Oh, look at this. 1, 2, 3. Wow. All for a camera, huh? Well, we got a panic button activation. >> Oh, sweet. Five police officers here for a man with a camera. Um you guys took an oath to the Constitution, right? To uphold our rights. This is a right of the press. Just because of a camera inside a public building, police immediately intervened and began issuing controversial orders. I rang their buzzer? Is that what they said? Yeah, they said there's someone at the window that wouldn't leave. Oh, wow. So, you're right, I didn't leave cuz I don't have to, right? If you want to go conduct business, please go in there, buy your stamps, get your cards, and then leave. Now, as the town manager, I'm telling you that you're being disruptive in my town. These officers thought they were in control of the situation, but just minutes later, the very camera they wanted turned off became evidence in a multi-million dollar lawsuit. A man walks into city hall with a camera in his hand. Just minutes later, the atmosphere inside the office begins to grow tense. An employee demands that he stop recording because of privacy, but the cameraman insists this is a public building and he has the right to film. Are you videoing? Are you videoing? Am I videoing? Yeah. What is videoing? Are you taking a video, sir? Kind of sort of, yeah. Pictures, video. Yeah. because of privacy. Am I videoing? We have confidential confidential documents on in this in this area. This is vital records. Okay, you should probably cover them up to protect that privacy. No, I'm going to tell you to stop videoing. No, this is a public building and I'm not This information that is passed where people are not standing. We Uh-huh. videotaping. >> That that's We don't have This is why there's a lock. This is why there's this. Yeah. That's why I'm not in there. Kind of sort of. It's okay. I'm going to do my thing. I'm going to go about my business, and you can go about protecting the privacy. I'm asking you to to to stop taking a video of our office. No, this is a public building, and I'm in a publicly accessible area. I can record. Privacy. Oh my gosh, please. Well, don't worry about it, man. Just go back to work. I'm not bothering you. The argument over the right to film in a public building quickly makes the atmosphere inside the office tense. Soon, the first officer arrives on the scene, but instead of quickly ending the situation, the presence of police opens the door to an entirely new confrontation. Hey, Deb. Hi, how are you? I'm pretty good. Can I get your name, badge number? I'm Sergeant McGovern, badge number two. McGovern? Yep. Nice. Awesome. 09, she's walking towards the front apartment with male subject. He can be sitting here pointing and answering his questions, but to sit here and video back here with this is what her title is. I'm sorry. I know, the audacity of them having a camera of their own. >> [laughter] >> Okay. All right. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, if he's he's in a public place, I can't force him to leave, but I can definitely Well, she can, and then she'd be violating my rights, so. >> stand by and make sure there's no issues. Oh, jeez. We're going to be here for a long time then. Just go back to work. It's There's no sense to be in a huff. You're not breaking any laws. I listen, I hear you, but they they called me to come up here, so Yeah, I know. I can't, you know, pick and choose where where I go when I'm at Of course you can. Are you a sergeant? Yes. Yeah, so you probably have a whole fleet of people you have to watch, right? >> Yeah. So, go do it. There's no problems here. There's no issues. I'm not climbing over there, you know? Yeah, I understand. So, I'm glad you educated her, but yeah, you should probably I don't need to be babysat. All right. That's not going to happen today. Okay. Yeah, cuz then I'll be be qualified as harassment. This is sort of harassment in my workplace. There's no such thing as harassing a public employee. Well, you could still harass someone, you know. >> No, I can ask him basic questions about what's going on here and everything else. That's not harassment. And if I don't have it, but when I asked you to to leave with that camera, you know that you just told me, "Go back and do my job." >> Exactly. Yeah. And I'm in my right to protect the vital records >> You do. And that's what I told you to do. If you're so concerned about privacy, you should probably go protect that information. But you should already know that. And I asked her to please submit your own and leave our office. >> If you shut off yours, I'll shut off mine. That's the deal. >> She doesn't She's not in charge of the cameras. So, that is not something that she I'm in charge of my rights and I'm going to exercise them today. I I don't see anything back there that's sensitive that you could zoom in on, but I But the onus is on her. That's what she needs to understand. Anything I can see in public, I can record. And I don't I just