Posted on 05/11/2011 8:57:30 AM PDT by The Magical Mischief Tour
John Kurtz, the founder of Orlando Copwatch, was arrested on New Year’s Eve after attempting to videotape a police investigation in public.
Police say he approached them with a camera as an officer was trying to control a domestic violence suspect. Police say he told the officer to “calm down because he was on camera,” according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Police say they ordered him to back off, but Kurtz ignored that command, shoving the officer in the chest instead.
Police say they had no choice but to tackle and arrest him, charging him with battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest without violence and obstructing or opposing a police officer.
Considering that everybody agrees that Kurtz was videotaping that night, it should be easy to prove his innocence or guilt in this case.
The problem is, the videotape and camera have apparently gone missing.
According to Orlando Copwatch’s webpage:
Kurtz’s Video Camera with the evidence on it that would easily clear or condemn him of these charges mysteriously went missing. It was not in Kurtz’s personal effects when he was released from Jail, nor was it entered into evidence. It is unknown what happened to Kurtz’s camera however at best it reflects negligence on the Orlando Police Department for failure to secure evidence, At worst shows absolute corruption and evidence tampering.
(Excerpt) Read more at pixiq.com ...
Last time the cops “lost a camera” in an arrest like this one, another person stepped forward with another video taken of the same incident that showed the cops lied... court ended up tossing the charges, but of course nothing happened to the cops.
I bet you if the video showed what the cops said happened the camera would still be around...
Alex, I’ll take absolute corruption and evidence tampering./s;)
Does anyone think otherwise?
Kurtz was already out on bail in connection with an arrest in November. Police charged Kurtz on Nov. 9 with disorderly conduct after they said he simulated sexual acts on an Orlando police car on Church Street.
All Righty Then.
LOL what a idiot.
The new Charger Hemi squad cars are hot, but not that hot.
it’s becoming so damn predictable.
Double videoing is always smart, the first camera in plain view and recording locally, the second camera hidden and transmitting to redundant, encrypted, hidden storage (even out of country if possible). If something hokey happens to camera 1, then camera 2 can be revealed.
Every citizen who leaves his house is vulnerable to a “disorderly conduct” conviction.
It’s the equivalent of
Sir, did you know you have a tail light out? [SMASH!]
but they make big money and have big benefits and are going to get big pensions...
we can not expect them to protect citizens if dictatorship arrives/continues...
that is why talk of more military pay and benefits and pensions is insane....we don't need a mercenary military like we have a mercenary police corp.
IF the police weren’t breaking the law, they wouldn’t have a problem with being video taped. The fact that police in general have a problem with being taped in public tells me that there is a problem.
I saw somewhere where there’s an app that uploads video to a website from your smartphone as you’re taking it.
Anyone thinking of recording cops needs this service/app.
I saw a demo on John Stossel’s show of a camera tied to a website where the video is automatically fed to the website. They take your phone, the video’s still recorded and even uploaded to your blog.
Orlando may be the only sizable city in the country with the County Sheriff and the ORL Police Chief married to each other. The Demmings. Actually, she just resigned after a mere 2 years—to take time to determine how she will “continue to serve the community.”
Police say they ordered him to back off, but Kurtz ignored that command, shoving the officer in the chest instead.
AFAIK, videotaping is a non-contact sport. Shoving the cop is what might get the dude 6 years behind bars, not the videotaping.
That's the point that far too many Freepers go sailing right past as they wade into these discussions in total defense of the US Gestapo... too many times these videos show the exact opposite of what the cops claim happened and end up with the charges dropped and the cops under investigation...
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