Posted on 02/27/2014 6:47:27 AM PST by servo1969
A chilling video of Maryland police silencing an innocent student who was recording the arrests of two other people has civil libertarians outraged.
The arrests were made at night on the streets of Towson, Maryland. A University of Maryland-Baltimore County student who witnessed the arrests decided to record them using his cell phone. The student, 21-year-old Sergio Gutierrez, was soon approached by officers who objected — wrongly — to his actions.
Gutierrez repeatedly told the officers that he knew he had the right to film them, but the cops were prepared to use any excuse to shut him down. First they told him that he was hampering their investigation, even though he was standing well enough away while the arrests were being made.
Still, the student maintained that he was in the right.
“I am allowed to film,” said Gutierrez.
The cops told him that he was diverting their attention and that he had to leave. When Gutierrez persisted, they told him that he would be arrested if he did not stop recording.
“I thought I had freedom of speech here,” he said.
The cop’s answer? “You don’t. You just lost it. Walk away and keep your mouth shut.”
Police shoved Gutierrez, told him to “shut your f---ing mouth,” and eventually forced him to leave the area.
Many of the people who watched the video were disturbed by the officers’ behavior. So too was the Baltimore County police department, which has launched an investigation, according to WBALTV-11.
Gutierrez told local news that he was glad he recorded the incident. Police may have acted even worse if they knew the camera was off, he said.
[video]
Do you have a version WITHOUT the music?
I can barely hear what everyone’s saying.
Yeah, but not so much anymore.
Not in this economy.
The proper way to run law enforcement is as it has always been. Moderately low pay with little advancement. Fill it with young men who work it for a few years and then get out. Nothing else is financially viable.
The people who could be persuaded that another path could be viable are responsible for our unfunded public pension mess. And only those people. All of them. No exceptions even if they are Freepers.
We knew the math back in the seventies. Politicians promised someday the money to pay for all these increasing numbers of lifelong government workers would materialize. Idiots from both major parties were foolish enough to believe an obvious lie because they wanted it to be true.
It sounds so desirable. How can something that sounds so reasonable be wrong?
Because of math. Math doesn’t care. Math has no mercy.
This message has been brought to you by unpleasant reality.
Cops don’t mind being photographed for the show “Cops” and similar documentaries.The obvious reason is that they have “creative control” over what segments will air, and they’re usually on their good behavior while on camera. Any misconduct will hit the cutting room floor, to borrow a phrase from the movies.
Or perhaps the cop thought that the cameraman was about to rush him. Cell phone cameras are blunt instruments, and can do great damage close-quarters.
I think we all ought to applaud the cop for showing great restraint in not shooting the cameraman, or any dogs that happened to be nearby.
Thanks for posting that informative article. Covers most things that could happen if a citizen thinks of recording an incident involving officers of the law.
I am pretty sure that cops are overpaid no matter what you pay them.
bingo
So why should a State pay any attention to a federal judge who nullifies their marriage laws or any other law or amendment to their State's Constitution? "Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander'.
So true. I've always said the left is math-impaired. They're not so hot on any of the hard sciences, in fact.
The guy doing the recording should have told the cop that he was just ignoring any law that supposedly forbids his actions. Just like Obama does. Works for him doesn’t it? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
We need sensible cops, we don’t need jackbooted Stasi.
You just did defend him. This cop is now a felon. Did you even read the Statute I cited?
Cops have no respect anymore.
I’m reminded of this scene from A Clockwork Orange, when Alex encounters his former friends who were now policemen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZQOBLqinQk
If you're standing on a crime scene and cops are fighting with a suspect can you be moved fomr the area for your safety? And if you turn into a little punk with an iPhone and won't leave, then it's on you. Now the cops have to deal with wide-eyed (propbably drunk) gawkers who want a cool video while the other cops are rolling around with the suspect.
Again, I'm not defending the cops words and tactics. I'm saying he had a duty to do what he did. He just did it in the absolute wrong way.
Do you heat your home with CO2?
Regards,
In a just world the cop would lose his job and pension.
no, you are merely defending the tactics used...
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