Do you have your ID on you? For what? Am I under arrest? Take that out of your pocket for me. I was looking around. Okay. Keep your hands out of your pockets, please. It's not in my pocket. Can I summarize the film, sir? Look, right now, like I said, we've got children that come in and out of here. Children are allowed to be filmed, what? Children are allowed to be videotaped. >> Not if they're victims. Some of these are victims of crimes. That's what this business is here for, so they could come and go. But, all right. Well, hold on. Just hold on right there. Power is given to protect, but with a lack of understanding or control, it can cause more harm than crime itself. Okay. Well, right now, this isn't an open business. This isn't an open area. Okay? This is private property, technically it's the city's, yes, but during normal business hours, you're more than welcome to come through the parking lot. Today, let's watch how officers who believed they were above the law [music] end up being turned away by the law itself. He was just standing there, simply [music] observing, not touching anything. Yet, in less than a minute, this man was surrounded and ordered to produce identification. Bingo. What were you doing looking through our cars? Huh? You were looking through the cars? What do you mean? I saw you right there looking through the cars. What car did I look through? You were looking through that car, that car, that car. I was looking through them? What's that mean? Like, going [music] through one window and out the other? I don't understand what you mean looking through. You were shining your flashlight. Yeah, like looking in the passenger window and through the driver side window? Looking through all of them? You seen where my eyes were looking? I could see you. I was sitting right there. You were looking around. >> I'm well aware where you were sitting, but I'm just saying, is that illegal? To look in other people's vehicles? Yeah. It is. What's the [music] What statute is that? I mean, you could possibly be breaking in. Well, we don't care about possibly, we want law. Do you have your ID on you? For what? Am I under arrest? You're suspicious. Obviously, you're looking through cars. All right, so I'm under arrest? You're detained right now. Yes. For what crime? Looking through vehicles. It's not a crime. You got a supervisor? I sure do. He's busy at the moment. As soon as they're ready, can I see him? I mean, you can. Cool. He'll be waiting for you. Okay. 10-4. Do you know what the statute for looking in cars windows is? You said you're waiting for a supervisor, I'm not going to talk to you. No charge, no statute. Yet police still declared him detained. But the story doesn't end there. Because just minutes later, the situation escalates into something far more intense. The man insists he has committed no crime. While police still cannot cite a single specific law. And the confrontation officially escalates. So, is there a reason why you're looking at the vehicles in our parking lot, sir? I was Can you empty your pockets for me? I was looking around. Okay. Keep your hands out of your pockets for me. It's not in my pocket. We're not going to play this game right now. I'm going to ask you a question. I'm just going to need you to answer it. Just take your hand out of your pocket. >> It's not in my pocket. So, you understand that that's suspicious behavior that we got to check out on, right? Is there a reason why you were in I mean, I don't understand, no. Okay. Well, right now, this isn't an open business. This isn't an open area. Okay? This is private property. Technically, it's the city's, yes. But during normal business hours, you're more than welcome to come through the parking lot. But at 11:00 at night, it's suspicious and we have to investigate that, okay? Okay. So, because I did stop talk with you, I do have to make a record of this interaction. Do you have any any kind of identification on you? So, I'd just say we talk to you. Am I under arrest? You're not under arrest, but you are detained for my investigation. Okay, I mean, go ahead and investigate. >> Okay. So, do you have any kind of identification on you, sir? Um am I under arrest? >> You are You are being detained. >> Florida statute 3802, I'm only required to give you my ID if I'm under arrest. I'm asking. That's all. That's it. Okay. As long as we're on the same page. That's totally fine. Okay. So, what I do need you to do though, if you could just stand in front of her vehicle. Okay. I was trying to find the police department for a complaint form. Oh, you need a complaint form? I can help you with that. That's That's what I'm here for, if you want to know. Yeah, and see that's fine. I can actually run in and get you the complaint form if you need it. I can also tell you, if you wanted to file a complaint, we do have all of our forms online. So, you can submit it that way. Yeah, I'd like to get it in person paper, if possible. Yeah, give me a