don't think After speaking with the camera man, the first officer appears to understand that he is standing in a public area and has not violated any laws, but the tension inside the office hasn't cooled down. Just minutes later, a panic alarm is suddenly triggered and what happens next turns the entire city hall hallway into chaos. if that makes you feel comfortable, but Okay. That's going to be a long time. Okay. Oh, I got a battery pack in about 12 hours of battery, so Oh, look at this. Here comes reinforcement. I'll leave when it closes, yeah. Hello. Okay. You're going to close it early? Oh, look at this. 1 2 3. Wow. All for a camera, huh? Well, we got a panic button activation. >> Oh, sweet. Sweet over a camera. That's hilarious. Uh uh what? Is that watch real? What does that mean? Is that a real diamond? I'm not going to answer that. I don't know. This Is yours? Just asking. Yeah, this is a real iWatch. This is Good name? Badge number? Yep. Strain 47. How do you spell it? S T R E I N. Nice. Sir? Marshall, badge 34. 34, sir. Name, badge number? My name is Davis. Davis. >> 28. Awesome, nice. Yeah, man. Wow, four officers for a First Amendment protected activity. It looks like >> activation. It looks like they need a lot of education. So, there's four officers here. Hopefully, for Let's be one of you can educate them. >> clear, it's for an alarm activation, okay? So, we didn't know what the problem was when we came. >> That's a little excessive. Maybe we should defund you guys on Maybe. Absolutely, yeah. Yeah, yeah, well. Okay. Do they have any information I can for like email before they leave? I have no problem. Yeah. >> You can find everything on our city website. >> So, why you guys work here if you guys just tell people to go to the website? That doesn't make any sense. That's You're looking for contact information? >> Do you have a business card, ma'am? I don't. You don't. Can you write your email and your name down just so I can pull some records? And then I'll head out the office since you want to close. Thank you. Just because of a camera, several officers showed up at city hall after a panic alarm was triggered. The conversation between the cameraman and the police continued as both sides tried to explain their positions, but just when things seemed to calm down, a new argument suddenly erupted. Hey, Don. Oh. You got a name? Badge number? Sorry. Name, badge number? Name and badge number? Yeah. Yes. Please don't say right there. What is your name? What's that? What is your name? Mullen. Mullen, thank you. You have a badge number? I do. What is it? Four. Four. Sir? Carter, 41. Carter, 41. Awesome. You guys like sergeants or just patrol? Patrol. Just patrol? Yeah. You guys babysitting me? No. Yeah, you are. Yeah. Uh, panic alarm already got hit. What is that? So, I have a right to actually walk in this building and say nothing to anybody. But, you you also hear them ring their buzzer and go up there and I rang their buzzer? Is that what they said? Yeah, they said there's someone at the window who wouldn't leave. Oh, wow. So, you're right, I didn't leave cuz I don't have to, right? And if I did ring their buzzer, it's not illegal. If I asked him if I if if I asked me filming in public is literally all I need to do. Nothing to do with filming in public. No, it does, though. Because then what you do is you say you're disorderly. Well, you I didn't say that, either. I said then you go to the oh, you're disorderly, you're stopping them from it would be what, interfering with government administration, correct? Is that cuz I did hold on, hold on, hold on, Carter, right? Because let me just inform you of something. The other You hold on, I will. Two days ago, I just won a case against two chiefs, a prosecutor, and a dispatcher for the same exact charge of disorderly conduct and interfering with government administration. And guess what? They got dismissed. Exactly. So, go about your day. So, go about your day. You want to get in my face now? There you are. Yeah, well. But, you're young, Lawless, so we're going to have a communication. Oh, okay. You're saying that it's a waste of my time and government resources by being here. >> It's a waste of my my tax dollars. >> is you're wasting tax dollars by bothering those I didn't bother anybody. They're claiming you are. Well, then you can fight that in court with my camera footage. Fine. And then we can go from there. Fine. I fine. How am I going to get to court from your camera footage? If you put me under arrest for >> you under arrest? Are you under arrest? We're having a conversation. >> even investigating. You're sitting here watching me wasting your time. You're right, cuz you wasted their time. So, you want to waste my time? Sure. This is definitely not wasting my time. Not wasting my The argument between the cameraman and the officers grows increasingly tense. But, instead of leaving, the confrontation moves into a new phase. The back and forth between the cameraman