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May 26, 2015

N.C. man arrested for recording the arrest of his friend


The Wake Forest Police Department says an officer has "been dealt with", but can't comment further after a man was arrested while videotaping the arrest of a friend.

The incident happened at an Irish pub in February. Robert Johnson told ABC11 he was nearby when his friend got into a confrontation with the bar staff.

"I guess the bouncers were arguing with him for being loud or whatever," said Johnson.

When police arrived, Johnson started recording.

"Kept a safe distance - just videotaping," he recalled.

That's when things took a turn in his direction. Minutes into the recording, you hear an officer tell Johnson they're going to take his phone.

"He said that he needed my phone for evidence cause I was videotaping the arrest, but I know that wasn't right, so I kept taping," said Johnson.

 



That's when the officer took the phone by force.

"He grabbed my other hand that was not in a cast and twisted it back and was trying to slam me on my face which eventually happened," said Johnson.
The next thing you hear in the recording is the officer trying to turn it off.

"How do you stop your phone?" the officer asks.

Johnson was arrested for resisting and obstructing an arrest. Within just a few weeks, the charges were dropped and he got his cell phone back.

But he says the experience is having lasting effects on his effort to turn his life around. He's on probation for an assault in 2013, so his probation officer had to be notified and the arrest still shows up online.

"It looks bad if I try to get a job, I go to school, it just ruins a reputation," he said. "You should never get your phone taken or taken to jail just for videotaping an arrest."

Johnson said he's filed a formal complaint and is now contemplating a lawsuit.


Source:http://abc11.com/ 

4 comments:

  1. How many times should I tell you not to lose your time, energy and money in lawsuits?
    Do your best to safely execute those pigs and all those, whoever they may be: magistrates, judges, friends, parents and families, who stand by them.

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  2. There was a time in American when citizens that had their rights trampled would be swarmed with civil rights attorneys seeking to represent them. These days, the silence of the glorious Legal Eagles is deafening.

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  3. When this thug assaulted you, then was the time to take action, while it may have cost you in several ways, that is what you must do, and be willing to pay the price for your God given rights. If you do not wish to play ball in their ballpark, and not take action on the spot, at least take action later on terms more favorable to you and yours, do not just let it go, Going to court and or filing a complaint would be like pissing into a 90 mph wind and does not count for anything other then being stupid. There is no justice for you against them in a rigged system, that includes the courtrooms of America.

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  4. Cops: the largest, most dangerous, and most sanctimonious criminal gang in America. They must be stopped from their predations before this country goes completely into the toilet.

    ReplyDelete