second. I'm going to walk into the PD then and see if I can print you off a copy of that. >> Sweet. Appreciate it. Police ordered the man to keep his hands out of his pockets, repeatedly emphasizing the phrase "suspicious behavior". But when pressed, "Suspicious of what? And in violation of which law?" The answers remained vague and circular. And as their arguments began to run dry, the man introduced a legal concept, seemingly simple, yet powerful enough to change the entire dynamic. You know what that is? What is it? I don't have any personal information. You don't want to answer my So, you So, you don't know. Yeah, but you're a public servant. You're a public servant. That's the difference. You're a public servant. No, I don't have to. I have the right to remain silent. I can invoke rights. You have no rights. You don't have rights when you're on the job. You understand that? You do need to answer questions. I am standing here, but you can still answer my questions. You're the servant. Yeah, you do. Me. I'm the highest ranking person here right now. >> Are you my boss? Yes, I'm the highest-ranking person here. I'm a citizen, you're a servant. Do you not get that? You run around these streets acting like it's something other than that or what? Plain view doctrine gives you the right to look into cars and it gives me the right to look into cars, too. So, it's not really suspicious, is it? So, now why am I being detained? This is an unlawful detainment and I'd like to know why. What excuse are you going to come up with next or why I'm unlawfully detained? Can you tell me this? You just go around detaining people for fun cuz you're bored? Cuz it's a small town, you got nothing to do? What is it? Nothing? She's got nothing, folks. She's got nothing. What's your name and badge number? Officer Lee's, 128. Can you say it louder? I can't hear you from that far. Can you say it where I can hear you? Officer Lee's, 128. 128. How do you spell your last name? Lee's, L E E S. Okay, Lee's. Got you. It sounded like you were saying Leets or something. I couldn't tell. So, they said this is private property. >> [laughter] >> With just a few carefully chosen words, the man forced those standing before him to make a choice. Continue explaining or withdraw the basis for the detention. But, does it ending here mean everything was truly resolved? Because moments later, the story takes an unexpected turn into a world of procedures, paperwork, and accountability. One The one thing I do want to point out to you here is you would if you wanted to turn it in and make a formal complaint, you have to have it notarized and return back to us. >> Okay. Yeah, um if you wanted to fill this out and fill bring it back to us during normal business hours, >> Okay. they'd be able to take it from you at the law enforcement department. since it has to be notarized, there's no way to do it anonymously? Unfortunately, we don't investigate anonymous complaints. You can go online and you can make an anonymous >> What do you mean by you don't investigate anonymous complaints? >> So, for me to pass that up the chain of command my way, I would have to have it notarized. >> So, unless you guys are able to retaliate against somebody by knowing who they are, you refuse to take it. >> So, it's a swearable document and we have to make sure that whatever the person is complaining, they're willing to swear that it is true and correct to the best of their knowledge. And that's to keep people from filing false complaints. >> Sure. Uh I can tell you if you were to go down on the website and submit an anonymous complaint, that's out of my hands. Okay. I don't deal with that personally. I don't know how that process looks. I just know for me You don't know if if you do it online if it has to be notarized or not. >> No. Okay. >> I don't know off the top of my head. I can tell you though that we do get those. I don't know the process for that. >> Do you guys have a internal affairs? We do. Okay, like on site or We do. We do have an internal affairs division. We also have if there's any investigation we can't handle >> Is that who I give this to? That will go to our records division. Our records division will then get it to internal affairs which So, I can't give it to internal affairs. >> No. Okay. >> Unfortunately, it it just be your stop right here would be inside that door there. There's a window to the right. Okay. That's who you would speak to. Yeah, I went up there. I seen the hours. I I seen something said called nine. I I didn't I was looking for a push button or something. I didn't see anything. I went around that way. Didn't see anything and then she pulls up over here. So, So, we're because we're a smaller department, we don't staff 24/7. We just use kind of really banker's hours for lack of a better term and that's that's just because of our staffing. Okay. Um is there any other questions I can answer for you? No, I'm just she said I'm detained. So, And that's