I'm just here, exercising my first
amendment, right?
>> Okay, your first amendment right to
what? You're you're
>> Just filming in public. I'm not the one
with weapons, sir.
>> Okay, but you are causing a disturbance.
>> I'm not committing any crimes, sir.
>> You're free to ask him for information.
>> I'm working. Do you want me to explain
to you what I'm doing here?
>> No, I don't want you. If you don't want
to tell me who you are, I don't want you
to be here.
>> so we have nothing to talk about.
>> Great.
>> The law allows it, but they refuse to
accept it. And that's when a lawful
right is treated like a threat.
How am I
Pulaski?
>> You have to leave.
>> Sir, I'm going to ask you one time and
one time only, is this a public lobby?
When the law is ignored and emotions
take over, who will protect the rights
of citizens?
Just minutes after the camera was turned
on, the atmosphere began to change.
Questions that seemed harmless slowly
[music] turned into scrutiny.
And this is the moment when everything
started to slip beyond the line of
what's normal.
Hi, how are you?
I'm
No, I don't work for the post office.
I'm sorry.
I'm not allowed to take photos? Why?
Well, yeah, I'm a I'm a I'm a I'm a
public citizen taking
pictures [music] in a in post office.
I think I am.
No, yeah, I I understand this is a
federal building.
Sure. No, I don't need to speak to him.
Okay.
Hi, how are you, sir?
No, I don't need any help.
Thank you.
Yeah, I'm just taking pictures and
video.
That's it.
What's your name?
For you taking videos and Just so just
so I know who I'm talking to. What's
your name? Yeah, but but why is there a
reason for you doing that? I'm just
curious. Well, before I can even talk to
you, I want to know what your name is.
No, there's no but this is the I'm the
postmaster. You're the postmaster?
[music] Yeah, so what can I help you? Is
it Do you have
I I need your I The only thing you can
help me with is your name.
Postmaster.
>> What's what's wrong? What's the problem?
>> You haven't even told me who you are.
>> Do you have ID?
>> Are you law enforcement or the
postmaster?
>> I'm the postmaster.
>> So, why are you [music] asking me for
ID, sir?
>> Because I'm the highest ranking federal
official in the city right now.
>> But you're not a You're not a law
enforcement.
>> have ID?
>> You're a civil servant, right?
>> Okay.
>> Citizen's rights were questioned,
authority was exercised through words,
and police were called in over nothing
more than a camera.
And just as predicted, the police
arrived.
Will the balance of power stay where it
always has, or is this the moment
everything begins to turn?
>> Mr. Postmaster, do you feel good about
yourself today?
Calling the uh sheriffs?
>> What's going on, man?
>> Hey, how are you doing, deputy? Uh
police.
Officer. Officer.
I don't need any help.
>> Okay, so why are you on the on the at
the building?
>> What was your name? Rocco?
>> Officer Rocco, why are you here?
>> And [music] you're just covering your uh
your back, sir. My back, sir. Okay.
Thank you.
I'm just here exercising my first
amendment right.
>> Okay, your first amendment right to
what? Your your
>> Just filming in public.
>> Okay, you're scaring people. You
understand that?
>> Well, I could say the same thing about
you, but you're just doing your job,
right?
>> doing my job because these guys are
scared and they're wondering what's
going on in here.
>> I'm not the I'm not the one with
weapons, sir.
>> Okay. But you are causing a disturbance.
You do not
>> I'm not causing a disturbance.
>> Okay, so you don't think scaring people
is causing a disturbance.
>> As long as I'm not My actions aren't
causing a disturbance?
>> No, but this is you guys This is a
government building, right?
>> Yeah, I understand that.
>> It's a federal building.
>> Federal public building.
>> Yes.
>> Mhm.
>> And there are things you cannot do,
right?
>> Yeah, you want me to show you something?
Come here. I'll show you something.
>> I want you I want you to stay out here.
>> Yeah, yeah, I'm going to show you
something.
>> have a backpack with you?
>> Why would I have a backpack?
>> I don't know. They said you had a
backpack with you, so I want to make
sure you don't have anything on you.
>> Never had a backpack with me, but I'll
show you something.
>> So, what what do you want?
>> Come here, let me show you something.
>> What's your What's your business here?
>> My business is exactly what I'm doing,
but I'm going to show you something.
