Just gathering content for a little story I'm working on. I prefer not to identify. Okay, I'd like to see it. You're required by law to give me your ID. I was just coming out to let you know I'm not here to bust your balls. I know you're on the sidewalk. The only thing I will say they mentioned that you might have been in the parking lot earlier. I just wanted to remind you you can't be doing it in the parking lot. When citizens refuse to provide ID, situations can quickly escalate and the legal consequences may be far greater than most people expect. But we just want to make sure that you're not coming out here trying to snoop around and do something. Cuz people tend to do reconnaissance, you know? A poorly timed decision to demand ID can turn a simple encounter into a lawsuit that could destroy an officer's entire career. Just as the camera starts rolling, an unexpected 911 call is made. A stranger accuses the cameraman of doing something suspicious. But is it truly a threat? Or simply a lawful right that many people still don't understand? Hello there. How Hi. Hey, I just called 911. I thought it was kind of unusual that you're taking photographs of a Taking photographs of me, I take it. Okay. What are you Why are you taking photographs of a facility Well, I don't see how that's any of your concern, sir. >> see it's any of my business? Okay, well, let 911 talk to you then. Okay, well, I'm on a public sidewalk. They're more than happy. All right. Well, we got this individual here. All right. And we've got this gentleman who uh called 911 on me earlier. He's parked down the street. Wants to know why I'm taking pictures of the juvenile hall. Said he's going to have 911 deal with me. So, we'll see what happens when the cavalry gets here. All right there, we got a shot of Old Glory. And below Old Glory is the California State Bear Flag. Always flying high and proud. This looks like some kind of a entrance for prisoner transport vehicles. Tension quickly builds in the area when a 911 call is made over nothing more than a camera. Within minutes, police arrive and begin asking tough questions. And the situation soon escalates beyond anyone's expectations. We got the Santa Maria Police Department on the scene. Hi, how you doing? >> Good. How are you? Great, thank you. Uh so, the juvenile hall wanted to know why you're video taping there. Just gathering content for a little story I'm working on. Okay. Something like YouTube or something? Uh just I have a blog and this such. >> Okay. Do you have ID on you? Uh I prefer not to identify. Okay. I'd like to see it. You're required by law to give me your ID. Uh actually, unless I've been suspected of committing a crime, I'm not required to. >> You're filming a government building. Uh from a public sidewalk. Right. That's >> Which is perfectly legal. Right. I have the right the right to detain you, okay? And I you're required to identify yourself. Well, You're not being charged with anything. >> I understand that. I understand that, officer, but I do understand California law, unless you have a reasonable suspicion that I've actually committed a crime. Okay. Filming a government building from a public sidewalk, which is protected by the First Amendment, is not a crime. No, but I have the right to detain you to figure out what's going on, okay? Okay. You're out here dressed in all BDU's, you got a video camera, two video cameras, okay? Okay. Juvenile Hall Okay, if no crime is committed, then no big deal, okay? But I do have the right to identify you. I'm You are required to give me your ID. No, I'm not. Unless I Unless you have reasonable suspicion that I've actually committed a crime, I'm not required to identify myself. No, I'm not. >> detained. Okay, officer, what am I being detained for? >> of why you're out dressed and acting all weird in front of this building. Well, suspicion is not a crime. Right, that's not probable cause. Reasonable suspicion to detain you to investigate what's going on. Okay, and I just told you what's going on. Well, officer, at this point, I'd like to speak to a supervisor, so I would ask that you call a sergeant out here. >> Absolutely. The conversation quickly turns into an argument as police repeatedly demand identification, while the cameraman firmly refuses. And when the situation reaches a deadlock, a decision is made that could change the entire course of events. How you doing, dude? Hi, how you doing, sir? Good. What are you doing? Oh, just gathering content for a little story. Doing what? Just gathering uh content, like B-roll, for a little story I'm doing. Cool. What's the story on? Uh it's uh just for a blog I write. What blog is that? Uh I'd rather not say at this time cuz it's not published yet, so you know, just getting some B-roll. Okay. Hey, but you understand why we came out here? I understand. Okay. It's uh you think it's a little weird that you're out here filming Juvenile Hall? Okay. Well, I've been on the public sidewalk the whole time. I haven't gone on any restricted areas. Okay. But, we just want to make sure that you're not coming out here trying to mess around and do something. Cuz people will tend to be cognizant, you know? Yeah. You want to talk to the sergeant, I take it? Yeah, because uh like like the other officer, you know, she asked for my ID. I respectfully decline because, you know, I I I know my rights are unless there's reasonable suspicion that