Sir, I'm going to need you get out of my personal space. >> to get out of my personal space. I need you to leave. I asked you to leave. >> I'm going to need you to get out of my personal space, please, sir. >> get out of my face. >> Don't start nonsense, please, okay? I'm very busy man. Can I talk to you nonsense, okay? Listen carefully. Listen carefully. I know you're recording. This is going on before I take off and you do anything, okay? I'm a busy person. If you're here for a reason, go to go to your business and go ahead. But don't start a >> But sir, if you're so busy, just quite frankly, you should go back to work and do what you need to do. >> This is part of my job. >> The law is only truly respected when authority is exercised with fairness and respect for citizens' rights. Hey everyone, what do you think about this situation? If you enjoyed the video, don't forget to like, subscribe, and support us with a donation. Thank you so much. >> Like I said, he said he asked you to leave and you're not leaving. You steady standing here. I don't FEEL SAFE. LIKE I SAID, PERIOD. >> [snorts] >> Just because they encountered a citizen who understood the law, what seemed like a routine display of police overreach quickly turned into a confrontation that could bring legal consequences the officers never saw coming. A camera appeared and the entire government building instantly fell into chaos. Just minutes later, a security guard rushed over, aggressively confronting the man, yelling at him, and ordering him out. The real question is, were they protecting order or trying to hide something behind those doors? >> anywhere Sir, I need you to know that I'm recording you here and I need you to leave the building, too. >> Who are you, sir? >> I'm the security here. >> You're security? And your name? >> Uh You don't have to worry about that. I need you out the door, this door. >> Yeah, can just take a couple steps back, I'd appreciate it, sir. Thank you. >> need you moving to the door. That's what I'm asking you to do. >> No, I'm not going to be going. I have business to conduct here, sir. >> Cuz he don't authorize it and he's not filming. I just asked you to stop filming. >> I would ask you to take a few steps back. >> stop filming. >> Sir, please take a few steps back. >> Give him one time. >> Okay. >> So, I got to trespass and get him out of the building. >> And your name is, sir, so I know who I spoke with today. >> As you can see. >> Z Folsom? >> Let's go. >> And you work for >> Police is on the way. >> All Points? >> Police is on the way. >> All Points, I don't need to go. Yeah. Oh, was I Is that a restricted area? >> Just so you Nobody asked you to come in here, so I need you to leave. >> Yeah. Well, aren't there cameras recording us right now? >> I need you to leave. >> Are there not work cameras recording us right now? >> Tell him to come through the east door, too. Tell him to come through the east door. >> And your company you work for, sir, I mean it. >> Sir, I need you to move into the door. >> Yeah. Stop walking >> around here. >> Hey, how are you? Sir, I'm going to need you to get out of my personal space. >> space. I need you to leave. >> I'm going to need you to get out of my personal space, please, sir. >> you to get out of my face. >> No, you are in my face, sir. >> Stop recording. I just asked you >> You are literally inches from me, sir. >> Don't walk back Don't >> Sir. >> me, I'm going to I'm a >> If I touch you, what? >> Don't touch Don't touch me. >> You're getting in my way. You don't touch me, okay? >> No, no, I asked you to stop filming. >> So, don't come past me. >> Excuse me, sir. Sir, you are being >> the building. >> Excuse me, sir. >> You know, I'm Move back. I need you back. >> want to touch you in any way. I want to make that clear. I want to go about my business here, sir. >> Yeah, I'm asking you The door is right there. >> Yeah, I know where the door is, sir. >> So, that's where that's the exit. >> I know where it is. >> Okay. You're going about your business. This is the That's the way you need to go. >> No, I'm going to go Go way. >> No, you're are going that way. >> Yeah, I'm going to go this way eventually. >> No, you are not. >> Eventually you will move out of my way. >> When they come and get you out of the building. >> They are going to come and physically remove me. That's what you That's what >> Yes. >> No one expected that tense confrontation to ignite the entire atmosphere inside the building lobby. And when a woman suddenly started screaming in the middle of the crowd, the man holding the camera became the center of everyone's outrage within seconds. >> I don't feel safe. >> Are you Are you Yeah, why is he confronting me? Right. Right. Why is he confronting me? Right. You are in here, too. Why isn't he confronting you? >> You in here and I don't feel safe. Like I said, he is steady asking you to leave and you are not leaving. You steady standing here. I don't FEEL SAFE. LIKE I SAID, PERIOD. >> After the chaos inside the building, police finally arrived, leading many to believe the situation would calm down. But just seconds later, the very first demands they made caused the confrontation to explode more violently than ever. >> Enforcement has arrived. Hi, ma'am. How are you? >> Hi, how are you? >> Do you mind if I get your name and badge number? >> Sure. My name is Officer Bogan, badge number 125. >> Thank you, officer. I