Oklahoma military police, assisted by two Oklahoma state cops, were recorded lying to a citizen journalist in order to get him to surrender identification while peacefully and lawfully recording the Oklahoma Air National Guard base from a public space on August 31.
“Are you aware in the state of Oklahoma when a law enforcement officer asks you for identification that you’re required to produce it?” asked Master Sgt. Jason Cattleman, even though that is a blatant lie.
Castleman, whose Facebook page shows a photo of him posing in front of the White House, couldn’t seem to understand why anyone would want to record a military installation.”
Sgt. Master Jason Castleman poses in front of the White House. (photo courtesy of Facebook)
“What is going on?” Castleman asks.
“Just taking pictures,” said the citizen journalist who goes by Picture Perfect on YouTube.
Why?”
“Because I want to.”
“Why do you want to?”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you, sir.”
“Well, you understand as law enforcement officers we have an expressed interest in why you want to film the installation….”
“I understand that, but that fence right there is your jurisdiction. Right here you’re off your installation, you’re off your installation; you don’t have any jurisdiction.”
“Uh, are you an attorney?” Castleman asks. “I wasn’t aware.”
“Have a nice day, sir.” Picture Perfect replies. “I’m not gonna sit here and argue with you for you to make smart ass comments.”
“I’m just curious, because, uh, you were informing me of my jurisdiction.” Castleman says before turning to the Oklahoma state police officer standing nearby.
“Yeah, on that base, not out here.”
“Can you tell me where this gentleman’s jurisdiction lies,’ Castleman asks pointing to the Oklahoma state cop standing next to him.
“Uh, who are you? Oklahoma military department, I would assume he has Oklahoma jurisdiction.”
“I’m a state police officer,” the cop replies.
“I don’t give a damn about his jurisdiction. It doesn’t matter. I’m not doing anything [illegal].”
“I would ask you, sir, are you a laywer?,” Castleman asks.
“Are you aware in the state of Oklahoma when a law enforcement officer asks you for identification that you’re required to produce it?”
“No, you’re not. This is not a stop and identify state. So, I have not broken any laws. And I would appreciate it if you guys would stop crowding me.”
“When you are being contacted by a police official who asks for identification, you are required to provide it,” the state cop claims.
“No, sir, you are not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“No, sir you are not. There is no law . . . Oklahoma is not a stop and ID state. You have to have reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed is about to happen or is actually happening.”
“Look at it from our point of view,” the cop says. “Filming a military installation with fighter planes. There’s very few legitimate reasons to do that.”
“I’m very interested in fighter planes; I think they’re cool as hell. Do you honestly think somebody could breach that security and jump in one of those planes and take off? I’m pretty sure they’d be shot down before they taxied out.”
“I don’t know if they could or they couldn’t. That’s not the point. The point is we’re simply trying to make contact with you to obtain your information.”
“And you have. I’ve given you all the information I’m going to give and I would appreciate it if you’d stop crowding me. This is bordering on harassment.”
Castleman steps in to take over again and eventually tells the citizen journalist to move along.
“Sir, if you don’t move along you’re going to be impeding the flow of traffic which is also a violation of the law.”
“I’m not the one with two vehicles in the turn lane,” the citizen journalist replies as he turns his camera to capture a two vehicles parked in the road as a military vehicle passes by.
“I am on the side walk. Well, what little of one there is.”
“So again, I’m going to ask you why exactly are you filming our air base?”
“None of your business. Thank You.”
“And how is it that you determine that your filming is [none of] my business? That was just none of my business? How is this none of my business. You understand that you’re filming security procedures at a security checkpoint at a military installation.”
“Put up a wall if you don’t like it. You can’t trespass the eyes, sir.”
Castleman continues to harass the journalist, repeating questions about his identity.
“I can keep asking as long as you keep filming….I would appreciate if you would stop filming.”
“That sucks.”
“Right back at you, sir.”
Castleman continues to harass the journalist until he finally decides to walk away.
“You know what? If I’ve done something wrong arrest me. If not, leave me the hell alone. I’m going to cross the street.”
Another MP on the scene attempts to obtain identification, explaining an interest in the safety of the people inside the base.
“You understand everyone has a job to do, right?”
“I understand. You’re doing it and then some.”
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