ABC News reporter arrested, handcuffed, hauled to jail

[JeffL]

...for taking some footage out on the sidewalk? For anyone here who may be at the convention - are their laws against filming on the sidewalks?

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Conventions/story?id=5668622&page=1

[NoWayJose]

You're allowed to shoot anywhere you want that isn't private property. However, when the police tell you to stop shooting, you're supposed to do that, too.

[Anaxagoras]

...for taking some footage out on the sidewalk? For anyone here who may be at the convention - are their laws against filming on the sidewalks?

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Conventions/story?id=5668622&page=1

what. the. fuck.

[Dirt]

In some cities, the sidewalks are owned by the company that owns the building it's next to.

[magnet]

In general, you can freely photograph or record people who are in public places (like sidewalks), but you can't aim your camera into a place where there is "an expectation of privacy". The location of the subject, not the photographer, is the issue (assuming the photographer was not already trespassing before he started taking pictures).

In a sense, the camera extends the armreach of the photographer - so don't point it where it doesn't belong. You can break the law even if you shoot pictures from inside your own home.

[Sebmojo]

You're allowed to shoot anywhere you want that isn't private property. However, when the police tell you to stop shooting, you're supposed to do that, too.

Really? How about if you're not breaking any laws?

[Lunch of Kong]

Really? How about if you're not breaking any laws?

Unless you are ordered to do something illegal, you do it. Follow the cop's order, even if he/she is mistaken, and file a complaint afterward.

It is pretty useless to get into an argument with a cop who is making up his or her own rules.

[Sol Invictus]

The CEO of Zooomr, Thomas Hawk, has a number of nasty run-ins with overzealous security guards who seem to think that the constitution doesn't apply to them. If you look through his blog (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthomashawk.com%2F&ei=LwC2SKOrIYSq6wPF4tWkCA&usg=AFQjCNG8whGqB1Yyh_QIsktnckLFTxtwdQ&sig2=2wW013xmKmoju96i0fYSog) you can see many such incidences where he was physically accosted for taking photographs even though it was well within his rights to photograph buildings from the sidewalk and things like that.

I don't know if the laws regarding this are different over in Denver as they are in San Francisco, but they shouldn't be. But if the Hotel owns the sidewalk (which they likely do) then the police were operating well within the law when they made the arrests.

[Lh'owon]

I don't know if the laws regarding this are different over in Denver as they are in San Francisco, but they shouldn't be. But if the Hotel owns the sidewalk (which they likely do) then the police were operating well within the law when they made the arrests.

I find the idea of "owning" a sidewalk somewhat bizarre. Does that mean every time you walk past the building you're on private property?

And what's to stop you stepping off the sidewalk into the gutter/side of road? Wouldn't that make it a public place (providing you aren't blocking traffic)?

Not that I understand the issue with people taking photographs of buildings. I mean, really. It's a building.

[Uncle Larry]

I wonder if the AP version will include the following details:
A cigar-smoking Denver police sergeant, accompanied by a team of five other officers, first put his hands on Eslocker's neck, then twisted the producers arm behind him to put on handcuffs.

[...]

During the arrest, one of the officers can be heard saying to Eslocker, "You're lucky I didn't knock the f..k out of you."

No indication of what 4-letter words he had tattooed across his knuckles, which is a surprising omission. Also:

Eslocker and his ABC News colleagues are spending the week investigating the role of corporate lobbyists and wealthy donors at the convention for a series of Money Trail reports on ABC World News with Charles Gibson.

The part where Robert Redford gets too close to the truth :(

[Anti-Bunny]

Unless you are ordered to do something illegal, you do it. Follow the cop's order, even if he/she is mistaken, and file a complaint afterward.

It is pretty useless to get into an argument with a cop who is making up his or her own rules.

Or, alternatively, go to jail willingly, and let the judge throw it out and reprimand the officer... which is what I hope will happen.

[wildpokerman]

Unless you are ordered to do something illegal, you do it. Follow the cop's order, even if he/she is mistaken, and file a complaint afterward.

It is pretty useless to get into an argument with a cop who is making up his or her own rules.

Yeah or maybe stand up for your rights, get arrested and appeal through the courts. Fuck that move to the side and file a complaint bullshit. ESPECIALLY when you're the press.

Larry Flynt would be totally ashamed of you. I just hope you're some kind of game developer or gamer and not with the gaming press because you totally failed the journalistic ethics test even for the low standards they have for gaming journalists these days.

