Man records police arresting his friend; gets arrested himself

[AllDayXL]

If the police felt that the actions of the filmer were interfering with their job and making the situation more difficult, then I say an arrest is OK. BUT, and this is a big but... police and law enforcement should not have a right to erase the video. Taking the camera/phone/video recorder? Ok. But erasing the info? Not OK. The device should have been held until a judge and lawyers made a decision about wheter or not it is OK to delete the info on it. Once a device gets into the hands of law enforcement it becomes state property. And if you tamper with it then that is against the law. It would be like police confiscating drugs but then burning the drugs or flushing them down the toilet at the police station. The drugs are evidence AND state property and police have no right to destroy anything.

Not sure about judges/lawyers and or state officials being able to delete a citizens video either. Its either use it as part of a ongoing court case, use in a ongoing investigation, or release to the original owner, or if part of a classified ongoing investigation(federal type) it could be locked up for many years. Any deletion creates the illusion of government wrong doing even if it wasn't there.

[jorbaud]

As long as you are in a public place filming and photography should be allow. When someone is arrested in a private place they would need approval from whoever owns the property.

[Humility]

I think unfounded slander is wrong period, whether against law enforcement or against a normal person. It causes actual damage and the results of the slander should be tried on a case by case basis. If the slander ruins a man's career, that man should have the right to sue. Though I draw the line at making it criminal, there is a fine line between slander and simple misinformation, also making it criminal violates freedom of speech.

Essentially, Slander should be tried civilly not criminally.

As or the videos, I think they handled it wrong, but its understandable.

The problem is I can't think of any good way to handle this, ideally they would have film themselves, but that is impossible. Even the grainy, black and white kind would be too much, best they could do is putt the grainy black and white kind in their cars, but thats not going to help them if they have to chase a guy down.

People should have the right to videotape it, but they shouldn't be allowed to post it if its slanderous, but they shouldn't be charged criminally if they do.

[Mistress Kitti]

There have been three recent incidences in my area causing controversy in regards to the actions of the officer(s) involved. *In order of occurance*
Surveillance Video Recorded (Nov 2008):
Prosecutors won't pursue another trial against former King County Sheriff's Deputy in connection with a jail cell incident caught on tape.
Sheriff Deputy's first two trials on a fourth-degree assault charge ended in hung juries.
Surveillance video showed the Deputy knocking down the 15-year-old girl in a holding cell in November 2008.
In January, a jury was deadlocked 11-1 to convict, and last Thursday the jury was split 11-1 to acquit, the King County Prosecutor's Office said.
The Prosecutor's Office said that "given that two juries were unable to reach a unanimous verdict, which requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, prosecutors believe that a third trial is unwarranted."
The incident was caught on a SeaTac jail surveillance video and led to the fourth-degree assault charge. The Deputy also was fired last year for using excessive force.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl67F...layer_embedded

Freelance Cameraman Recorded Incident (Apr 2010):
Internal affairs detectives have launched a review after seeing a racially charged videotape of two Seattle police officers stomping on an innocent detainee.
http://www.kirotv.com/video/23482801/

Friend's Cell Phone (June 2010):
http://www.kirotv.com/video/23913876/
Controversy Grows Over Officer Seen Punching Woman In Face
June 15, 2010
SEATTLE -- More information has been released about what led up to an officer seen on video punching a young woman in the face during a scuffle on Monday.
Leaders of several community groups said the officer overreacted and that the punch was "wrong."
According to probable cause documents, 19-year-old and a 17-year-old girl were in a group of four people who had jaywalked to get to their friend.
Officer approached the group and was attempting to gather information when the 19-year-old began walking away, documents stated.
He said to her, "You have jaywalked and you are required to identify yourself so that I can issue a citation, if you refuse you will be arrested for obstruction." The 19-year-old continued to walk away, the officer said.
At this time, a witness started recording video of the scene.
The Officer walked up to the 19-year-old and grabbed her arm and attempted to handcuff her.
"The 19-year-old began twisting around and pull away in an attempt to get away," documents said.
The officer gave her a verbal commanded to stop resisting, but "The 19-year-old ignored those commands and continued to struggle with the Officer," documents said.
As the Officer was handcuffing the 19-year-old, the 17-year-old girl ran up behind the Officer and pushed him.
"The Officer found himself struggling with two people," documents said. Police said the struggle lasted for approximately two to three minutes.
Video showed the Officer throwing a punch and hitting the 17-year-old girl.
Documents said the 17-year-old girl complained of a sore spot on her face, but declined medical aid.
The 19-year-old was handcuffed and booked into the Youth Services Center for investigation of felony assault.
The 19-year-old was pulled away by witnesses, documents said. She was arrested and booked into jail for obstructing a police officer.
The News Team found court records that show the 19-year-old has been arrested for assaulting a police officer before. According to court documents, the 19-year-old kicked a sheriff's deputy in the stomach while she resisted arrest. She was living in the center last year in the care of Child Protective Services.
Acting Deputy Police Chief said the Police Department's Office of Professional Accountability is investigating the incident.
Acting Deputy Police Chief said at a news conference Tuesday the department is withholding judgment until the OPA investigation is complete.
"Force never looks good. It's never pretty," acting Deputy Police Chief said. But he also noted, "We do have a number of concerns about the tactics the officer used and employed at the time."
"We do train in the use of punching," acting Deputy Police Chief said, noting he was not commenting on Monday's incident.
The acting Deputy Police Chief said the two women who were stopped for jaywalking bear much of the responsibility for the incident for not cooperating and resisting arrest.
In a news conference carried live, Seattle Urban League CEO called the punch an overreaction that recalled the kicking two officers delivered to a Hispanic suspect in an April 17 incident caught on video. *noted above*
"The provocation of the 19-year-old may have presented a confrontation situation, but the use of violence in the form of a full-blown fist to the face was wrong," Seattle Urban League CEO said. "We thought that they (police) would learn their lesson about the overreaction of a non-violent situation based on the recent incidents of a Hispanic youth a month ago."
The president of the Seattle NAACP, said he is shocked that interim Seattle Police Chief is a finalist for the job of Seattle police chief.
"We have someone who is willing to hide the dirty deeds of his department," The president of the Seattle NAACP said. "He is not prepared to protect the people at the expense of the union."
The president of the Seattle NAACP said the Seattle Police Chief should "step away based on this incident and so many others on his own."
"At this stage, that would be the dignified thing to do," the president of the Seattle NAACP said.
"There is no way you can tell me for one moment this officer was trained to behave that way," said the Reverend of the Mount Calvary Christian Center.
"She was resisting arrest, but there is no way she, in anyway, had his life threatened," the Reverend said.
The 19-year-old girl appeared in juvenile court Tuesday and the judge released her to the custody of her state-appointed guardians pending a filing decision on charges.
She is a foster child who lives in a home for at-risk youth. She is expected to graduate from high school on Saturday.
"I just want them to know that this is good kid in a bad situation. It could be your kid, it could be your son, your daughter. Would you want the police hitting them?" said the 17-year-old?s guardian.
The teen will be back in court next week.
The 17-year-old is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.

[Humility]

That third one is certainly stupid. Two people at once? What was he supposed to do? Wrestle them both to the ground? That would have hurt both the women more then a punch.

[Elusive_Death]

I would just like to say that, I have worked for my local Police Station and know alot of the things that go on. For Example most people dont know this but once an officer puts on a Police Uniform his peace can no longer be disturbed meaning, The officer loses rights as soon as the uniform is on. U can swear at an officer yell at an officer and say things of that nature. So filming an arrest or recording one is not illegal. as an officer cannot complain about his rights being abused.