Just so you Just so we could be clear
here and you can and you can go on your
way and
>> [music]
>> we don't have to talk anymore. Um right
over
Where is it?
Photographs for news, advertising,
commercial purposes.
>> Okay, so what's your what's your
>> Surprising to me that the postmaster
wouldn't know that, but
>> Okay, but what is your actual business?
You said you're with the news media.
What news media are you with?
>> I'm not going to answer any questions.
>> Okay, so you don't want to tell me your
name, anything like that.
>> No.
>> Okay, I don't want to answer any
questions at this time.
>> Okay.
>> Police showed up without any specific
alleged crime, citing only concerns,
while the person holding the camera
remained calm and asserted his lawful
rights.
Just when it seemed like everything was
over,
a higher ranking officer arrived and the
same questions were asked again, slower,
more deliberate, and heavier.
>> 219?
>> Yeah.
>> What was your question?
>> I just I'm I'm saying what's going on
here. They called us. They were
concerned, so I'm just I'm we're trying
to figure out what's going on.
>> I I thought I thought I explained it to
Officer Rocco very very clearly.
>> But
you you probably did, but I wasn't here,
so I'm just asking you and I'm
I just thought I I was wondering if you
could tell me what what what's going on.
>> Basically, I'm not breaking any laws and
I'm just exercising I'm exercising
>> breaking any
>> Well, you're asking me what's going on,
Sergeant, so I'm trying to explain it to
you. Okay?
>> So,
not breaking any laws, committing um I'm
engaging in a First Amendment protected
activity of filming. And that's it.
There's really nothing else much to say.
Explained it to Officer Rocco and I
explained it to the other officer.
You know, I didn't have to, but I
thought it was a good educational lesson
for them.
So, that's it, Sergeant. I don't even
know why you're here. I don't know why
you need to be called here.
>> Well, I mean, I I didn't come here, you
know, because I wanted to. They called
us here, so that's why we're here, okay?
>> But there was two officers here, right?
>> Right. Right.
>> They didn't have
They didn't
Okay.
So, Officer Rocco, very capable of doing
>> his job.
And he uh
And he took care of it. I mean, there's
really nothing else to do or say.
>> So,
you're here filming. I got that.
>> Uh-huh.
>> Are there
So, why don't you educate me some more
because I I'm a little unfamiliar with
with filming inside the the post office
outside
>> Both.
Inside and outside the post office.
Inside and outside. Correct.
>> And there's no And I'm being completely
honest. I don't know what the
laws are for filming in a post office
cuz that's not something I've ever dealt
with in the 17 years I've been a cop.
>> A commanding officer was called in and
admitted he wasn't fully familiar with
the law, yet continued to question the
situation while the cameraman held firm
on legal grounds.
After minutes of dialogue, there was
still no basis to stop him.
But instead of ending there, the
situation took a different turn.
And right here, the fragile line between
maintaining order and violating civil
rights became clearer than ever.
>> There may be some some restrictions to
that. You know, it's I mean not just be
a blanket fit like you know, like the
employees might have a right to privacy.
You may not be able to film um for going
You may not be able to film the mail. Is
that You know what I'm saying? So,
there's There may be things that you
can't
>> Well, I I would I would say the only
thing I can't film would be like people
intentionally be uh people's credit card
information, stuff like that. Which
that's not my intention, you know? But
uh no, there's really there's really
nothing that cuz as long as I'm
peacefully filming, I'm not interrupting
business, I'm not causing a disturbance,
I'm not uh there's nothing really that,
you know, I'm doing to warrant being
trespassed from a post office. And uh
you have to be committing a crime to be
trespassed from public property.
So, if you're on public property,
trespassing
is a secondary offense. It can't be the
primary offense. You have to already
have committed a crime first. I'm sure
in your 17 years you know that.
>> Yeah, I do, but
like I said, I've never it it doesn't
necessarily have to be a secondary
offense, okay?
>> Uh-huh.
>> You you could be trespassed from from
from a What are you saying? A public
building?
>> Yeah, public building, yeah.
>> Typically, yes.
>> Yeah, I'm not talking about like a
private a private business could
trespass me whenever they wanted, yeah.
>> Okay.
>> Well, I can clarify I can I can clarify
that.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah, I can clarify that for the
employees. So, when you're in public,
you have no expectation of privacy when
you're in public. So, you know,
>> just because that lobby, just because
this is a public building, there there
are there are places that you have
absolute expect- Is there If you can't
go film in the bathroom, correct?