the thing. We do have to just make sure you're not up to, you know, someone out here breaking into cars. I wasn't I didn't touch anything. >> No, you're fine. We've we've established that you haven't committed any I I looked around under the plain view doctrine and that's it, man. That's the thing. Now that we know that you're just exercising your rights, you're free to go, sir. Appreciate it. You have a good night. >> What was your name and badge? >> My name >> Corporal Speedy. My badge number is 126. Thanks for being As the tension begins to ease, a stack of paperwork appears. And right here, a larger question comes into focus. When citizens attempt to report misconduct, does the system truly encourage accountability? Under Section 1983, a citizen may sue police officers for violations of constitutional rights. Officers found to have violated those rights may face civil liability, financial damages, disciplinary action, or termination. Up next, within the first few seconds, a camera is turned on inside a public building, and immediately, the trouble begins. Hello. Hello. What you doing? What you got here? Uh just some camera equipment. Just coming in to take a tour of the publicly accessible areas of the building. You you We don't want that You got to get permission from the uh public works. From the public works? Uh-huh. You got to go to public works to get that permission to walk walk around here with a camera. Okay. Is that some kind of policy or law? Cuz I was just at the other health department. I didn't have no problem. Well, right here, we can't We can't just let you walk around with a camera. That's invading people's privacy and what they doing in here. There's no privacy in public. That's No. You You can't You can't bring that in. Okay. Are you sure? Is there a policy? Can I see the policy? Cuz I'm positive. I go to health departments all the time. Thank you, Leah. Is there a building administrator or a supervisor, somebody I can talk to? >> of security. I'm the supervisor. Of the security? What about for the building? Cuz You have to go to public works, before you can be over here. Okay. If you could Google public works, get their phone number, and speak to the head coordinator over there. If they grant you permission, tell them to give me a call, and you'll get past this point. Until then, you can't go in. Okay. But, I can stay out here, right? No, you can't be on this property at all, video recording people on this property. So, I can't stand out here on the sidewalk. You You can stay, but you can't record anybody on this property, now. Now, what you doing on the sidewalk out there, that's nothing to do with this building. Ma'am, I don't think that's right. Anywhere the public's allowed, a journalist is allowed to record. Yes, and once that journalist come in, they give us their head of contact, and also the people will let us know. No, no, no. They have to let us know. Nobody contacted me. You You could do that yourself. It look like something you did yourself. I did do it myself. I'm an independent journalist. Yeah, you know that. That's not going to work. No statute, no written policy, just a familiar line. You're not allowed to film here. It's at this moment that the line between internal rules and constitutional rights begins to blur. But, it doesn't stop there. When the filming doesn't end, another option is presented, and the situation immediately escalates. No large purses or bags, no weapons or bicycles. I just I just I just told you don't point that camera. We got people coming out this building. Go on the sidewalk. But, not up here. No, this is fine. This is a public area. You cannot be right here, now. If I have to call the police, that's what I have to do. I'm telling you your right. You can go on to Ma'am, I don't think that's right. Okay, do you need 911 to come and explain it to you? Well, 911 is for an emergency. >> a no. It's for anything that's not a non-emergency. That's what There there's a non-emergency number you can call if you really need to, but So, is you going to continue to point your camera up here after I don't told you that you can't? Yeah. Go to the sidewalk and I have an officer come pick you up. I mean, come talk to you. Okay. Until then, you need to put your camera down. I'll be all right. I mean, I don't I don't care about you sitting up here. I'm just saying it camera-wise. You can't have your camera up. You can't videotape. How do you How do you know it's even video recording? I know you videotape, but I'm telling you you can't you can't be up here videotaping people. That's against their rights. They don't want to be on camera doing their business. Now, you need to either step to the sidewalk or put your camera down or I'm going to have to call 911. Okay. You sure this is So, you're going to continue to stand here after I don't ask you five times to back to the sidewalk? Yeah. Okay. A warning is repeated again and again. A phone call is mentioned. And at this