we don't know sir if if if someone's going to break into a patrol car no if someone's going to steal a patrol car terroristic threats in our in our country today so now you're saying I'm a terorist in the small town of Cowpens South Carolina a simple Act of filming turned into a significant showdown between a citizen and local law enforcement this case begins on a sunny afternoon when a man takes his camera and Records the activities around a local police station's parking lot the man who will call Dave was walking around casually filming everything he could see from the public sidewalk he was talking to his camera mentioning he had a puppy at home much friendlier than the police dogs he saw at the K9 Training Facility Dave was in a good mood joking about his surroundings and expressing his thoughts freely as he walked got to love it oh they got taxi on it got to love this oh wow I got some people standing outside here hopefully they're educated hopefully this goes great he sir what you doing filming what everything I can see from public huh everything I can see yall having a good day or not that's all right there K9 Training Facility I'm guessing hey puppy I have a puppy at home except you're a lot meaner than my puppy cuz my puppy likes people yeah we're in good old Cowpens uh Cherokee County out here as Dave continued to film a police officer approached him the officer curious about Dave's actions asked what he was doing our heard is a great area I mean but who knows did I help no sir I'm fine thank you for the offer sir sir sir what's up I mean you just videoing our patol cars stuff just out here taking pictures and videos who are you I'm a major here major here yes what's your name major you got a badge number I do 102 thank you for the information officer you're welcome so there's some unmarked cars down this way I'm I'm going try to get y'all a shot of here's one I think that went fairly simple look at that one what's up brother I'm all right how you doing I don't you don't don't carry with me huh don't carry it with me you don't care you don't care in case I'm illegally detained y'all find out who I am huh however the tone shifted when the officer identified as major asked for Dave's ID Dave refused explaining that he didn't carry his ID to avoid complications in case he was illegally detained major explained that since Dave was filming patrol cars and potentially looking into personal vehicles it was their duty to check on him in case y'all legally detain me and find out who I am I just want to see you D cuz I mean you own our property you know look I know but you you looking in Windows of cars yeah cuz I can see them yeah I know you can see them but I mean you don't know if those are personal cars or not those might be personal cars well they I mean but even if they are personal I can still look in them you can't be going looking in the window like that I can it's public yeah there's no so where your idea at I don't have it on me where's your idea at I don't have it on me I know I'm that's where it was at where I left at I don't really get what you're asking me that for that's like there's no legal obligation if you asking me where my Ida is right now and you know I'm correct like I don't want to be a dick about it but you know there's no legal obligation for it so I just don't have it on me well we have a legal obligation you're really close to me officer and if you found this video helpful or insightful don't forget to hit that like button subscribe for more videos like this and share it with your friends Dave stood his ground asserting that he was on public property and had every film right he mentioned that looking into cars from the sidewalk wasn't against the law and reiterated that he didn't need to show ID unless he was suspected of a crime major insisted on verifying Dave's identity to ensure he wasn't planning anything illegal like a jailbreak or theft we can check your name check your identity make sure that you are who you say you are what's your name I'm Chef Mueller sir your name make sure that you're you're not wanted I'm not wanted do you suspect me of being wanted sir right now we don't know who you are I been it's going to stay that way until you have a legal obligation to find out who I am we got a legal obligation no you don't you just want that's a personal obligation you just want to know who I am person however this back and forth continued with Dave firmly stating that he wasn't doing anything wrong and that filming in public was a protected First Amendment activity he even mentioned that if the officers thought he was committing a crime they should consult their attorney I haven't committed a crime so I don't have to tell you who I am sir you're out here going and looking in vehicles which is a First Amendment protected activity I can film in public all this is public sir okay so then if you know that why are we having this conversation officer we have a lawful right to inquire when people say there's a suspicious person walking through parking lot filming we have an obligation at least come and check you out sir and that's simply what the officers are doing uh tell my attorney stay tuned in please you can film all day sir we we're not we're Notting to your filming with that being said with all due respect if you say I can film all day yes why is it everyone standing out here asking me what I'm doing because when someone comes in the office and says someone's going out there looking in the patrol cars we don't know sir if if if someone's going to break into a patrol car no ill someone's going to steal a patrol car it happens and so we have an awful a lawful obligation to come out and inquire and check and make sure that everything is okay and if everything is okay we go about our business you get to go about yours and everybody has a great day well that's what's about to happen I have no e will intent I'm not telling y'all my name I don't want to break in any car I don't want to get in any car I'm not touching a car I'm just taking pictures and videos which is a lawful activity so what's the purpose AC but it's not AFF filing or misdemeanor and you know that right to investigate is law enforcement have every right crime if crime terroristic threats in our in our country today so now you're saying I'm a terrorist that's what I'm saying with terroristic threats no I'm aist when we tell citizens when we tell citizens when we tell citizens to contact something you see something say something if you see people doing suspicious things reach out to law enforcement and so it's not normal for people to walk through and film uh in this parking lot it's not normal to walk around and film around around a nuclear station or or around any High secure area this is a facility here we don't know if you're filming something to plan or prepare a jailbreak for somebody but until we have a I'm doing you have no right to talk that's not true sir that is true that's not true if I haven't broken a crime you have no right to and make sure that you are not plotting and planning something against this facility this facility which holds a court venue okay and so we have this inside this building there's courtroom sir which are open to the public which you're open to the public but you're not allowed to take a camera into into that area but I'm outside so why' you bring up the inside if I'm outside I'm telling you reaching offic I've done nothing wrong and you know that I've done nothing wrong and everyone out here knows I've done nothing wrong you're reaching for something we're not reaching for anything you are reaching but it's not a crime but it's not a crime finally major conceded that Dave was not being detained and could continue filming Dave thanked the officers and continued his tour commenting on the absurdity of the situation to his camera we we investig told you have you been told that you committed a crime C your question the only important question that I want to ask you am I being detained you're not being detain abely great that talk to you later brother thank you you do need to car your ID with I don't I know who I am thank you though fine sir you have a great day I'm going to you enjoy yourself be safe out there brother be safe thank you yes sir you as well yeah so anyway uh we're GNA finish this tour here and then we're going to get out of there here you got everybody standing outside here like I've done something completely wrong here and I don't understand why thanks for watching and stay informed stay safe and always stand up for what's right until next time take care