appreciate it. My name is Shawn. >> Okay. What's going on today, Shawn? >> Um I'm an investigative journalist. I'm just here trying to get some public information and document and work on a story and security officers here have become very aggressive with me, telling me that I can't record in the public areas and they are so aggressive that they startled the woman saying that she didn't feel safe here cuz they The officer was literally I'm not going to do it to you, but one of the security officers was literally like inches from my face, you know, coming real close to, you know, putting his hands on me. So, I tried to de-escalate situation best I could, but this woman started freaking out over the confrontation and she put the blame on me somehow. So, that's just what's going on. They said they were going to call you. >> Okay. Who is our CP in this? >> Hey, sir. How are you? Can I just get your name and badge number? Right there. T H E R E T H E I R South Holland Police >> Yeah, I don't see any credentials on him. Well, I'm not authorized to visit. I asked him to stop filming. He's been walking through the building. He's upsetting clients that's coming in here and people trying to do regular business. So, I asked him to leave. >> Oh, that was you? You're You're upsetting people? That's not true. That's a lie. >> We just want you to leave. >> According to According to you, this is putting a camera in your face, right? It's not. >> Well, the only thing we we need to see credentials is if we could just see an ID. >> Oh, no. I don't provide any ID, ma'am, unless I've been suspected of committing a crime. Unless you have a reasonable articulable suspicion I committed a crime, which I doubt you have cuz I haven't committed any crimes here today, ma'am. It's all on camera. >> No, no camera No crimes have been committed. We usually and typically identify anyone that we make contact with. It has nothing to do with it being a crime. >> Right. >> That's just our protocol. >> I I understand that's your protocol. I get it. >> Secondly, secondly, you're in a public area. As long as you stay in the hallway, that's fine. But, if you are imposing on people who are trying to get their work done. If you are in the process of capturing something cuz people up here are handling personal business. This is not public business. So, if you're getting any of them on camera without their consent, you cannot do that. So, if you have permission from these people to be filmed, do you have that? >> Amid the tense atmosphere, the conversation quickly turned into a direct clash over constitutional rights. And what was said next left many people deeply divided. >> Okay. So, yeah, listen. I >> You haven't You haven't told anyone like who you're with. Do you Who are you an investigative journalist? >> Right. So, I'm an independent journalist, meaning that I work for myself, [music] ma'am. And um my my only thing is is that I understand it's your typical protocol to ask people for their ID. Um it's my protocol as an independent journalist at my company. We do not provide identification. It's my policy that I do not provide identification to law enforcement unless I'm suspected to be of reasonable articulable suspicion of committing a crime. I am not I didn't get anybody's permission to come here today, nor do I need it. Uh this is a public building. I am not putting my camera in anybody's face. That would probably be harassment. This is as close as I got into anyone. That supervisor right there, he got in my face and started threatening me. So, that's If you want to investigate something, invest Investigate him. I'm here I'm here on constitutionally protected business. >> your video back so that we can see the altercation or the incident. >> No, it's a fine cuz he's You're not going to do anything about it anyway. No one ever does when a public employee does something aggressive, you know. It'll be part of my story and I'll work on it. And if you want to do something about it after you can. But I I I'm not looking to press charges on him or anything for disorderly conduct or anything like that. But he definitely engaged in unlawful behavior, threatening behavior. You know, it's it's just it's not my I don't want to get anybody arrested at this time. I'm just I'm here I'm here to peacefully document. I was more concerned about, you know, them him getting in my face was causing It was a danger to everybody here because it was causing people to get riled up. And that's not my intention here. My intention is to record peacefully. I'm investigating. As you know, the the township supervisor here, Mayor Tiffany Hanyard, has been involved in a lot of allegations of corruption here. So, I'm just investigating that as any good journalist would. And I'm here to do some more public records requests. And uh that's it, ma'am. I'm just going to stick to the publicly accessible areas here. There's nothing I don't want to harass anybody. I'm not looking to interview anybody. I'm just here to document my my experience here. >> Okay. And you said public records request? >> Right, ma'am. A FOIA A FOIA request. I'm I'm going to, yeah. I'm going to. >> Okay. Do you guys have a FOIA form to provide to him? >> [snorts] >> No? So, you would have to go online to do that. >> Well, no. There's by statute, by the FOIA statute, I mean Information Act, there there they have to provide it in person. >> No, you have to fill out your request. >> Right, which would be done in person because not everybody has access to the internet and not everybody knows how to work a computer so that They have one. But you're you're asking security guards and But you're remember >> As the female officer repeatedly accused the man of causing a disturbance, the confrontation seemed ready to spiral completely out of control. But right after the heated argument, one admission from the police themselves suddenly turned the entire situation upside down. >> I mean Can I can I Can I please speak to your supervisor, ma'am? Please. No, but can you call him here, please? >> They're not going to come here because they're on an accident scene right now, but you can go over to the PD and you can ask to speak to our sergeant. >> I don't need to, ma'am. This is not This is This is the United States of Am- It doesn't matter, ma'am. Anybody can be an independent journalist, ma'am. This is the United States of America, ma'am. Do you understand the First Amendment? Because you are a public servant, respectfully, ma'am. I I do not work for the public. This is a public building. Anybody's allowed in the public building, ma'am. This is why I really would like you to please I'm telling you, ma'am. I'm Listen, I'm telling you, ma'am. And you I'm not. You have not seen any disturbance that I've caused. I can't Yeah, but >> over half an hour. And people's faces >> What room was I in? The secure room here? >> in the basement >> I was asking questions about the bulletins. Listen, this is I investigate corrupt governments all the time and corrupt police departments all the time. This is what I do for a living. And I'm telling you right now, if you force me to leave the building under threat of arrest, I'm going to hold you accountable. This is a public building. >> Well, yeah, he's he has legitimate business here and he wants to submit a FOIA request. >> If this is a public building >> He's allowed to fill out a FOIA request or not. Given a time where he can come back for one. Cuz this is a public building, so he's he does have a right to be here. He has a right to right to conduct business, but if he's not conducting business, he's got to move along. >> Can you please fill out the FOIA request form, please? >> After all the chaos and tension, a few final words seem to completely change the entire atmosphere inside the building. >> the employees here, correct? So, no one else in the building >> Yeah, they can get caught on the Just like there's a camera right behind you, ma'am. That's why there's the courts have also ruled that there's no reasonable expectation of privacy in public. So, that's how you're able to record everybody. You don't I don't have to sign a waiver every time I walk into the >> I'm just saying that you stated that >> Every time I walk into town hall, I don't run sign a waiver. >> might be doing something corrupt. These might just be citizens who just don't want to be >> Well, the only person that really got upset, ma'am, to be honest with you is when the supervisor in the white shirt, he came up to me and started aggressively trying to get in my face and and aggressively order me to get out of the building. And then she got nervous cuz she thought we were going to fight for some reason. I'm not I have no intentions to fight with anybody. I'm talking to him the same way I'm talking to you. I I'm not trying to escalate it. I'm not, you know, agitating anybody. I'm just here to conduct my investigation, which is my First Amendment right, the same right that you took oath to uphold. That's it. I also go around the country I'm an investigative journalist, but I'm also a trainer of police departments. I go to police departments, again, to to your point that I'm trying to gauge a reaction of people. I try and bridge the gap between police departments. I work with them. I do trainings. I try and bring everybody under the education of the First Amendment, government transparency, and accountability. This is not an anti-law enforcement thing. You're only here cuz they called you. I would have never called you here. And and I would just like to go about my business taking my pictures and video, doing my first and that's it. >> All right. >> Okay? >> In the end, no arrest was made and the man was allowed to continue filming legally, but as the officers walked out of the building, the biggest question still remained behind those doors. Next, a man carrying nothing but a camera walked into City Hall, yet security staff repeatedly tried to force him out as if they were hiding something behind those doors. And soon, the tense confrontation in the middle of a public building spiraled completely out of control. >> I'm sorry? >> What are you doing? >> Taking pictures and video of Town Hall, of City Hall. Excuse me. >> I told you I'm an independent journalist. I told you that when I came in here, did I not? >> No. >> I didn't tell you that? >> No, but you said you're going to the clerk's office. >> I did. Yeah, and I did. >> Okay. >> Mhm. >> So, what is the purpose of the story? >> Um I'm not going to divulge it right now. That's all, you know. >> So, you do realize when you recorded your phone number there, you recorded other people's personal information on that paper? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, >> Well, then you should >> open for just tours. So, you said you're going to the >> I'm not taking a tour. >> Well, you went to the clerk's office. You're done up in the clerk's office. You have to leave the building. >> Yeah, no. I'm not taking a tour. >> Well, if you're done doing the business here, you have to exit. We're not open to wander around. >> Yeah, but I'm not I'm not a >> That's period. >> Yeah, no. >> That's so you have to leave the building if you're done at the clerk's office. >> But I'm not done with my I'm done with I'm not done with my business. >> you're here for. >> Well, why do I have to disclose that to you? Can I get your name? We're talking a lot, so I'd like to get your name now. >> CSO Burnett. B U R N E T >> CSO Burnett. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> stuff, Mr. Burnett. We're just not open so people can wander around. If you're here for business, which did, you went up to the clerk's office, which is fine. But other than that, you can't just wander around the building. >> Well, yeah, I'm I'm not wandering or wandering around with being >> your business and you've done it, which you have, 100% did exactly what you said. You went up to the clerk's office. >> Um community service officer Brunette, how would you how would you know if my business is concluded here or not? >> done at the clerk's office. You left clerk's office. You put on the paper you're going to the clerk's office. >> Yeah. >> So >> This is a This is Is this a public building or a private building? >> You have to exit the building if you're not doing any other business >> Is this a Is this a public building or a private building? >> just say? We're not open for you to wander around. What's up, sir? >> No, that was just I'm sorry, man. Like the guy's doing his job, man. That's all. >> It's all right. So >> Yeah, I'm just doing my job, too. That's it. >> You went to the clerk's office, correct? >> Yeah. >> You went up there and you did your business, correct? >> Correct. Yeah. >> business do you have here? >> So I just With all due respect, I don't have to explain that to you. I don't have to explain this to >> stay in the building, a sergeant's coming by to discuss it with you, okay? >> A sergeant from the community service officer? >> From the police department. >> From police department? >> department as well. Sergeant Nick will come by and discuss it with you, okay? >> Oh, sure. Whatever you want to do. I mean, I'm just taking pictures and videos. >> As the conversation became more intense, a sergeant stepped in and everyone thought things were finally about to get resolved. But after just a few opening words, the sergeant's oddly aggressive attitude instantly changed the entire atmosphere. >> How you doing, sir? >> Hey, how are you? >> What can we do for you today? >> Um nothing. I'm just exercising my First Amendment right. >> Okay. Are you here for official business? >> Yes, sir. >> What's your official business? >> I was uh in the town clerk and I also now have to see the law department. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> You saw the law department? >> No, didn't go up to the law department yet. >> Let's go see him. Who do you want to see there? Who you got an appointment >> why Why do you have to escort me over there? This is a public building, is it not? >> Don't start nonsense, please, okay? I'm very I'm a man. I can't talk to your nonsense, okay? >> Sir, if very busy, why are you here? >> I'm busy. I'm actually responding to a call in the building. >> This is a public building. How could I intrude? >> You're intruding on your officer, okay? >> I understand that. How can How can I intrude in a public building? >> What can we do for you? >> Sir, I I would ask that you use a little bit of de-escalation. >> I'm not escalating. >> Can I get your name? >> I'll give you my card. I'll give you my card. Give me my name and card, okay? >> Appreciate it. >> is what we got. What's your name? >> I'm not I haven't committed a crime, so I'm not going to give you my name. >> Okay, well, you know what? I'm telling you now. Tell me your name, okay? I know you I don't know what your what's your your thing you're trying to do. The police is too busy for nonsense, okay? >> So, why are you here? >> Because >> I I'm peacefully exercising a a right. I'm peacefully exercising a right that you took an oath to to uphold. >> I know you're recording. This is going before I take off and you too and everything, okay? I'm a busy person. If you're here for a reason, go to go to your business and go ahead. Don't start it. >> But, sir, if you're so busy, just quite frankly, you should go back to work and do what you need to do. >> It's my job, responding to calls. >> be, sir. That's That's That is Suspicion is not a crime, sir. >> is acting suspicious according to there. Sir, I'm going to exit that way. >> Suspicion is not a crime, sir. I'm peacefully exercising a right that you took an oath to uphold. That's all. >> As the confrontation continued to escalate, the forceful accusations quickly turned the conversation into a heated argument over civil rights and the law, raising one troubling question: Was this still law enforcement or simply authority going beyond its limits? >> Who do you want to see in the law department? >> Sir, you're being very You're being very uh confrontational with me, like and it concerns me that you're a sergeant of the police department. As a sergeant, you're a supervisor, but yet you Instead of coming in here and de-escalating a situation No, but you know No, no, no. You're You're You're trying to give me commands. I don't have to I don't Yeah. Sir, my purpose is constitutionally protected activity, sir. >> You have an appointment with the law department? You can go to the law department. >> So, this is a This is a public building. This is a public building. >> And your actions are suspicious. I'm called here because of your actions. I'm not here for that particular reason. >> What is What is suspicious about what I'm doing, sir? >> You're walking around the building. You're not going to an appointment. You're not going to any >> I went into offices and I've asked them to I'm work I'm an I'm an I'm an independent journalist gathering content for a story, which is freedom of press. >> What story is that? >> I'm working on a story. I don't have to disclose that. I'm working on a story. I'm gathering This is an old building. This is an old historic building. I'm going around taking pictures and videos of everything in public. That's all I'm doing here. There's no sus- And even if I was suspicious is a is a state of mind, sir. You know, I could say that you're acting suspicious by coming over here and and and starting yelling at me and raising your voice. >> No one's yelling at you, sir. I'm talking through this mask so you can hear me. >> I understand. But, what I'm saying is Okay. Okay. I know. But, you're making it seem like I'm trying to provoke something. You're trying to You're trying to make it seem like I'm trying to provoke something out of me. You said, "Oh, I don't have time for this." What don't you have time for? If you don't I agree you should be wasting your time. I wasn't being smart with you and that's why I video this. Thank you. I told you I'm an independent journalist. Okay, great. Okay, great. I'm an independent journalist, just so you know, okay? Okay, great. Thanks, officer. >> After the tense confrontation, the officers' attitude suddenly shifted as if they had realized something. But, what surprised many people even more was the place they decided to take him next. >> Somewhere over here. Do you know where the Department of Law office is, uh, sergeant? Oh, missed it. >> Can I get your name and badge number, sir, please? >> You're going in here? >> Yeah, can I just get your name >> in here? >> Can I just get your name and badge number? >> You here for me or you here for the law office? >> Well, you're here for me, so I just want to know I want to know who I'm dealing with. Sergeant, can you instruct your officer to identify himself, please? So I could just know who I'm dealing with. That's the right way to go. It's part of policy, yeah. Part of your policy. Thank you. >> sir, are you here Who are you here for? >> Well >> You're not here for me, are you? >> You're here for me, so I want to know who I'm dealing with. That's all. Not a big deal. >> Video taking. You want to write him up? Cuz he wants to talk to the law department. So, we just make sure he found the law department. Just see what his purpose is and we'll be all set. Thank you. >> Sure, thanks. >> Hi. Hi, yeah, I just wanted to discuss with the law department about what is the policy of the city hall regarding filming in public areas and exercising a constitutionally protected activity, which is the First Amendment, freedom of press. I'm an independent journalist. And I have these two officers right here who are called here for I don't know why. I'm just peacefully recording in the hallways and in public areas. That's all. So. >> Sure, sir, let me hang on. Let me grab an attorney who can handle this for you, okay? >> Thank you. Appreciate it. Sure, sure. >> Okay, we can give you a good day out here. Thank you. >> Yeah, good. Stay safe out there, guys. No, there was no need for this. >> It's okay, sir, but my job is to respond. If you call for a suspicious person, I have to respond. I respond >> I know. suspicious person, okay? I understand you have to respond, but >> That's what I'm saying. We're short-handed, we're busy. That's why we respond to all calls. >> I'm sorry that you have to deal with this cuz this is not this is not a I didn't call, obviously. >> But listen carefully. Listen carefully. Our resources, we try to respond to everything that we can, okay? >> Mhm. >> You have city [clears throat] hall which is a prime area that we have to protect. >> Mhm. >> Like any other place. >> Yeah. >> So, I'm responsible >> You you don't just want to make it clear. You don't have to protect it from me. I'm just an independent journalist. >> of city hall. >> I understand that. >> So, that's why they call me. >> Yeah. >> Okay, I was in the garage getting rings on my car so I had to come down, but that's okay, okay? I just make sure city hall is safe. >> Yeah, it and and and you can see that it is, right? Okay. >> After all the heated questioning, no arrest was ever made, but it was the behavior of some law enforcement officers that left many people questioning what they had just witnessed. Citizens can sue police under Section 1983 when their rights are violated. Officers who violate those rights [music] may face compensation payouts, disciplinary action, or even termination. In a civilized society, authority only has real value when it is exercised with respect for the law and the dignity of the people. 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. Thank you so much. >> [music]