point, the real question is no longer is filming allowed, but how far is power being pushed? Just minutes later, as tensions reach their peak, those with actual authority arrive, and the conversation enters an entirely different phase. Why you filming here? Cuz I'm allowed to. The First Amendment gives me the right to. So, you okay if I want to go talk to them because sometimes we got some victims that walk in and out of this place. Okay? Okay. So, go speak to the speak to the officer right here. What's going on, sir? How you doing today? Pretty good. Good. You're doing one of those uh First Amendment audits? Well, this is a First Amendment protected activity, so but uh no, I just came in the video the publicly accessible areas of the building. The lady said, "Oh, you're not allowed to do that." I said, "Of course I am. The public's allowed in, why wouldn't a journalist be allowed in?" So. I'm independent, but I've done over 500 of these in state buildings, so. Yeah. Okay. I know the laws, I know my rights, and I know what loitering is and what disorderly conduct is, you know, all the other All the other statutes? >> All the other statutes that they try to hem me up for on public property when you're not actually really committing a crime. Yeah. So. But yeah, the lady was nice at first. I just walked in there and she was like You have some rights to film, sir. But right now, like I said, we've got the children that come in and out of here. >> Children are allowed to be What? Children are allowed to be videoed. >> Not if they're victims. Some of these are victims of crimes. >> How do we know? >> want to That's what That's the business. That's what this business is here for. So, they can come and go. But all right, you can hold on. Hold on right there. Can Thank you. Only if I'm being suspected of a crime. So, you're not willing to just uh No, you guys know the deal. You know the codes. >> I I I know the codes. It's just one of our procedures that we do and I'm just asking you if you're willing to do >> and someone that wants to protect their rights is definitely going to follow the law, which the law states unless you suspect me of a crime or committing a crime or about to commit a crime, I don't have to ID. So, I don't I don't want to be not cordial to you folks, but I also want to remain, you know, Remain with your stance. >> Right, exactly. I'm I'm out here for a reason and and the reason is is that a lot of times people's rights are violated because they don't understand them. Police arrive. The phrase "suspicious behavior" is raised once again. But is suspicion a crime? And police demand personal information without any legal basis for a crime. Yet the story isn't over. Because as events unfold, quiet admissions begin to surface. And the truth reveals itself in ways no one expected. How you doing? Hello. How are you? I'm good. How are you? >> of the supervisors, administrator actually, on the second floor. Excellent. What exactly are you doing? I'm just videotaping, video recording. Why are you video recording? >> Well, because it's our right as press to go into public buildings. It's actually a 11th Circuit decision here out of Georgia Smith versus City of [ __ ] We're allowed to keep track of our public officials in the course of their public duties. The public officials? Public officials is anybody who gets paid public dollars to do public work. And so you're with an organization? No, I'm an independent journalist. You're independent journalist from where? I'm originally from my mother, but I mean those kind of questions have no bearing on what I'm doing here or why it's legal or Yeah, we're just trying to get an understanding why you're here recording, period. Well, because it's a public building and I have an absolute right to. Okay. Obviously, you know we understand that. You have every right. Of course. Of course. No, absolutely. And you got to come and you got to come and you got to ask questions. I understand that. Well, no. And and trust me, like I said, I I this is probably my 494th public building. And and I told them I've had these conversations more times than I care to to to remember. Uh and and you know, when I first started doing it, there was a lot of friction, but as more and more people were a a you know, acclimated and you know, more memos went out and and more information like that became available. Uh you know, now and and and I'll be honest, I'm not from Georgia, I'm from Florida. Most After a series of confrontations, [music] the final statement stands in stark contrast to how it all began. This is not a story [music] about a single building, a single community, or a single day, but a reminder to all of us of the importance of understanding and protecting our own rights. A healthy society is not one [music] where people stay silent out of fear of being harassed, labeled, or treated [music] like criminals. 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. [music] Thank you so much.