WSB-TV
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A local businessman is outraged after being thrown in jail for loitering and carrying a gun on his own property.
Eric Lee, who owns a furniture story on Covington Highway in Lithonia, says thieves have targeted him several times.
“They recommended us have a gun. The police officer said the crime rate is one of the worst,” Lee told Channel 2’s Rachel Stockman.
So he bought a gun and also got a concealed carry permit.
One night, Lee went outside to check on some people making noise on his property.
“They (the police) just pulled in and said, ‘What is going on? What is going on? Hands up, Anybody have any weapon?’ I said I have a gun. They just grabbed me, took my gun and threw me in the car,” Lee said.
Lee said he told the officer he had the permit on him. He was cited for loitering and his truck was towed from his private property.
In a police report, an officer wrote: “While taking Mr. Lee into custody, I could smell a strong smell of an alcoholic beverage.’
Lee said the odor was from the homeless people on his property who were taken into custody next to him. He said they were so drunk they were throwing up.
A judge dismissed the case at his initial appearance and apologized. For more than a year, Lee has been trying to get his gun back, get an apology from police and get reimbursed for the cost of getting his car towed.
