citizen journalism

Virginia Police Officers Delete Footage from Woman who Recorded them Beating Man

In disturbing video out of Virginia, Portsmouth police officers threatened to evict residents who had gathered around to watch and record them making an arrest of a man they had apparently beaten with batons.
But that’s only the video that survived.
The woman who recorded the video said that police deleted another video that had recorded the beating.

Memphis Police Arrest Man for Recording Despite Departmental Policy That Says They Can’t (Updated)

Memphis police pounced on a man and arrested him for recording them in public despite a written departmental policy introduced in 2013 that made it clear they were not allowed to do that.
But the video shows they did not give that memo a second thought as they ordered him from the street to the sidewalk, then pounced on him when he stood on the sidewalk.
“As a matter of fact, the sidewalk is made to walk, not to stand,” the cop said as he ordered the man to keep walking away from the so-called “crime scene,” even though there was no crime tape establishing a perimeter.

Oakland School Security Guard Exposed as Liar by Student Dash Cam

A security guard at an Oakland high school accused a student of striking the car of a school employee with his car even though the student’s dash cam shows the employee backing up into his car.
The collision, if we can even call it that, was minor, leaving possible scratches, but there is no doubt that the school employee backed up into the student.

Michigan Deputy Resigns To Avoid Being Fired After Questionable Stop

A Michigan deputy who resigned to avoid termination after he was caught on video pulling a man out of a car for asking a simple question is now working for another law enforcement agency, despite the fact he has an established reputation for aggressive and unprofessional behavior towards citizens.
But considering his new employer, the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office, is looking into introducing body and dash cams for its deputies, we will likely see more videos of his aggressive behavior in the future.

South Florida Cops Tell PINAC Correspondent Photography is a Crime

I was taking photos of a sign outside the Homestead city council meeting in South Florida this month when a police officer named John Edward Frank informed me that I was forbidden from taking his photo – even though I had no interest in photographing him in the first place.
So I started video recording him instead.
What else did he expect considering I was wearing my Photography is Not a Crime t-shirt?

New York Copwatcher Sues NYPD for a Million Dollars for Arrests and Deletion of Footage

A New York City Copwatch activist is suing the NYPD for $1 Million in two separate lawsuits stemming from two arrests for recording them in public where they ended up deleting his footage.
Jose LaSalle, 46, filed the second lawsuit Friday for his arrest in September 2015. The first lawsuit was filed in 2014 for an arrest in September 2013. He is asking for $500,000 from each lawsuit.

Texas Cop Accuses Man of Trying to Kill Him by Pulling Over in Safer Spot

A Texas cop feared for his life when he tried to pull a man over for speeding, only for the man to exit the highway before coming to a complete stop.
The driver told the cop he was looking out for everybody’s safety by not pulling over on the busy highway.
But Fort Worth police officer George Rusnak said it appeared as if he was trying to lead him to an isolated area to kill him.
Anything to get out of a speeding ticket apparently.

Oregon Man Found Guilty Five Months After Receiving Settlement for Same Arrest Involving Recording of Police

Having already received a $7,500 settlement for a wrongful arrest involving the recording of police in public , an Oregon man was surprised when a jury found him guilty for the same arrest Tuesday.
But Judge Stephen Bushong did not allow any mention of November’s settlement to be part of the trial.
Instead, the six-person jury heard testimony from several police officers that Fred Marlow IV was interfering with their investigation by standing on the property of his apartment complex recording them blasting their way into a home using flash grenades in September 2014.