and the officers continues to escalate and this time all eyes in the hallway are focused on the heated dispute. Why Why would you care about my rights? No, I'm not infringing upon your rights. So, why would I care about them right now? You're infringing upon my rights. What a statement, man. Yeah? Oh, man. You know how many people are going to see this video? Probably ones. Ones? Oh, jeez. >> people. Ones of people, huh? >> Probably. That's where you guys underestimate me. Maybe. You think I'm going to You think I'm going to post it to Facebook with like 15 friends or something? >> know. I don't do social media. No? Nope. All right, you're going to learn about it in a few days. Okay. When you get thousands of phone calls and emails. Okay. So, in your department. They're talking about how you guys are just standing around baby sitting somebody who's exercising their rights. Mhm. When you have other things to do out there, you know. All right. Yeah, so. I mean, I could jump on that now and get thousands of people to do that right now. Maybe you guys will get back to work and the phone calls will stop. >> But, we're supposed to be done here. We're on overtime because you're up here. We got a call Oh, so it's my fault you're on overtime? >> No, hey. It's not your fault. Oh, so you're loving this. We're directed >> But, what law are you protecting? There's no laws being broken, man. >> People feel like they're being harassed. They're not being harassed. Let me tell you how they're being harassed, okay? Because I have a right to come in here and I have a right to record my government officials in the closer they duties. Hold on. I also have a right I also have a right to redress my government. Okay? I also have a right to get services. >> Everything's on video in here. Oh, yeah. But, the irony is that they call you because of mine. Yeah, you're right. Do you see where I'm going now? What Do you understand what I'm talking What I What What what I told you I did in there and in that office is exactly what I did. I'm not going to lie. I can't lie. The camera says it all, right? So, but in that instance, when they flip the script and they say, "Oh, you're making me feel uncomfortable. You're harassing me by asking me questions and I don't like the camera. You're now harassing me and you're disorderly and so forth and so on." But it's really not. It It's not. I'm not stopping. The last thing I want these people to do is stop working. In the end, things gradually calm down, leaving behind a situation that shows how just a single camera was enough to bring an entire city hall and multiple officers into the situation. Citizens can sue police under Section Officers who violate those rights may face compensation payouts, disciplinary action, or even termination. Up next, after entering the post office and starting to record, the cameraman quickly draws the attention of the staff at the counter. Within seconds, the atmosphere becomes tense as an employee loudly demands that he stop filming immediately. Huh? I'm taking You can't take pictures here. I'm taking video. No, you can't do that. Why can't I take it? >> That's not allowed here. This is a federal building. It's a federal building? >> take video tapes or pictures in here. What do you mean? Sir, stop or exit the building. But >> Stop video taping or exit the building. >> Ma'am, why are you so upset? What am I doing wrong? >> told you you can't video tape in here. But why are you screaming at me? Why are you He's video taping stuff in here. Relax. >> But why are you Why are you video taping? I'm an independent journalist gathering content for a story. She's freaking out on me. I wasn't even video taping her. >> you nicely the first time. Yes, you did. Because Ma'am, ma'am, because I was because I didn't walk out of here when you told me to. Well, you know, individual people they don't like to be video taped. Ma'am, you were You You weren't You weren't You weren't You weren't even here. I wasn't video I wasn't even videotaping her. I was videotaping the scenery and the walls and and all the different things you got going on here, all the different signs and stuff. >> Well, see they don't they don't really like that. Who doesn't like that? >> [music] >> Yeah, I'm Yeah, I'm I'm I'm casing the the United States Post Office. That makes a lot of sense. Well, I I want to steal a bunch I want to steal a bunch of stamps. And you're still taping, I guess, right? I am still taping Yes, that's what I do. Yeah. Yeah, call the chief. Do what you got to do. Iris, you need to calm down. There's no reason for you to treat the public that way. >> I asked you nicely the first time, sir. No, you How did I push your buttons? I'm s- The argument between the cameraman and the post office employee grows increasingly tense as both sides stand firm in their positions. Just minutes later, the situation enters a new phase when local police arrive to handle the incident, opening the door to an entirely different