helpful to everyone who does want to keep safe while on vacation there.

 

[AngiTN]

Butternut i'm sorry you had to experience this and I appreciate you sharing your story with us. I am always wary of using Uber or even a cab when at Disney and this confirms it more for me. Ignore the doubters because it's really irrelevant to the info in this thread and please come back and let us know what the OC police tell you once you speak with them. It will be helpful to everyone who does want to keep safe while on vacation there.

Yes, please.

 

[AngiTN]

Oh why do that, when you can come on the boards and make up such a grand story. Sorry, not buying it for a minute.

To what gain?

 

[GrrArrgh]

Actually I work in law enforcement and if that situation happened to me I would know how to handle it. I have a hard time believing any of this is true, let alone Orange County law enforcement acting in such a manner, especially with all of the negative outcomes law enforcement is receiving nowadays.

Congrats to you I guess? Most people don't work in law enforcement and many people are quite intimidated by officers, or people posing as officers, especially if they threaten you by placing their hands on their weapon. Geez.

 

[AngiTN]

Actually I work in law enforcement and if that situation happened to me I would know how to handle it. I have a hard time believing any of this is true, let alone Orange County law enforcement acting in such a manner, especially with all of the negative outcomes law enforcement is receiving nowadays.

So you've never had even one officer in your life that can get on a power trip? Not a single one? Thankfully they are rare but you have to know they exist. They are not perfect and they can overstep their bounds at times.

And you have to admit that expecting everyone to handle a stressful encounter like you would is a bit out of line, no? It's great you know what to do and I know what I think I would do in a similar situation but I can't say that I would do it for certain. Clearly someone in law enforcement is going to handle things better than someone who is not, right?

 

[Lehuaann]

Well I'll end my conversation about what happened to us. Most people on this board have been very helpful while some are making a joke about it and think it's an April fools joke. I would like to see how they felt if it happened to them. As far as the decision we made to report to Guest relations, wether it was the right decision or not, is what we did. Can't take that back now. Thanks again to those who really tried to give their best advice on my post.

Op, please ignore the posters who contribute zilch to this discussion. Some people should seriously just click out.

Fwiw, we had our experience many years ago with one particular OCS and an onsite speed trap. Totally our fault for missing the sign, but he behaved like a complete jerk...and trapped guests our entire trip. Fast forward a few years later and that same sheriff was arrested and charged with armed robbery burglary for stealing a kid's cash/purse out of a vehicle at DHS.

I'm in no way suggesting that your sheriff is a thief, but it always comes back to bite individuals when they treat others like dirt.

In your situation, "federal offense" is a big word, and if that was the case, somebody should've been arrested. Then he called you a liar and had his hand on his gun. Imo, it would behoove you to escalate this with the OCSD just for the possible misconduct (intimidation).

 

[lustergirl]

So you've never had even one officer in your life that can get on a power trip? Not a single one? Thankfully they are rare but you have to know they exist. They are not perfect and they can overstep their bounds at times.

And you have to admit that expecting everyone to handle a stressful encounter like you would is a bit out of line, no? It's great you know what to do and I know what I think I would do in a similar situation but I can't say that I would do it for certain. Clearly someone in law enforcement is going to handle things better than someone who is not, right?

Officers get on a power trip, but sorry this story doesn't add up. Here is what I would of did, law enforcement background notwithstanding. I would of immediately called Orange County and verified who this person was. Also I would of started videotaping him immediately. Cell phone use can be very damaging evidence against an individual who oversteps their boundaries. I wouldn't of waited til 12 hours later and especially wouldn't come on here asking for advice. There is a small percentage of police officers who are bad apples, but the majority of officers would of never pulled a stunt like this.

 

[rwdavis2]

So you've never had even one officer in your life that can get on a power trip? Not a single one? Thankfully they are rare but you have to know they exist. They are not perfect and they can overstep their bounds at times.

And you have to admit that expecting everyone to handle a stressful encounter like you would is a bit out of line, no? It's great you know what to do and I know what I think I would do in a similar situation but I can't say that I would do it for certain. Clearly someone in law enforcement is going to handle things better than someone who is not, right?

You tube is full of videos of policemen on power trips/intimidating/not knowing the law.