Bad incident on our trip

[wilkeliza]

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.

That is great advice for future reference but clearly the OP was shaken up having had an officer come to the window with their hand on their weapon and being hostile. I would like to say I would do similar as you but the 1 and only time I have ever pulled over I instantly started sobbing so I can't be fully confident that I wouldn't be scared out of my mind if I was pulled over at Disney of all places.

Also to the whole golf cart thing. Lets be honest if it is blue and red lights it doesn't matter if it is a golf cart or a police car (we have those little golf cart style police cars here in NYC) I'm going to pull over because that is what you do. It doesn't matter if I think I can out run the darn thing.

 

[rwdavis2]

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.

How willing are the good cops to try and weed out the bad ones? Here in Baltimore the good ones were ostracized,intimidated, and ignore by their superiors.

 

[lustergirl]

How willing are the good cops to try and weed out the bad ones? Here in Baltimore the good ones were ostracized,intimidated, and ignore by their superiors.

Yes it is a difficult situation in Baltimore. It is unfortunate because the good cops experience such trouble. These good cops stand up for what is right and may help in an investigation by speaking out against the bad apples.

 

[AngiTN]

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.

I agree 100%.
And I also agree that the story is a wild one and hard to believe can happen but at the same time, I can't imagine why OP would make it up. There is nothing to be gained and it's one of those that is so unbelievable I do believe it. If that makes sense.
Right now, sitting safely at my desk at work I too like to think I would do the same as you. That said, what I would do in the middle of the situation, may be very different. I know my heart races and I experience a moment of panic when I am confronted by an officer, even if I've done nothing more than drive too fast. And that's with them treating me without intimidation. Having one being intimidating all bets are off

 

[lustergirl]

I agree 100%.
And I also agree that the story is a wild one and hard to believe can happen but at the same time, I can't imagine why OP would make it up. There is nothing to be gained and it's one of those that is so unbelievable I do believe it. If that makes sense.
Right now, sitting safely at my desk at work I too like to think I would do the same as you. That said, what I would do in the middle of the situation, may be very different. I know my heart races and I experience a moment of panic when I am confronted by an officer, even if I've done nothing more than drive too fast. And that's with them treating me without intimidation. Having one being intimidating all bets are off

I agree: that would be a scary situation.

 

[kamik86]

DLgal, you've posed a VERY interesting scenario--perhaps the driver accidentally ventured onto SoG property. I stand corrected and agree 100%--given the relatively close proximity between SoG and GF, this is entirely plausible. This, I think, is the only scenario where the (however harsh and dramatic) actions that the "sheriff" took might be warranted.

Even that would be weird...

Lets just say I once when I was supposed to be picking up a badge went to the wrong gate of a much more secure miltary base. I expected to see the place to get a badge just outside the gate but I was at the wrong gate so it wasn't there. However once you get on the road there isn't anywhere to go so I ended up right up at the gate.

What did the marine do? He stopped traffic for a moment to give me the space to back up, after explaining how to get to the right gate.

So unless the person like paniced and ran through the gate or hit it I highly doubt even going on to SOG would get that type of response. Maybe from one over zealous cop but not from a whole department where you couldn't report it.

 

[bumbershoot]

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.

When people are saying there was a gate they weren't saying you HIT the gate, but that there WAS a gate to get out from the GF. There absolutely is. You would have had to stop at the gate that was down (and from what I recall there's wording to STOP there too) to go up. So there was a gate that existed. That's why people are saying there was a gate.

As for pulling out your phone...I've seen many mentions *by police officers* or departments in their official capacities telling us to do just that. If we are in doubt, say "wait, I need to call 911 because I'm nervous", and a real cop is supposed to respect that.

Having the window down and having the person asking questions doesn't mean that everyone has to answer. I was pulled over for speeding once with a couple other people in the car, and only I, the driver, answered questions. He was looking at my passengers, but they knew that their place was to be quiet and my place was to be the question-answerer.

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.

So there's one person that I can see who is actively thinking you're not telling the truth, and all the rest of us are trying to help you, and you're reacting to the one person?

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.