confrontation. You're not making a big deal. You're making a big deal about this for no reason. I'm assuming this is the chief of police. How we doing, sir? Hey, how are you, sir? Uh nothing much, just browsing. Browsing and uh Why was I called? Because I'm videotaping, which is constitutionally protected activity. So, yeah. That's why. >> issues? Other than the videotaping with constitutionally protected activity. Can Can I ask why you're videotaping? I'm an independent journalist gathering content for a story. Okay, so So, that That's your only reason here? No, I'm also browsing. Browsing in the post office? Yeah. [music] Do you want to see Look at these. W- What's the difference of going out there and talking? >> Cuz this gentleman doesn't want me talking. Oh, yeah, we can We can go outside and talk. That's fine. That's fine. Yeah, you I mean, you don't have to. >> in the lobby here. And what was your name again? It's Lieutenant Henderson, Garden Grove City Police. Oh, okay. I thought you were a chief. You're here for journalistic Journalist and I'm and I'm services. >> Well, what what brings you here to the post office? I just told you I'm gathering content for a story. Right over here on the poster seven, the rules and regulations governing conduct on postal property. Right here. Okay. >> Photographs can be taken for news purposes and commercial purposes in the lobbies, foyers. So, this would be considered a lobby, so would that. >> considered a lobby? Yeah, correct. Yeah. And a lobby is somewhere, you know, you wait, right? >> So, why this post office? Just thought it was a good post office to do. Why? >> have any kind of You don't have any kind of uh You're not conducting interviews specifically for this post office. You >> No, no, no. When the police arrived, the conversation initially remains fairly calm. The cameraman explains why he is recording and even points to the posted regulations on the wall to support his right to film. But instead of ending there, the situation begins to escalate as more people step in. New demands are made and the confrontation enters a more tense phase. Okay. Well, I just all I want to let you know is that if you are telling me to leave, giving me an order to leave, I will leave. I don't want to be trespassing. If you're giving me an order to leave, I will leave. I I have to still buy my stamps. I still have to, you know, I want to look at the cards. How are you guys doing? Can Can I just get your names and badge numbers? For what? We just got here, so we don't know what's going on. Courtesy, the courtesy. Profes- professionalism. Oh, but I don't want to move too close to them. I can't see that far. So, can you identify yourself? Yeah. I mean, you're not really being professional. >> what do we got going on? You're not being professional. I'm asking three law enforcement officers to identify themselves. You guys come in here with your gloves on and Yeah. This is a federal building. and This but this is in the city of Delaware City and I'm asking you if you're going to conduct business, please conduct your business. >> I'm going to get my stamp. >> Please conduct your business and then leave. But you're being disruptive to the people who have come in here and they've expressed that to me. >> The How is carrying a camera being disruptive, sir? >> Because they don't want to be videotaped doing their own personal business. >> No one's This is a public building. There's no expectation of privacy in public. >> Sir, I'm asking you nicely. Please finish up what you need to do, get your stamps, get your cards, and please leave. If you want to videotape out there the rest of the day, so be it. If you want to be out back the rest of the day, please. But inside here, let people have their privacy. Sir, I'm not I'm not done with conducting my story and like I said, if you want to tell if you want to give me a lawful order to leave because I'm trespassing, I will leave. That's not a problem. I just think that five police officers here is a big waste of resources. Sure. I'll I'll move out of his way. No problem. No problem. Five police officers here for a man with a camera. I'm You guys took an oath to the Constitution, right? To uphold our rights. This is a right of the press. I want to know what's going on in this post office. I'm conducting business. Even after explaining multiple times that he was simply doing journalistic work, the officers still demanded that the cameraman quickly finish what he was doing and leave the post office. When he continued to question his rights, the atmosphere between him and the officers began to grow even more tense. Yeah. And I will do my business and leave. If they feel uncomfortable, then that's why we're here for them. >> But you're not the feelings police. Okay. You're not. You're not. So, it is What what what statute in in Delaware is uncomfortable? Let's make your stamp and let's leave. I'm not going to sit here and argue with you. I I don't want to argue with