Lake Mary Chief of Police Has Concerns About Zimmerman

NBC News reports that  Steve Bracknell, Police Chief of Lake Mary, Florida, has concerns about George Zimmerman being able to legally have guns.  “I’m a small-town police chief. If I had the authority to revoke his firearm license, I would certainly sit down and consider that,” Steve Bracknell, the chief of police in Lake Mary, said during a telephone interview with NBC News.

“Does anyone else except me see a pattern?” Bracknell continued. “The word firearm keeps popping up.”

It certainly does.

After the verdict of not guilty, all evidence was retained by the Department of Justice who is conducting investigation into whether George Zimmerman violated Trayvon Martin’s civil rights.  That evidence includes the gun that Zimmerman used to kill unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, and the holster.  However, Zimmerman’s conceal carry license was restored to him.

The first we heard about Zimmerman and the word “firearm” after the verdict of not guilty, was from The Buckeye Firearms Foundation in Ohio.  They raised more than $12,000 for Zimmerman to purchase a gun and for other security.

Shortly thereafter, we hear that Zimmerman was stopped for speeding in Forney, TX and told the cop that he had a gun in the glove compartment.

Subsequently, Shellie Zimmerman entered a plea of guilty for perjury, serving one year of probation, fines, and 100 hours of community service.  According to conditions of probation, she cannot have neither be around guns.   Shellie later filed for divorce, and moved out of the home she shared with George.

Attorney Kelly Sims with Shellie Zimmerman in court.

According to Kelly Sims, Shellie Zimmerman’s attorney, on Monday, September 9, 2012, Shellie went to that house to recover some property and discovered a box for a shoulder holster.  George was known to carry his gun on his hip, but this alerted Shellie that he was now carrying on his shoulder.  When George appeared at the house unexpected, his shirt was partially unbuttoned from the top, which Sims says is unusual for George.  When things became heated, George reached into his shirt as though he was going to pull a gun.

It reminds me of what Zimmerman said about Trayvon putting his hand in his waistband.  George knows what threatening or intimidating motions are, and he was captured on camera making such a motion.

Chief Bracknell has stated that there were guns in George Zimmerman’s truck, but “We did not have the authority to search his truck. “

What can law enforcement possibly do in this situation?    Even if a gun was found on Zimmerman, without actual proof that he threatened to use it, the police would not have been able to make an arrest.  Lake Mary police have actual proof in the video that captured Zimmerman putting his hand into his shirt, while taking an offensive stance just before opening Shellie’s iPad and then throwing it to the ground.  In the video, Wesley, George’s friend and bodyguard, is seen placing his hand on George’s shoulder as though to calm him down. However, George did not actually show the gun, and by the time that police arrived, he had apparently ditched it in his truck, knowing that the police had no authority to search it.

With George Zimmerman knowing the law, including self-defense law, and how to set up the perfect story and situation so he is not arrested, law enforcement have their hands tied.

Although attorney Mark O’Mara showed up on the scene Monday, his office later stated that they are not representing George Zimmerman on this matter, neither the divorce.

In the meantime, because of her probation, Shellie cannot have a gun to defend herself.