Brian Cashman has had some tough experiences in 21 years as GM of the New York Yankees, but none as harrowing as what happened to him Friday.
A group of Connecticut police officers drew their guns on Cashman after apparently mistaking him for an armed criminal, according to the New York Post.
Seems that Cashman's white Jeep Wrangler had been stolen last weekend. Although police recovered the vehicle and returned it to him Wednesday, the car was still listed as stolen.
Cashman stopped Friday at a Darien, Connecticut, gas station, and by coincidence, police were on the lookout for a white Jeep believed to be driven by a man who pulled a gun at a local medical office. Police spied Cashman's SUV at the gas station, ran the license plate — which came back as a stolen car — and took action.
Cashman said that as he left the gas station, up to five police cars and six to nine officers stopped his SUV and ordered him out at gunpoint.
“They executed a very tactful interception,” Cashman said (via the Post). He said police warned him not to make any rash movements.
“They’re clearly very professional and trained and they asked me to turn my car off, exit the vehicle, walk backwards towards them … they were executing their duty," he added. "They searched my car, asked for my ID. I explained what was going on.”
One can only imagine the reaction of officers when they learned Cashman's identity, but the situation was defused in about 15 minutes. After that, they escorted him to the police station in Norwalk — where the car had been stolen — so it could be processed for evidence from the theft last weekend.
“I have high respect for all law enforcement," Cashman said. "They do an amazing job whether you’re in Connecticut and New York City — and sometimes unique circumstances can occur.”