[Anti-Bunny]

You know, as much as I think CodePink is What Is Wrong With America(tm) this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfISlq1gzK8
made me wince. The Denver cops seems to be building something of a reputation, even before the convention.

Yeah or maybe stand up for your rights, get arrested and appeal through the courts.

I wish I had thought of that!

[Anti-Bunny]

In case you're curious where these protesters are probably being held: Gitmo on the Plat! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQEc3ejHIaM)

[magnet]

This thread is worthless without Tasers.

[Lunch of Kong]

Yeah or maybe stand up for your rights, get arrested and appeal through the courts. Fuck that move to the side and file a complaint bullshit. ESPECIALLY when you're the press.

Risking arrest for a gross violation of my civil rights? Sure.

Risking arrest because a cop is undereducated about a point of law and wants me to take my tripod to the other side of the road? Yeah, I've got better things to do, sorry.

You can keep raging against the machine, though.

[Tankero]

This thread is worthless without Tasers.

Please enjoy the Taser reference included in the "Gitmo on the Plat" video linked above.

Best wishes,

The groupthink.

[Daagar]

I find the idea of "owning" a sidewalk somewhat bizarre. Does that mean every time you walk past the building you're on private property?


Isn't that why it is your responsibility to have your sidewalks clear of snow/ice after a storm? Maybe that is a per-state thing.

[Hugin]

Yeah or maybe stand up for your rights, get arrested and appeal through the courts.


Every black person in America laughs at you, hopefully not while getting chokelocked or tasered or pummeled into the hospital for standing up for their rights.

[Talisker]

Isn't that why it is your responsibility to have your sidewalks clear of snow/ice after a storm? Maybe that is a per-state thing.
'round here the city clears 'em with sidewalk plows.

[BostonBum0]

I hate that cops feel you can't use cameras in public locations.

You know, as much as I think CodePink is What Is Wrong With America(tm) this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfISlq1gzK8
made me wince. The Denver cops seems to be building something of a reputation, even before the convention.



I wish I had thought of that!
I think it is staged. The woman was obviously egging on the cop by saying, "do it again!". My guess is she rushed into the area the police were attempting to secure, was pushed back, then again went into the area they were attempting to secure. Once you cross the police line during a protest you typically get a ride downtown.

[Jag]

Though your brother's bound and gagged
And they've chained him to a chair
Won't you please come to Chicago
Just to sing

[Anti-Bunny]

So, the Denver Police Union is handing this T-shirt out to commemorate the DNC.
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9742/denvercopsshirtea2.jpg (http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=denvercopsshirtea2.jpg)http://img204.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)
Nice!

[Rasputin]

...

Fack no, you joke me, right?

[Major Icehole]

So, the Denver Police Union is handing this T-shirt out to commemorate the DNC.
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9742/denvercopsshirtea2.jpg (http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=denvercopsshirtea2.jpg)http://img204.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)
Nice!

This is so funny, cause when I was downtown during the DNC all I saw was a bunch (well hundreds really) of cops scratching their asses. It's not like it even got very tense here ever. I wonder if they've convinced themselves that the protests was more intense than they were like some kind of wierd "I caught a Fish and it was THIIIIIIIIIIS big" story?
Now if this had come from MN...

[ExecutionerFive]

...

Fack no, you joke me, right?

No, we joke you not:

http://current.com/items/89344550_denver_police_dnc_commemorative_t_shirt_w e_get_up_early_to_beat_the_crowds

[cliffski]

Holy fuck that's scary. Your police are way out of control.
I've been on a demonstration or two in the UK, with hundreds of police, mounted police etc. It was generally very civil. I even spent half the day inbetween all the protesty stuff chatting to the policemen right in front of me, about the police force, pensions and working hours blah blah, just to pass the time. Everyone had a laugh and a joke and a chat and respected why each other was there. Every time I've encountered the police they have been like that.
The only violence I've encountered was when someone I was with got their teeth knocked out by a private security guard.

[Pogo]

I want one of those t-shirts.

[Talisker]

I want one of those t-shirts.
I'll bet they'd sell really well on ebay.

[AaronSofaer]

Cliffski, all my encounters with police in the USA have been entirely polite and respectful.

I have a feeling that the vast majority are, whether in the USA or the UK, but that the bad apples stand out.