But you are assuming that this dude was, in fact, law enforcement. Some of us don't actually believe that. Hence the suggestions to call them, make a complaint, etc, so they can see if in fact this was one of their people. The OP described him as "elderly" at one point; are most active law enforcement people still active by the time they could be described as "elderly"?

To what gain?

OK on the other side of things, people make stuff up for online postings all the time. During my wedding planning days (which lasted a very unfortunate nearly 3 years of never-ending engagement) I saw it multiple times. Who knows why they did it, but they did it.

And of course anyone with a weird story to talk about has to combat that. For anyone with a difficult story to deal with there's the echo of some big months-long lie someone online told in the background...during those 3 years of wedding planning I did I saw a few instances of the following story: newly engaged woman, so happy! weird symptoms. Oh know, a dread diagnosis. Better! Worse. Better! Worse. Better get married FAST, just in case. Married! silence... Devastated new husband announcing the wife's death. Then somehow, somewhere in there there was ALWAYS a request for money (even before gofundme). And then the internet detectives would find the IP addresses and work it out and find this person posting (as the wife) on other boards, running the same scam. Anyone who has been taken in by that; whether they are taken in financially or just emotionally can be hardened to other weird stories.

For me I tend to believe and behave as though it's real. I don't give money, though, not unless it's something in the paper and there's a good reason the person didn't insurance to cover the costs.


In this case, I don't believe that the sheriff was a sheriff. And I want the OP to contact the police and find out what the heck that was all about.

 

[china mom]

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 for stealing a kid's cash/purse out of a vehicle at DHS.

Gotta cry foul on this statement. It is either an armed robbery (taking something from a person by force or threat of force) or it is a theft (taking property from the vehicle). It is a personal pet peeve when the two terms are mixed and mingled.

 

[DrunkJam]

I hope the OP comes back to update.
Such a thing must be exceptionally scary.

 

[china mom]

I am going to suggest that this was some sort of security guard because of two things...the description of the officer as "elderly" and the use of the term "Federal Offense". First off, elderly patrol officers are a rare sight. It is a young man's game. Most older people I have known in law enforcement have been at the command staff level and not on patrol.

Local officers do not enforce Federal Laws and most don't know federal laws verbatim not care about them. In my 30+yers in the Law Enforcement field, I have never uttered nor heard the phrase "its a Federal Offense" uttered in such a scenario.

Yes, we are well versed in which crimes to punt to the feds (mail fraud, bank robbery and a few others) but if I pull someone over, it is going to be for a local crime. Sounds like an over zealous security officer to me.

And people, please do not be overly intimidated by a hand resting on the butt of a holstered gun. That may just be the officer's stance and means nothing. Policing where I policed, I NEVER approached a vehicle after dark without my hand on the butt of my gun. And in certain circumstances, it would even be upholstered and in my hand (discretely).

 

[AngiTN]

OK on the other side of things, people make stuff up for online postings all the time. During my wedding planning days (which lasted a very unfortunate nearly 3 years of never-ending engagement) I saw it multiple times. Who knows why they did it, but they did it.

And of course anyone with a weird story to talk about has to combat that. For anyone with a difficult story to deal with there's the echo of some big months-long lie someone online told in the background...during those 3 years of wedding planning I did I saw a few instances of the following story: newly engaged woman, so happy! weird symptoms. Oh know, a dread diagnosis. Better! Worse. Better! Worse. Better get married FAST, just in case. Married! silence... Devastated new husband announcing the wife's death. Then somehow, somewhere in there there was ALWAYS a request for money (even before gofundme). And then the internet detectives would find the IP addresses and work it out and find this person posting (as the wife) on other boards, running the same scam. Anyone who has been taken in by that; whether they are taken in financially or just emotionally can be hardened to other weird stories.

Oh, I realize folks make up stuff on line all the time. In those cases I do see where folks gain something by posting made up stories, usually money is involved somewhere. I was thinking more in this particular case. The OP has nothing to gain by posting an outrageous made up story. Unless I'm missing something.

 

[Lehuaann]

Gotta cry foul on this statement. It is either an armed robbery (taking something from a person by force or threat of force) or it is a theft (taking property from the vehicle). It is a personal pet peeve when the two terms are mixed and mingled.