you either. >> You're in a place of business, do your business, and you leave. >> Yeah, I'm conducting business. My business is a I'm a journalist. >> Okay. That's that's fine. >> Okay. And and and there's rules There's rules There's There's rules and regulations behind you. >> place. Go in, you do your business, and you leave. I haven't said anything about you filming. You can film me all you want. I'm filming you, too. So. >> Great, yeah. I just I would like to know your names and badge numbers. I mean, shouldn't Can I get on YouTube, too? Yes. >> Thank you. You want You want to be on YouTube? No. Oh, okay. Thank you. Thank you. Does that mean anything? You don't want to be on YouTube? Do you not want to be filmed? Do you not want to be filmed? We'll make sure you get this gentleman's information. Get Priscilla. Cuz he's filming. >> He's in a public building. >> Let him. None of us had said anything about you filming. You're You have every right to film, whatever you want to do. I know that. But you also not supposed to stay around and be stay in the building when they're trying to conduct business. What do you I I am conducting I am conducting my own business. I'm a journalist. I'm a journalist. I'm a journalist. Listen. You guys Okay, and I don't care that you're law enforcement. I really don't. No, no one's asked me to leave. I even I said it multiple times. I've said it multiple times. If the If the lieutenant would like me to leave, >> saying you're going to do your business and leave. So, Yeah. No, I'm going to get my stamp right now. We could have had a positive experience from the get-go, just so you know. Didn't have to go like this. What's your name, brother? My name? Oh, I'm I'm not going to give it. I'm not going to. So, so you can ask us for our names, and we have to give you our names, but Yeah, that's your that's your policy. >> Thank you. Welcome. So, you're not going to give me your name? That's your policy. >> What's your YouTube channel? Oh, you'll you'll you'll know what it is. You'll you'll You'll figure it out. You have a card? Can I get a card? No. What's What's your >> What's your YouTube channel? I want to watch >> Hold on, I don't want This guy's behind me. I just don't want anybody behind me. >> It's a public spot. I know, but that's why I'm moving. That's why I'm moving. The argument between the cameraman and the officers grows increasingly heated as neither side is willing to back down. And just as the cameraman prepares to leave the post office, a new situation unexpectedly unfolds outside, showing that the confrontation is far from over. Very interesting. Were you in Annapolis? Oh. Annapolis? I don't know. Maybe I've been there before. Annapolis post office? And [music] the inspectors came. You saw it. Did you see it? Yeah, we'll get all your information from there. Oh, great. Yeah, there you go. I got nothing to hide. Okay, cool. We don't either. Yeah. We just wish people would use some common sense. Yeah, me too, man. I wish they I I really wish they would understand that that a constitutionally protected activity is not against the law. You're not feelings enforcement, buddy. You're law enforcement. >> Buddy, pal. You're You're You're You're law enforcement. >> Okay, cool. Law. Hey, can you can you back up? You're making me uncomfortable with how close you are to my partner. Oh. Is that against the law? I just I'll take I'll take I'll take I'll take one step back. But your your your partner can move out of my way. Hold the door for me. He can move out of my way. I don't need the door held open for me. I'm not I'm past the door. Have a great day. You too. See you. Have a nice day. Just so you're not going to come back here. Have a nice day. You did Have a nice day. You've been very sarcastic and very very hostile and unprofessional. You're dismissed now. Have a nice day. What is dismissed? Yeah, you're dismissed now. Have a nice day. Cuz none of us are hostile. Mhm. You're just sarcastic. You're just sarcastic. I'm sarcastic. I'll find out if you're going to be arrested. That's the same thing That's the same thing about as a a threat of arrest. You're You're basically telling me you're going to arrest me. Mhm. You guys are kind of blocking people from going inside. Might want to get out of the way. Ooh, you're lucky that didn't hit me. I would have defended myself, for sure. That could have been assault. Oof, you lucked out. You lucked out on that one. This guy's on the phone. The confrontation ends with many questions still unanswered about the right to film in public spaces and how law enforcement responds when those rights are exercised. When law enforcement [music] officers do not clearly understand or respect the constitutional rights of citizens, tension and a loss of trust in society can easily arise. Hey everyone, what do you think about this situation? If you enjoyed the video, don't forget to like, [music] subscribe, and support us with a donation. Thank you so much. >> [music]