>> Correct. Exactly. Those That would be
one of the limitations of the First
Amendment of me filming. I cannot film a
I cannot film a
bathroom.
>> Correct.
>> Right. And if somebody has information
on on a envelope or a mailing address
that they don't want on on in public,
and and they're holding that, that's
something you should be able to
>> When the guy insists that everything
he's doing is completely legal, the
police start drilling him into something
that's all too familiar. There are
limits. There are rules. It could be
prohibited.
And right after that comes a full-on
explaining, ordering, talking-down
routine that leaves him stunned until he
fires back hard.
>> Hey Sarge, you want to take a look at
the the rules and regulations governing
the post office?
>> I spoke to the the postmaster.
>> Okay.
>> And and we discussed, you know, and
>> Okay, they're right here, just so you
know.
>> Yep, I see them. I I I brought them in
there, too. So,
>> Okay.
>> You're obviously allowed to film in you
know, there are a couple of restrictions
on it, okay? The the transactions, the
the financial transactions, those can't
be on film, right?
>> Yeah. I know exactly what can't be on
film.
>> Okay. Well, I I didn't This is like I
said, this
And
>> I understand, and now you know, right?
>> Right. I don't We don't know the federal
you know, we don't do the federal laws
nor post Like I said, in the doing the
17 years, I've never never seen it
before, but we're learning.
>> Great.
>> You can't impede the customers in what
they're, you know, going and doing their
business.
>> Okay.
>> Um, same thing with the employees,
right? Impede them from doing their
their their work that they have to do.
>> Honestly, sir, I I I don't I don't need
you to You're the one that's not
familiar with this, not me. So, with all
due respect, I don't need you to explain
things to me.
>> Okay, well, I'm going to explain it
anyway. And then
>> going to just
>> All right, go outside.
>> I'm going to walk out then. So, I don't
want necessarily need to hear it.
>> Well, I just don't think you want to not
get a ticket from me. Do you agree with
>> How we doing?
>> Good, you?
>> All that cops blaming makes me sick to
my stomach.
>> And the fourth thing they like they
asked me to tell you is not to access
any of the stuff that's that's marked
with no trespassing private property.
You know, this this area is obviously
good, but all the side entrances in the
back
that's that's
>> When you when you walk your dog later,
make sure you have a leash on, okay?
When you walk your dog later, make sure
you have a leash on it.
>> You said you said you're here to
educate, we're doing the same thing.
>> I understand.
>> But, you know,
it's it sounds like a lot of cops
blaming to me. I I know what I'm doing.
You guys needed to learn, not me. You
know what I mean?
>> You're assuming
>> I don't need you to tell me. Like, how
did that sound How did that sound Hey,
when you get in your car, put on your
seat belt. Make sure you put on your
seat belt. Make sure you don't break the
law. You know what I mean? It's It's me
giving you directives. I don't want to
be given directives. I'm a grown man.
>> Okay, then walk away from me. I don't
I'm just telling you
>> Okay.
>> That brutal clap back turns the whole
situation from a gentle reminder into a
straight-up slap in the face to that
kind of cops blaming right in the middle
of a public place.
Citizens may sue police under Section
1983
for civil rights violations, and
officers found in violation may face
damages, discipline, or termination.
Up next, just a camera, a public lobby,
and within minutes everything spiraled
out of control.
What turns a space meant to serve the
public into a place of confrontation.
>> Hey Blake, why are you doing that?
>> Blake
Sir, I need you to step back from me.
>> Hey
>> Step back from
>> Blake
Hey Blake.
>> No, I do not want this.
>> Stop doing that, Blake.
>> Sir, you're not going to film our staff.
You're not going to
>> I have to I'm I'm going to go ask your
staff a question.
>> public.
>> I'm going to go ask your staff a
question. That's what I'm going to go do
right now.
>> So, I appreciate it if you don't.
>> Hey Blake, you got a card?
>> No, I don't.
>> You don't have a card?
>> No.
>> Do you have a
complaint form?
>> For?
>> So, I can make one against you.
I don't like your actions, to be honest
with
>> you? What What are my actions against
you?
>> I don't know. You're just very
aggressive. You know, you got got in
front of me, tried to stop me tried to
stop me from moving. You know, I just I
don't think that's for a public official
like yourself. I don't think that's
appropriate.