a crime has actually been committed, I'm not required to identify myself. So, um the other officer here is it suggesting that she has the right to ID me. I'm saying no. So, at this point I think it'd be best to have a supervisor come out where we can clarify all this. Okay. So, just to clarify, I am being legally detained. I'm not free to leave. Well, as I know, you haven't done anything criminal. We just asked who you were. Okay. Well, the other officer here said that I was being detained. So. I think it's suspicious that you're out here filming at Juvenile Hall. Okay. Yeah, I was detaining you to find out who you are. Oh, so I'm being detained. I'm detaining you. I'm not free to leave then. Okay. All right. I didn't see you commit any crime or anything. Just trying to figure out why you're out here filming. Okay. And like I said, I I mean I understand that. You got a call for service, you have to come out and investigate. I explained to you what I was doing. But, you know, and you've even admitted that I'm not doing anything wrong. There's no crime being committed. >> being committed. Then I I really don't understand why I'm being detained. When a supervisor arrives, the conversation seems like it might be resolved, but instead, the tension continues to escalate. And just minutes later, the dispute intensifies as both sides begin directly confronting each other with legal arguments. Sergeant Lara, Santa Maria Police Department. Today's date is 1:23 of 2017. The time is 16:13 hours. Are you getting that? Yes, sir. >> Okay, good. I want to stamp too, okay? >> is I just Your officers made contact with me. I explained to them I'm gathering content for a little story I'm doing. All right. And one of your officers, she wanted to identify see my ID. I told her I prefer not to. And she >> you have the right to ask for your ID because they called us here. It is a juvenile hall facility here. So, we do have every authority, okay? So, if you're doing a story, yes, we do have that right, sir. Okay. And I explained to your officer that unless I understand California law, I've been through this before. >> Okay. Unless you have reasonable suspicion >> We do have reasonable suspicion cuz you're that I've actually committed a crime, Okay. That's true. So, we have people that do reconnaissance on police, on our juvenile hall facilities, jail facilities, people that gather information, take videos, surveillance, try to identify us, identify our vehicles, and do all that kind of stuff for malicious purposes, okay? And I'm not saying that's what you're doing. I don't know what you're doing out here. You're saying that you're doing this for a blog or whatever. So, we are detaining you to figure out whether or not you're doing this for malicious purposes or completely innocent purposes. And if it's for completely innocent purposes, that's totally fine. But we do have the right to identify you, okay? And if we ID you and everything's good to go, then you're fine. >> And I have a right to decline because I I know the law. I know my right. I'm not trying to be confrontational or anything. But unless you have reasonable suspicion that I've actually committed a crime, I'm not required to identify myself. >> way a detention works, right? We don't have probable cause at this point. The reason we detain people is to investigate something to see whether or not a crime has been committed. So, when we detain somebody, at that point we do not know whether or not a crime has been committed or not yet, okay? It's during the detention we do our investigation to identify that person and find out why they're there doing what they're doing. And if no crime has been committed, there's no probable cause, and that person is free to go. But during a detention, that's when we do our investigation. At that point, the person is required to identify themselves by law. No crime has been committed that I can tell at this point. You're right. That's correct. But we still have the right to detain you and to identify you. Police continue insisting they have the authority to detain for investigation, while the cameraman remains firm in defending his civil rights. But after several tense minutes, the situation takes an unexpected turn when officers make a decision that shifts the entire confrontation into a completely new phase. >> [cough] >> All right, this is what's going to happen. Okay, sir. Okay. We're going to stand around till you take care of your business. Okay, and then Whatever you need for your blog, do the filming here, from here. And obviously that's private property over there. Okay. And then just then leave when you're ready, okay? We're going to stand around here to make sure that the facility is safe. Okay, that's perfectly fine. >> kids in here, and that's our main concern here. Kids. Mhm. Okay? So, we don't know what you're doing here, and we don't feel comfortable just leaving you here. So, we are going to stay stick around, and then when you're ready to do when you're done, then you can leave. Actually, I'm already ready. Well, then we can get going then, okay? Okay. And everything will be documented. We'll write our report everything, all the Okay. pictures and everything. So, we have our own little information, too, okay? Okay. All right, so whenever you're ready, you can get out of here or whatever you're going to do. So, I'm no longer being detained. I'm free to go. >> you