By Emily Wood & Associated Press
 
March 12, 2010
 
MEDFORD, Ore. -- A Medford man whose firearms were seized by police when he was taken into protective custody this week is seeking legal advice.
 
On Friday, the five firearms were returned to David J. Pyles, this after he sent an e-mail to Medford Police Thursday.
 
Pyles bought three of the guns after he was placed on administrative leave last Thursday from his job with the Oregon Department of Transportation. The firearms were taken from him when a SWAT team and negotiators descended on his home early Monday morning and he was taken into custody. Police say they seized the weapons after they received information from Oregon State Police that Pyles could be dangerous to others.
 
Once in custody, Pyles was taken to the Rogue Valley Medical Center for a mental health check.
 
"This is not uncommon. This is reasonable. This is what police agencies do to diffuse potentially volatile situations," Medford Police Deputy Chief Tim George said.
 
"To justify my being taken away in handcuffs, forced off my property, my real property as a Medford resident, as a citizen of Jackson County and a United States citizen, legal and all respect, it is most troubling what happened to me on Monday," Pyles said.
 
Pyles has contacted the Oregon Firearms Federation for possible legal assistance.
 
Police say Pyles purchased a Heckler & Koch .45-caliber handgun, a Walther .380-caliber handgun and an AK-47 rifle after being placed on leave. Police also confiscated two others guns from his property.