Uniformed North Carolina Deputy Rejected from Jewelry Store for Duty Weapon

A deputy with the Iredell County (NC) Sheriff's Office was turned away from a national jewelry store chain as he attempted to pick up his fiancé's engagement ring. The reason: the uniformed law enforcement officer was wearing his duty weapon.

Sheriff Darren Campbell posted on Facebook Wednesday, "The Iredell County Sheriff's Office, along with Sheriff Darren Campbell, are deeply saddened at a situation involving a fellow deputy yesterday in Statesville."

The post continued, "A uniformed deputy, while on his lunch break, was notified the engagement ring he had purchased for his upcoming wedding proposal, had been sized and was ready for him to pick up."

The deputy took his meal break to pick up the ring, and was met at the door by the store manager, who informed him he was not allowed to wear his service weapon while on their premises.

The deputy informed the manager he was in uniform and his marked patrol car was in the parking lot, and it would be a violation of policy for him to remove his service weapon while in uniform.

The manager stated the deputy would need to return to the store at a different time when he was not armed. The deputy left the store, without the ring he had purchased.

The jewelry chain has since apologized for the actions of the store manager.