can you're free to go. Okay. Ooh, that's a bad angle. Oh, yeah, the glare. Yeah, don't want to glare. Okay. >> Then again, we're doing all this for the safety of the children in there. Okay. All righty. All right. Perfect. So, um Okay. >> See you now. All right. Thank you. Have a good day. The confrontation ends without any arrests. However, questions about authority, the law, and the limits of police power continue to spark debate among many people. Up next, an ordinary day in Franklin, Massachusetts, until a man stands on a sidewalk filming a bank, and within minutes, his actions draw unexpected attention. I can't hear you. What are you I'm videoing. What? I got Again, I just can't hear you. What do you have to say that's Now, obviously, I can hear but I know you guys can't, so. I think she might hit the curb if she does. >> Questions and suspicious looks begin to surface as the camera man continues recording. Everything still seems calm, but not for long. Soon after, an unexpected conversation pushes the situation into rising tension. So, we'll see if we have somebody coming to talk. And here he is. How's it going? Good. Yourself? Not too bad. What can I help you with? >> Can I ask why you're taking videos of the bank? Oh, yeah, absolutely. I'm out here stress testing the first amendment right to record in public here today. Okay. Do you support the Constitution? Absolutely. Awesome. That's what we love to hear, man. All righty. Can I please ask you not to take videos of the bank? >> Hold on, but you just said you supported the Constitution. That I do, sir. And so, do you do you know what the first amendment is, or are you just yesing me today? Yes. Why don't you educate me? Well, the First Amendment right gives me the freedom as an American citizen or a US citizen in public to have the freedom of press. And I am press. All right. Thank you, sir. Hey, have a good one. You as well. Sorry about all the noise, guys. We do have some construction right across the street here. The conversation with staff quickly turns into a debate over the right to film in public. Despite no clear violation taking place, discomfort continues to grow, making the situation more tense. And just minutes later, the arrival of law enforcement pushes the story in a completely new direction. 10-4, man. How's it going? What's going on? And let me ask you a question. Sure. You think it's acceptable to park like that? What's that? You think You think it's acceptable to park like that? >> Well, it's not blocking anybody. So, you think you're telling me you wouldn't threaten somebody with a ticket if they parked like that? >> Me personally, no. Okay. Um I I just coming out to let you know I'm not here to bust your balls. I know you're on the sidewalk. The only thing I will say, they mentioned that you might have been in the parking lot earlier. I just wanted to remind you you can't be doing it in the parking lot. Yeah, I know. Just make sure you don't run into the street or go inside and try to rob the bank or anything and you'll be all set. You won't be arrested. All right. And what was your name and badge number by the way? Monreal, 65. 65, sweet. Thanks. Do you have an ID on you by chance? An ID? Yeah. Why is that? Just asking. Yeah, I do. >> Normally we identify people we come in contact Normally you identify people you come in contact with. Really? Interesting. Yeah, well, I do have my ID and I'm not going to give it to you. Okay. Fair enough. You should really think about that if that's really your policy, man. What's that? I mean, when you put it through the system and run people's ID, it stays in the database forever, man. You shouldn't be doing that. It's not really right. That's how we do the job. It's unfortunate. All right. Is that how you do the job, too? What's that? The parking job. Is that how you do that usually, too? Sometimes. Yeah, sometimes. All right. All right, I think you should work on fixing that, too. Okay. You have a good day. You, too. Bored, huh? I'm sorry? Bored, huh? I I can't I can't hear you. I said, "Are you bored?" Am I bored? What? Yes, sir. Bored as dirt. Get a job. I have a job. It's right here. Police arrive and the exchange seems like it might end quickly. But an unexpected request makes the situation more sensitive. The cameraman stands firm and the conversation grows increasingly tense. And just minutes later, reactions from bystanders heat up the scene in ways no one anticipated. And that sun is really right in her eye. I'm sorry? Again, I couldn't hear you. Have a good one. I'm sorry? What do you [ __ ] Don't take pictures of me, boy. I know the cops coming. >> See you later, buddy. No way, we got another Karen cam back, baby. That's what I'm talking about. That is what I'm talking about right there. The encounter ends without any arrests, but the disputes over personal rights and the limits of the law leave many unanswered questions. Citizens may file lawsuits against police [music] under Section 1983 if their rights are violated. Officers found to have violated those rights [music] could face financial liability, disciplinary action, or even termination. A lack of understanding, impulsive actions, or abuse of authority, no matter who it comes from, can leave long-lasting consequences, not only legally, but also by damaging trust and unity within the community. 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. >> [music]