A man exercising his First Amendment right to film in public was confronted by police who proceeded to interrogate, search, handcuff and detain him in what appears to be a blatant violation of his civil rights.
The man, who goes by the handle The Battousai on Youtube, routinely conducts what he terms First Amendment audits to ensure police around Central Texas are upholding their fellow citizens constitutional rights.
Last Tuesday, while filming a police substation in North Austin, the activist was approached by three uniformed Austin police officers who demanded to know what he was up to.
The activist, in accordance with his right to remain silent, refused to answer any questions, further aggravating the officers.
The reason were out on you is you caused kind of a scare up here, so were trying to figure out whats going on so you videotaping for a reason? Or whats going on? one officer stammers out.
Absent of justification, the officers begin insisting the man identify himself.
Am I doing anything illegal, the man filming asks, to which one plainclothes cop says, Yes, before quickly correcting himself and saying, No youre not doing anything illegal, but based on your suspicious activity were gonna go ahead and ID you.
Despite refusing to consent to a search, police begin to frisk him.
He can either provide us his information willingly or we can do it through the ID section downtown, the plainclothes officer, identified as Shurley 4895 in the Youtube description, states.
I know youre used to this going one way based on the Youtube education youve gotten, but thats not how we do it, the officer states, as the activist asserts hes filming in a public area.
Astonishingly, after handcuffing the suspect, one of the cops continues to place the mans camera in ideal filming locations.
The suspect then spends nearly 20 minutes in the front seat of a squad car as police conduct their investigation into his identity, all the while being berated by officers hellbent on forcing his compliance.
Following his release from temporary captivity, the man films lines on his wrist indicative of tight handcuffs.
In the videos comment section, the activist says hes currently seeking a local attorney.
Poster comment:
Judging by the video, the guy doing the recording appears to be at least 30 YARDS away, and is behind a fence.
There is no possible way he could be "interfering" with the police, yet the mere possession of a recording device pointed at them by a serf is now considered "suspicious" by today's cops in the Amerikan Police State.
Departments, nationwide are watching their departments, buildings and grounds for suspicious activity or anyone filmng or watching the habits of personnel on premises from either ISIS or local nut cases. If you decide to film a police headquarters, EXPECT TO BE INTERROGATED and possibly handcuffed and detained while being interrogated.
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
If you decide to film a police headquarters, EXPECT TO BE INTERROGATED
Uh - look again jagoff - the guy was was NOT recording a building.
In any case, the video taping of PUBLIC buildings is NOT illegal, as much as you and the other jack-boots would like it to be.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
I didn't watch the video... I'm unsure how LE treated the "activist".... but I know departments nationwide are sensitive about anyone lurking around them.
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy