I I think they got the policy. There's there can't be a policy that trumps the United States Constitution of freedom of the press. You guys understand that? >> I have the right to defend myself. >> Okay. Try try. You're leaving the building. You're leaving the building. >> A harmless bit of filming, but it struck right at their ego of authority and the police began [music] to lose control. >> I don't I don't owe you know any explanation. The manager of the building said, "Did you have to leave?" The security guard said, When the police couldn't [music] find a reason to make an arrest, they started looking for ways to ban the law. But this time, they picked the wrong person. No one expected [music] that a simple lift of a camera would throw the entire office into chaos and trigger a police call [music] so fast you'd have to replay it to believe it. >> I'm sorry. I'm working on the labor department. >> The moment the camera appeared, the entire office [music] fell into chaos. Employees repeatedly demanded he leave despite no violation, setting the stage for [music] a tense confrontation. >> No, I don't need any help. I'm just here to take some photographs of the lobby. >> Four. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I'm working on the labor department. >> Okay. >> Right. >> You are from the labor department? >> No, I I'm the independent journalist just working on a story on the labor department. >> Okay. I don't know about pictures here. Can you mind if I get approval real quick? I'm sure it's fine. Yeah. >> I mean, if you want a chalk, you're more than welcome to, but I'm telling it's it's all right. Thank you. Let me just >> Job service specifically over the home department or >> uh just what's available for the public? >> Who can I ask who you uh checked with? >> My supervisor. >> The supervisor of the >> this office. >> All right. Could I ask that name of that person? >> Tim. Tim, hang on a second. >> Hi. >> This is our supervisor. >> This is super No, I was just wondering who she checked with to make sure it was all right that I was filming here. That's all. Oh. Um, we'd actually It's not allowed. >> What's not allowed? >> Say you can't you can't film within the office. I'm gonna have to ask you to leave if you want. >> This office open this office is open to the public. >> It is. >> Well, then it shouldn't be a problem. >> What's your business? >> Me? >> Yes. >> Oh, I'm just working on a story on the labor department here. Getting a view of what's available to the public. >> Okay. Well, we have people that are responsible for media. So, if you're interested, we can put you in touch with them. >> Oh, no. I don't I don't need to I don't need to talk to anybody >> within the office. >> I don't need to talk to anybody. >> Okay. Well, I can't have you recording in the office. >> Can I get your name? >> Yep. My name is Jessica. >> Jessica. And where were you informed that it's not allowed to be filmed in here? >> The public are not allowed to film inside of our office. >> Well, I'm not going in your office. I'm just in the publicly accessible area. >> I am going to have to ask you to leave. Um, >> when the [clears throat] police arrived, instead of verifying the facts, they tried to force the cameramen to leave the public area and a heated debate erupted as he challenged every misunderstanding. >> Disruptful. I'm just taking what's available to the public. >> I take your photo. Um I don't I mean it's your right to but you know if you take your phone out and take a photo during work that your phone becomes uh foilable freedom of information law New York state law like while you're on duty if you take your phone out your personal phone >> for my bosses and if the police ask just in case cuz they are going they're being called right now so they will be >> I'm just I'm just saying if you if you take a picture with your personal phone while you're on the duty your uh phone can become uh subject to foil in New York State which is federal uh New York State law. >> They can use my phone if something comes up like that. I understand. Do you mind if I take your photo? >> No. Go ahead. >> Can I get clear access on your face? >> You take it. You do whatever you want. I'm not going to stop you. >> Okay. But I need to see your face. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> You can't record back there though. Back. >> Yeah, I'm not back there. >> That's public area. You can't film it. Yeah, I'm not back there. I'm in in the publicly accessible area. Okay. >> But you're filming in private area. >> But you can agree that the people who are in this lobby publicly accessible area can they can see back there, right? >> I do >> through that window. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. So, >> I'm just asking you. >> I'm not going back there. >> I'm just asking you not to. >> Yeah, I understand. You guys keep asking me to leave and ask me to stop recording here, too. But it's >> As soon as you're finished with your business, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. The more the police argued, the more their misunderstanding of the law became obvious. While the auditor kept countering them, making the situation grow more tense by the minute. >> Okay. Well, if they don't want you here, >> Well, that's not really how >> kind of trespass >> That's not That's not how trespass law works in public. >> Well, if they want you removed from the property, they can have It's just like say you were in 7-Eleven or whatever. >> No, no, no. 7-Eleven is a is not public. 7-Eleven is a private business. Correct. >> How you doing, sir? >> How you doing? >> Good. So, if they don't want you here, what is the reason like that you want to stay? >> Well, what is the reason they want me to leave is the real question cuz this is publicly accessible. It's open to the public and I'm just here in public. >> I understand that. >> Um I don't Did you ask them in here? >> Okay. >> I think they got the policy. There's there can't be a policy that trumps the United States Constitution of freedom of the press. You guys understand that? >> And trespassing from public is not the same as trespassing from 7-Eleven. That's private property. If the priv they wanted private property, I'd have to leave. But this is public, open to the public. Them asking me to leave or you trying to trespass me. Trespassing in public is a secondary crime. Filming is not a is not a crime. And being in public is not a crime. So, um I'm just going to finish up a few more photos and I'll probably my way. Yeah, I got no reason to uh I'm not causing a disturbance. I'm not trying to collect anybody's personal information doing their work here. And I'm not, you know, asking these guys to take time from their day to help me. I'm just taking some photographs here. And I think that they're confused as that they can ask somebody to leave public without committing a crime. >> Well, just I I don't think that's their concern. I think it's just unusual. That's all. Yeah. >> You know, they probably don't get that every day. >> No. No. you know, and I I I know that you're probably here doing uh a piece for yourself just to kind of prove a point, which is fine. >> No, I'm just, you know, here exercise my rights as free of the press and at the end of the day get some of the information here. >> Just unusual for someone to come in and >> How how do you pronounce your last name? >> Strike. >> Strike. Do you have a badge number? >> 03. >> You guys are both Lockport police. >> Yes, sir. When every argument failed, the police began dodging even the simplest request, turning the entire exchange into a battle of ego and a lack of transparency. >> As far as their policy goes, we don't work for them, so we're not quite sure what policy it is. And we certainly can look into that. >> Yeah. I mean, the first amendment right to film in public going to we're not going to drag out of here in cuffs or anything. I mean, that's >> of course not cuz you know, I'd have to break a break a law to be put in a handcuff. So, um, who who called this in? You >> supervisor Jessica, >> can can I talk to you privately just to see what's going on here? >> I'll bury it with you. Okay. >> Okay. >> So, I think the main concern was just people's privacy. >> Yeah. I'm not not understanding you have a little bit of respect for people's privacy. >> It is a public place. >> Um, back here is not public. Okay. That's by appointment only. So, if you have an appointment, that's one thing. If you don't, um, that's something different. Um, as far as paperwork that goes on around here, it does have people's personal information on zooming in or taking pictures of that, but that's something you can't do. >> Yeah, of course. >> So, um, >> are you almost finished? >> Yeah, I'll probably leave I'll probably leave right after you guys. >> Okay. All right. Uh, can I grab your information? Are you willing to give me that? >> No, I don't wish to wait my fourth amendment, right? I figured, >> but if I could get a CAT number, a call number for this. >> Well, as soon as we get the report done, you're more than welcome to come down and get it there. I'm forcibly removing you from anywhere. >> Sounds good. >> Okay, >> let's go out there and get that number. >> You can stop down at the station. >> I got all uh the information I need here. >> Okay, that's fine. I just we still have to talk to a couple people here and then if you want to wait. >> Hold on one second. >> Temp, you can um you can stop down. and we can give you any report you need. Okay. >> All right. >> Okay. Thanks for your time. >> Citizens can sue police officers under SS100983 when their rights are violated. Officers who break the law may be required to pay damages and face disciplinary action or termination. A citizen continued exercising his rights. The police couldn't make an arrest, leaving clear signs of potential misconduct that could lead to complaints or even a section 1983 lawsuit. Up next, the moment the auditor stepped into the public building, everything flipped instantly. Employees feared the camera more than an actual criminal. >> Hello. >> Hello. How are you? >> Good. >> Are you Joe? >> Who? >> Joe? >> No. >> Oh, okay. I'm sorry. What's your name? Oh. Uh, I go by James. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I'm just doing a tour of the facility. He told me to come talk to you. So, >> to come back, >> uh, whoever the security guard is. Yeah. >> So, who you do? Who do you? >> I'm So, I'm a free press journalist. I just do like uh individual stories and stuff about what the facility is and what it does, what services they have. So, >> So, you cannot go past the second floor. You can only do the the first floor here. >> Okay. >> And honestly, to go past the first floor because there are confidential. >> Is it like is it all like key card access only? >> Pardon me. >> Is it only like key card access only? >> Uh some of the floors are key card access only. >> Okay. Yeah. I'm just going into like the public areas of the public lobby. So like if any place has like a public lobby, I just get like the information on the walls and then I like turn it into a story. So >> I can't let you go past the first floor because if you don't have actual business with child >> I I have business so I want to fill out some paperwork for your request and whatnot. So >> every answer suddenly became vague and any excuse was used to block him from going upstairs to file a foyer request making the situation increasingly tense and confusing. >> Which floor is the children's services on? >> Car you got to go. >> Huh? You got to leave. >> Why? >> You just got to leave me. Don't question me. >> Like, what do you mean? >> My supervisor. >> Who? Her? >> Yes, sir. >> For what? >> I'm just going off of what she said. >> Well, this is public building though. I don't have to leave. >> You tell you got to go. You got to go. >> I have service to conduct though. >> Service. >> I'm going up to Children's Services. Fill out some [music] employer requests. So, >> I document everything. >> So, I'm a free press journalist. I do stories about different uh facilities and whatnot. >> I mean, anybody she could tell me I have to go cuz she doesn't like the clothes I'm wearing. That's why there has to be a law behind that. >> If she supervis you have to leave, you have to leave. >> Well, I don't have to. >> Supervisor, you do. >> Who is the supervisor? Just a supervisor. >> That's our supervisor. Yeah, but I'm in a public building just staying to the public areas. But I haven't done anything, you know, nefarious or anything like that. >> According to my supervisor, she said you have to leave. That is my supervisor. That's who I work for. She said you have to leave. So you have to leave. >> I'm just sticking to the public areas of a public building. That's it. >> This is my supervisor. >> All right. Well, >> at this point, tensions erupted when security suddenly ordered him to leave immediately while the auditor firmly stood his ground, sparking a fierce confrontation. >> You have to leave. >> Wait, why are you guys >> I'm listening to my supervisor. She will have to leave. >> It's a public building though. >> We got to go. You got to leave. >> Let's go. So basically I was talking to her. >> This is what we need you to do. I need you to follow directions. This is the security here. I'm the officer here. They say you have to leave the premises. >> You're a deputy sheriff? >> Yes, I am. You have to leave the premises. >> And what for though? Like that's what I was asking. >> I listen this is what I'm explaining you. Yeah. >> I don't I don't owe you know any explanation. >> Well, you of the building said that you have to leave. The security guard said that you have to leave. >> But I haven't done anything. I have business. >> Let's go. >> You're barking up the tree. Let's go, man. >> You're burning up the wrong tree. >> Okay, we need to go cuz I know Go ahead, Sheriff. Okay, that's fine. Ask me do it. Let's go. Now you're putting on me. >> I'm I'm asking you to leave. >> And I'm asking you to leave. >> I'm asking you to leave. I'm asking you to leave. >> Putting his hands on. >> The supervisor said you have to leave the building. >> I haven't done anything nefarious. >> You have to leave the building. You have to leave the building. >> Keep pushing me. I'm going to defend myself, man. >> Defend yourself. >> Oh, there you go. Grabbing your gun. Look at him, guys. We have a tire right here. >> Come on. Let's go. >> Ignorant. >> Okay. Yeah, >> this fool keeps putting his hands on me for nothing. I'm not doing anything nefarious. >> And if I don't, what happened? Threat of arrest. >> I would I get arrested if I don't leave. >> That's what I'm asking you. >> Where's the supervisor at? >> You want him to leave the building? >> We want them to leave. >> What? What have I done, man? >> Come on, let's go. What have Let's go, dude. Try it. You don't want to do that. >> No, you keep pushing putting your hands on me. I have the right to defend myself. >> Okay, try it. Try. You're leaving the building. >> You're leaving the building. And if I don't leave, I'll be >> leaving the You're leaving the building. >> You're leaving the building. You can record me, sir. That's fine. [music] I'm okay with that. >> You're going to be fired. >> I have a You're going to be fired. >> I have a security. >> You're going to be fired. >> And a supervisor. You're going to be fired. And I have several You're going to be fired. You have to leave. >> You're going to be fired. >> You're not tough, dude. You think you're a tough guy. >> I'm not I'm not your job in 2 seconds. >> Okay, that's fine. >> Yeah. Just look how close you're getting to me. >> Just leave the premises. >> Look how close you're getting to putting your hands on. >> Leave the premises. >> He just put his hands on me. Thank you. >> You're a tyrant, dude. >> You're an ignorant fool. You don't know the law. >> Okay. What law? >> You have to leave. The supervisor say you have to leave. >> Security kept closing in, issuing rapid fire orders and even using their hands to push him outside, turning the confrontation from a verbal dispute into a genuinely dangerous situation. >> They want him. I told him going to be detained. >> But you didn't tell that. You didn't tell me that. >> We're we're we're here. Don't Don't even engage. Don't even >> You messed up, man. And we're we're having supervisor come down cuz >> No, no, I mean one of our supervisor cuz I mean you know how >> Yeah. So >> we're going to we're going to try to get this figured out. Uh >> but he can step. >> I do want to press charges on him for putting hands on me. >> Do you have an ID with you though? >> Uh yeah, I don't provide it. >> Well, then how are you going to press charges? >> Uh I will like when when it gets to that point. Yeah, I will. If I know that you guys are going to actually follow through with it, I will provide ID. >> How would you know if we don't get the ID to continue our investigation? >> Well, when it comes to that point, well, I'll do it. But I'm not just going to hand it over to you right now. >> Okay. >> We got to wait for the supervisor and everything. >> We're going to have [clears throat] supervisor come down and we're going to we're going to get everything. >> You do know this is public property. Do you know that? >> Sir, here's here's representatives of this building. It's state property. >> It's public property. >> For what? >> That's their policy. >> So they could just kick anybody out. Even if they don't like what clothes they're wearing, they can just kick them out. >> Why do you think it has to do with your clothes? >> It's the same thing. I'm exercising my constitutional right. Why would you kick me out just because I have a camera? >> Gotcha. I'm sorry. I have I just got caught by the Dunder Mifflin ID. That's >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's a free press. Good citizen. >> Gotcha. Okay. Yep. Just give us a couple minutes. We're going to have a supervisor come down and uh we'll we'll have him explain. >> Yeah. Yeah. And that guy did put his hands on me a lot of times. I have it on GoPro, too. So, >> no. >> Yeah. I do this all over the place. I know what I'm doing. Don't >> go back in. Just for the time being, we're trying to >> I'm not going back in. I'm coming up to the window. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. That has nothing to do with it, man. >> The police arrived, but instead of clarifying the facts, they huddled together in vague discussions, adding even more suspicion and tension. This was a clear sign of an investigation lacking objectivity, lacking proper procedure, and possibly even covering for each other. Next. Do you believe that simply holding up your phone to film a police car can get you pulled over? Are civil rights at stake in the middle of New York? >> Can't be turned into a crime. Just like somebody playing on the sidewalk can't be turned into a crime. You can't say you're loitering and you can't say that you're being disorderly. You know what I mean? >> So, just uh some advice to you is just be careful. Be careful telling >> I'm just letting you I mean, if you want to open yourself up to the lawsuit, that's fine because I I already got you on camera telling me >> what happens when an ordinary citizen knows the law and dares to resist vague instructions from the police. This confrontation will make you rethink your freedom. >> They stuck on their on their phones. >> There must be a fire somewhere. >> Hello. >> Hi. >> What are you doing? You know what that white box is? >> Do you know what that white box is? >> Well, the medicine. >> Can we help you? >> No, I'm okay. Thank you. You just told me to stop recording in public. >> I said stop recording the vehicle. >> You basically just told me to stop recording in public. >> Yep. >> Why would you tell me that? >> Said stop recording the vehicle. >> Why would you tell me to stop recording in public? What's your name and badge number? Can I have your card? >> Can I have your card, please? >> Badge number 24735. >> Nice to meet you. I'm Guy. >> Nice to meet you. >> What's your name? How you doing? My name is >> Beeran. All I heard is mad Spanish. You have a a card? >> Yes, please. Yeah. >> Why would you tell me to stop recording? >> Cuz why are you so close to the vehicle? I'm recording inside of the vehicle. >> What's the problem? Me recording or me being close to the vehicle? >> You recording inside of our department vehicle? >> Ours, right? Like the pee boos, >> the city >> or ours as in >> the cities. The cities, right? >> That means the city property, right? >> I answered that question already. >> Can I have your car, please? >> And then you you asked me if I needed help and I asked you a question about the car. You didn't want to answer my question about the car. So, obviously, you don't want to help me. >> Do you want to help me or >> we trying to figure out what the problem was? >> I'm just investigating the city property. That's it. It's not strange. >> We trying to see if you needed help. >> No. Yeah. Yeah, I was asking I was asking you a question about the car. You didn't want to answer it. >> A crime, no violence, but the atmosphere was tense. One wrong word from the police and it could be a lawsuit worth tens of thousands of dollars. >> Huh? >> That's what you were asking. What is inside of our >> Yeah, there's a white box on there. I was wondering if you knew what it was. All police cars have something different. I find them interesting. So, I investigate them cuz it's city property and the people pay taxes to fund these vehicles. They're public property. >> Yeah, like the taxes. I mean, you pay taxes. >> Everybody pay taxes. >> You pay taxes on tax money. >> So, it's a little bit different, >> but um you told me so I can't record in public. So, why she told me to stop recording? >> But you was recording inside the vehicle, so we had to make sure that things were good with you. >> Yeah, all is well. I'm just >> to make sure we are safe. >> Yeah, you're safe. I'm not a a threat to you. >> Oh, yeah. I'm just recording inside the vehicle. >> That's fine. No problem. >> There's no problem, right? I'm sure you could. >> But the problem became when she told me to stop recording. >> No, but she said >> that right there. You could you you just open yourself up to a lawsuit. You can you not even supposed to tell me to stop recording. Me recording is not supposed to be a problem at all. >> Do you know why? >> Do you know why me recording is shouldn't be a problem at all? Because you swore to protect my rights. You're here to protect the Constitution, >> okay? >> And all of our rights. That's like if I was praying here and you tell me to stop praying. You understand how serious that is? You can't tell me to stop praying. You can't tell me to stop talking. You can't tell me to stop recording because they're all protected on the First Amendment and they're protected by YouTube, you know? So, you immediately telling me to stop recording