I meant armed burglary. He was on duty with a weapon (Orange County Sheriff's Office deputy was arrested Tuesday and charged with armed burglary...)

Robbery, burglary...still a jerk.

 

[kamik86]

I am going to suggest that this was some sort of security guard because of two things...the description of the officer as "elderly" and the use of the term "Federal Offense". First off, elderly patrol officers are a rare sight. It is a young man's game. Most older people I have known in law enforcement have been at the command staff level and not on patrol.

Local officers do not enforce Federal Laws and most don't know federal laws verbatim not care about them. In my 30+yers in the Law Enforcement field, I have never uttered nor heard the phrase "its a Federal Offense" uttered in such a scenario.

Yes, we are well versed in which crimes to punt to the feds (mail fraud, bank robbery and a few others) but if I pull someone over, it is going to be for a local crime. Sounds like an over zealous security officer to me.

And people, please do not be overly intimidated by a hand resting on the butt of a holstered gun. That may just be the officer's stance and means nothing. Policing where I policed, I NEVER approached a vehicle after dark without my hand on the butt of my gun. And in certain circumstances, it would even be upholstered and in my hand (discretely).

A few people on base made me nervous until I realized that some just tended to rest there hand there.

Like the guy that walks up with his hand on his gun and says "Well guys I got bad news..." (yeah he was just telling us the guy with the key to let us start work was going to be 30 min late)

 

[mickey2minnie1]

I hope she comes back to us. What a scare!

 

[scrapquitler]

I haven't read the entire thread, but here's one thought that I have: If I had been paying Uber for this ride, I would certainly be calling them up and asking for a refund. Regardless of what happened, I'm not expecting to pay to have the pants scared off of me by whatever the driver may have done while I was in the car or previously causing us to be pulled over like this. If Uber didn't refund me, I'd be addressing it with my credit card company because my expectation would be that they would stand by THIS, which their website says:
From start to finish, a ride you can trust
Your safety is important to us before, during, and after every trip. That’s why we continue to develop technology that helps make millions of rides safer every day.

ANd what the OP experienced certainly would not have made me feel safe in any way whatsoever.

 

[disneynutz]

Obviously we don't know all of the facts. The Orange County Sheriffs do not patrol the roads on a golf cart or a utility cart. Did something happen prior to the pick up? Did the driver GPS blind venture to a restricted space? Was a VIP in the area requiring additional security?

We will never know.

Bill

 

[wulfgeat]

No idea on the OP, but I have known people who as the saying goes "would rather climb a tree and lie than stand on the ground and tell the truth." There does not have to be a gain.

 

[Sammie]

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.

You would have definitely known if the gate had been hit leaving the property, but there are gates going and coming. In this video you can see the entrance gate, and the Guard shack and the exit gate is the same kind without a guard shack. You would have to go through both to enter the Grand Floridian and to leave. I am sorry this happened to you and would definitely notify Disney guest services.

 

[GrrArrgh]

Could we just assume that people who report mistreatment are telling the truth? Most people don't bother saying anything, which doesn't help them or anyone else it might happen to. Clearly it was a confusing situation for the OP and she's less familiar with the inner workings of WDW, the Grand Floridan, and the police than many here claim to be. I hope she keeps pushing Guest Services for an explanation. I don't think the police will care, but I live in an area where only in-progress violent crimes get any police attention.

 

[Sammie]

Could we just assume that people who report mistreatment are telling the truth? Most people don't bother saying anything, which doesn't help them or anyone else it might happen to. Clearly it was a confusing situation for the OP and she's less familiar with the inner workings of WDW, the Grand Floridan, and the police than many here claim to be. I hope she keeps pushing Guest Services for an explanation. I don't think the police will care, but I live in an area where only in-progress violent crimes get any police attention.

I agree. I also think though if she is going to talk to Guest Services and explain what happened and states there were No Gates, then Disney is not going to believe she was at the Grand Floridian as it is impossible to enter and leave without going through gates. If she means they did not HIT the gate that is very different from saying there was no gate.