>> to you. I do have a problem with you
creating a confrontational environment
for
>> No, you did. So, I told That's why This
is why I record because now you can't
lie.
>> that are actually clients.
>> I understand that.
I I pay taxes to this building.
>> to film them. I'm getting between your
filming
>> they they have
>> other people that
>> They have no expectation of privacy in
public. Like you put that sign there,
employees only, right? That means I
can't go back there and film because you
put a sign saying employees only. This
door right here opens automatically for
the public. This is a public lobby.
>> that.
>> So, listen. For the way you acted, I
want to understand how do I get a
complaint form against you?
>> That's fine. You can get that
um
>> You don't have it here? You don't have
it You don't have complaint forms
readily available for the public? No?
>> Public officials approached with
tension, demanding the filming stop
without citing any specific law.
A lawful right was challenged by emotion
and authority. No crime alleged, yet
pressure had already formed. And then
the police arrived, shifting the focus
instantly from behavior to identity.
>> I'll be filing a complaint.
>> How you doing, officer?
>> Hello.
How you doing, officer?
>> How are you?
>> Good. What's your name and badge number?
>> Show me your ID, please.
>> What's your name and badge number, sir?
Well, you're covering it as you're
showing it to me.
How do you pronounce it?
>> Papalansky.
>> Your ID, sir?
>> And what's your uh badge number?
>> 4839. Your ID, sir?
>> 4839. I'm not I'm giving you ID, sir.
I'm not committing I'm not committing
any crimes, sir.
>> He's just He's asking for information.
>> I'm work Do you want me to explain to
you what I'm doing here?
>> No, I don't want You don't want to tell
me who you are. I don't want you to be
here.
>> Great. Okay, so we have nothing to talk
about.
>> Great.
>> Do you have to leave here?
>> How am I
>> to leave.
>> Papalansky?
>> leave.
>> Sir, I'm going to ask you one time and
one time only, is this a public lobby?
>> Call a supervisor.
>> Yeah, call supervisor. Call supervisor.
That's better.
>> You have to leave.
>> Can we call a supervisor, sir?
>> No.
>> We can't call supervisor?
>> why I will talk. You show me your ID,
we'll figure out what's going on.
>> showing you any ID, and I want a
supervisor.
>> Okay. Step outside.
>> For what? You can't trespass me from a
public place.
>> These people run this building.
>> This is a public place. I have business
here, so
>> They're running the building.
>> I have business in a public place.
Listen, before you make a mistake, just
call supervisor, all right?
>> No.
>> Call supervisor.
>> and talk to me.
>> I'm not going to go outside. I want to
wait for a supervisor in a public lobby.
I'm not in a restricted area.
I'm not You can call for a supervisor.
You have the video in your hand right
here.
I'm asking you to call for a supervisor.
>> your ID
>> Sir, I'm I'm asking you I'm asking you
politely to call for a supervisor,
please, sir.
>> I'm asking for your ID.
>> And I'm I'm refusing to do that.
>> Okay. Then I'm not going to
>> You're not going to call a supervisor,
then?
>> I'm going to ask you to step outside, so
I can figure out from these people
what's going on.
>> Police formally intervened without
citing any specific criminal behavior,
instead shifting the focus to
identification despite lacking legal
grounds.
Assumptions began to surface, and a
lawful activity was slowly framed as
suspicious.
>> Listen, I understand his
I understand his policy. Policy does not
trump law, sir, and I'm letting you know
that I'm here legally. I'm not
committing any crimes. I have no ill
intent, and I'm working on a story.
It's a first amendment protected
activity. So, that's why I'm asking you
to please call your supervisor so that
way
>> on a story and you want help
>> want you to de-escalate.
>> You're talking over me.
>> Okay, go ahead.
>> If you're working on a story, you want
help from this office, you need to
follow what they requested of you.
>> I don't understand. I'm working on a
story in a public place. I I I asked
them questions and I'll have more
questions for them once I'm done going
over all their brochures that they have
laid out everywhere. I'm working on a
story in a public lobby, sir. This is a
public lobby. I'm not in a restricted
area. I'm not breaking any laws. So, if
you would like, you can call a
supervisor like I've asked you 20 times
now.
>> Show me your ID, sir.
>> I'm not showing you I'm not showing you
that's not going to happen here today,
sir. Because I don't want to. Why? This
is not Germany, sir. You can't just
"Hey, where's your papers?" Like, I'm
not committing a crime.