is bad. Most officers or most tyrants that I run into, and I don't think you're tyrants. Most tyrants that I run into, they always say, "No, you record, you can record all you want, but don't do this and this and so they try to make it to where like recording is the problem for them, but they know they can't say recording is the problem." You understand? So, they make it into something else. Oh, you're being disorderly or this and that. It's always try to be signed up. So they try to turn photography into a crime, which just like somebody playing on the sidewalk can't be turned into a crime. You can't say you're loitering and you can't say that you're being disorderly. You know what I mean? >> So just some advice to you is just be careful. Be careful with telling >> the cameras go up, the police step in, and a seemingly innocuous statement could end up being used as evidence in a federal court. >> Not to not to exercise my rights in public. So, like I said, do what you got to do. >> No one told you to stop recording inside of the vehicle. No one told you to stop recording in general. >> I'm still exercising my rights. >> I'm still exercising my rights in public and you're telling me not to. >> You cannot record inside of the vehicle. >> You understand what she want? You want to record? >> I can record whatever I want. >> You're not going to record inside of the vehicle? >> You're telling me I'm not going to? So, what happens if I record inside the vehicle? >> I just told you. >> You don't see how she's talking to me? I'm trying to be polite and cordial this whole time. >> You understand? >> It might be tamed. No, you're not. >> So why is she telling me why she trying to get to us? >> Why you trying to give me directives? >> I can record the car all I want. What's your name, bro? That's fine. >> Guy guy. >> So you saying I can't record the car? >> I told you you can. I said not in the vehicle. >> I can record anywhere. I'm in public. >> I'm not inside your car. I'm outside in the public. >> Again, guy, you know that was an unusual situation. >> You don't really get that on a normal day. >> Yeah. If there's no crimes being committed, that means I'm free. >> Yeah. You're free to go. So, she's telling me she's >> No one ever stopped you. Nobody's in your way. Nobody's telling you you can't. >> You said I'm not going to You're not going to record the car. >> Okay. >> So, I'm asking what happens if I do record the car. No, I'm asking you a question. >> And you asked if you being detained and you're not being detained. >> Okay. >> Okay. Then, >> you know why I'm not being detained? Cuz there's no crime. Photography is not a crime. No matter how you feel. So, you should get like your ego out the way. >> Mhm. >> As long as I'm not damaging the vehicle. I'm not breaking into the vehicle. A seemingly ordinary street filming moment has opened up a debate about constitutional rights, freedom, and abuse of power. So where's the line between protection and control? >> You don't have to you don't have to raise your voice at me, >> brother. From afar, we couldn't tell. >> No, I understand. So I said, "Okay, let me just take pictures." >> You know, I didn't want to some stuff. >> That's fine. >> That's fine. >> Yeah. I just don't like the unlawful directives. If I'm not being detained or I'm not arrested, this this activity is constitutionally protected. It's supposed to be protected by you. You're supposed to protect my rights, sir. I see you're exercising your rights. Just don't damage the vehicle cuz then I'd have to arrest you. >> Don't commit any crimes. Well, you didn't even have to tell me what to do. I know what I'm doing. >> Okay. So, do you need anything else from us? >> I needed your car, but you never gave it to me. You did give me your car. Thank you. I apologize. >> All right. Bye. Thank you so much. >> No problem. You stay safe out here. All right. Just, you know, >> just adise her not to say it on camera ever again cuz Somebody else was sua. You know what I mean? >> You keep the car clean. That's good. That's one of the things I'm investigating. >> Citizens recorded the entire incident, providing clear evidence of the police's illegal request. If the incident were brought to legal attention, the police could face [music] civil charges for violating constitutional rights. Society is only truly safe when those entrusted with enforcing the law respect the fundamental freedoms of every citizen and when each of us has the courage to speak up and the clarity to protect one another from actions that cross the line. 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.