I was an Apple Valley, Minnesota cop assigned to work undercover narcotics.
I had an undercover vehicle. I believed no one would know if I drove to Farmington for a dental appointment during the
workday. At the appointmnet the dentist awarded me with a new green toothbrush for having a good checkup.
While driving back to the office I heard a police radio
broadcast that a man had just interrupted three men burglarizing the man's Apple Valley home. The description of the
suspects and their getaway car, including the license number, were broadcast. The car was at that very moment stopped
at a red traffic light .... immediately in front of me!
By radioing a request for an uniformed officer in a marked
squad to make a felony-style stop I learned the closest officer was about seven minutes away. The area the
suspects would soon approach would make it easy for them to flee. I decided to make the felony stop by myself and
hold them at gunpoint until the backup officers arrived. Ther was only one flaw with that plan. I had my gun somewhere
in the car .... I just wasn't certain exactly where it was. I had placed it under my driver's seat days ago but
I just wasn't sure I could find it amidst all of the fast food bags and other assorted trash I had collected while
doing extended surveillances in the car the past few days. I felt around for the gun, to no avail, while following the
burglary suspects vehicle.
My 'brilliant' plan - soon to be executed - was to start
the trffic stop and then, while climbing out of the car to take cover behind the open driver's door, I could quickly reach
under the seat and find the gun. I activted the grill and dash red lights to stop the vehcle. When the suspects
stopped I took cover behind the driver's door. I aimed directly at the suspects with my left hand holding the only
'weapon' I had ... my shiny new green toothbrush! Meanwhile I frantically felt for my gun under the seat with my right
hand. Prior to finding my gun I was barking out orders for the suspects to show me their hands and they complied.
Little did they know they were being held at 'toothbrush point.' Just another example of professional policing ....
Clark Griswald style! 