>> to know who I'm speaking to.
>> You're Listen, you're speaking to
>> you have legitimate business here
>> No.
>> I need to know who you are.
>> Who Who are you to determine if I have
legitimate or non-legitimate business
here? Blake can't determine that. I'm
telling you I have legitimate
>> trouble dealing with you.
>> That's not my problem. I'm not Sir, I
have not caused a scene. I have it all
recording. I'm not interfering with
business that they have with their
clients.
They came out and confronted me. I'm
sitting here peacefully, recording,
working on my story. I have no other ill
tent ill tent. They got scared because
they saw camera. I'm sorry cameras scare
them, but what criminal have you ever
known
>> is your intent?
>> My intent is to work on my story without
being told I can't.
>> With what resources from this office?
>> With the resources that's available to
me in a public lobby.
>> What are you asking of them?
>> I've asked them a whole bunch of
questions.
>> Start with one. What are you asking of
them?
>> What exactly is it that they do here?
>> Okay.
>> Can you explain that to me?
>> Okay. [music]
>> So, I'm I need to
>> you haven't gotten an answer
>> So, basically I wanted look at all the
information that they provided me with
that I've gathered publicly. I'm going
to sit in the public lobby. I'm going to
continue to film and I'm when I have
more questions, I will let them know.
That's it. It's simple. I'm not here to
cause a disturbance. This is them
calling you is causing the disturb.
>> While the law was invoked, emotions were
used as justification.
Fear, disturbance, inappropriate. Are
these vague claims enough to restrict a
constitutional right?
Reminders began to surface and new
boundaries were drawn, not on written
policy, but through on the spot
commands.
>> Hey sir, can I can I talk to you for a
sec?
>> Yeah.
>> What's your name?
>> I'm Officer McNulty. Just call me
McNulty.
>> Officer McNulty, I'm I'm good. Uh I'm
[music] not going to give my name, sir.
I just want
>> You realize I I know you're out there
preaching in other places.
>> Yeah.
>> If you're if you're making a
documentary, whatever it is, you have
access to public information, all right?
But that's about it. Okay? You have to
go out and do films. We just ask you to
be as professional as you can.
>> Of course, sir, and I always am.
>> All right.
>> Okay. Can Can Can you just Can you Can
you notify him that I have a legal right
to be here and work on my story [music]
so he can cuz he's technically he's the
one escalating the situation. So, I want
you to deescalate it if you can.
>> Gentleman's apparently making a
documentary. He has access to public
information. He's been over at the
Lincoln Place since
>> Uh
>> in this area. He's able to
If you don't want to interview him, you
don't have to interview him at this
point. You can just stay in this public
area right here. But eventually, you're
going to have to leave.
>> Of course, eventually, right? Yeah.
>> But I mean, you can put in your story
that
um you attempted to interview, they
didn't want to have an interview, all
right?
>> Yeah, I I appreciate you explaining it
to him. Thank you.
>> Okay.
>> Thank you.
>> So, I'm going to go through the problem
with the folks that are coming in here.
They're coming in here to
>> You don't want to upset other people.
>> No, no, no, that is not my intent. I
told I told them the ladies were scared
when they saw [music] the camera. I
don't know why, but I told them listen,
I have no ill intent here. I'm working
on a story. I never heard of a criminal
that records a crime. You know what I
mean? His own crime.
>> Okay. I'm saying that some people can
get a little upset if they're getting
upset, right?
>> I understand. So, they've been very
patient. No, I understand completely.
No, that's fine. I'm not trying to
interview anybody. I'm just doing
documentary, yeah.
>> They they don't want to, you know,
pursue any any any further uh interview.
>> Great. That's what you
There was no arrest and no charges, yet
the question remains. When a right has
already been acknowledged, why does the
pressure continue? And who truly needs
to be educated in this story?
Sighting vague fears and pressuring
someone to leave without specific
reasonable suspicion [music]
runs contrary to constitutional
standards and shows signs of a civil
rights violation. When power is placed
[music] in the hands of those who do not
fully understand its limits, and fear is
elevated above the law, it is
law-abiding citizens [music]
who become the ones under suspicion.
Hey everyone, what do you think about
this situation?
>> [music]
>> If you enjoyed the video, don't forget
to like, subscribe, and support us with
a donation. [music]
Thank you so much.
>> [music]