If you do not stop recording, we're going to have to charge you with obstruction and then >> obstruction of what? >> Obstruction of justice since we're asking you to stop. Stop recording. >> Yeah. >> Hold on a minute. No record in the lobby. Turn it off. >> Well, I've been here many times before and they said they said I'm fine. >> No recording in the lobby. >> But why is it >> We're asking you politely to stop recording. [music] >> A sudden threatening command echoes through the air, marking an explosive turning point no one saw coming. >> I'm just I was I was ready I was ready to actually leave. I just have to do my open records request. Um, and get out of here. >> You guys are a bunch of tyrants. You're a bunch of You bunch of clown bunch of clown tyrants. >> Leave. >> I am leaving. I am leaving. >> The deputy's chilling [music] words instantly shifted the entire situation, igniting the moment of confrontation. The moment he stepped into the courthouse, the journalist was immediately blocked from filming and suspiciously [music] pressed for ID, dragging the entire building into a tense standoff. >> Wait, sir, you can't film in here. >> What do you mean? I'm >> Who are you? >> I'm courthouse [music] security. >> Courthouse security. Your name and badge number and department? >> Morgan. Badge number 18. Pittsburgh County Sheriff's Office. >> Okay. Uh, Deputy Morgan. >> Yeah. Why wouldn't I be able to record? Is there a statute, a law against recording? >> There is a sign. [clears throat] >> Yeah. Signs. Signs don't signs really don't concern me. Anybody can make a sign. and I could make a sign and put it on my chest and walk around saying I can record anywhere I want, you know, but that wouldn't trump the law, would it? Right. You >> just ask from the commission that you get permission before you film on the courthouse grounds. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, I I while I can I respect them trying to say that I need to ask, but I don't I mean, I really don't respect it, but I don't listen to policy. I just I follow the law, sir. and you are law enforcement and you're not policy enforcement or you don't work at the behest of the commissioners. Commissioners can't just make law by stating something, right? Just saying that, you know, can't wear a hat inside of a, you know, inside of the building or certain people of certain colors or, you know, there it's a slippery slope, right? So, let's be careful about enforcing policies when you're law enforcement. Just take some pictures and video here. That's all. >> Okay. What for? >> I'm an independent journalist. I'm just working on a story here for the county. >> All right. You have a good day. >> You too. Thank you. >> Judge Steven Taylor over here. >> Let's go some different brochures here. I'm okay. Thank you. I'm fine. >> Okay. Are you recording something? >> Yeah, I'm recording. >> Okay. You can't do that. >> What' you say? >> You're not allowed to record without getting permission. >> Why would that be? >> I don't know. their signs on the front doors. >> Oh, no. I don't need any permission to record, ma'am. >> Police declared they would arrest him for obstruction, a serious charge. Yet, the explanation behind it was even harder to believe. What could have driven them to take such a reckless step? >> Our highers asked us to have you stop recording. If you do not stop recording, we're going to have to charge you with obstruction and then take >> obstruction of what? >> Obstruction of justice. situation when you stop stop recording. >> Can I speak to a supervisor? >> Yeah, I can get that arrangement. >> Yeah, I I would like to speak to the supervisor because I I I think you guys would be making a big mistake. I'm just I was I was ready I was ready to actually leave. I just have to do my open records request. >> Um and get out of here. So, you know, now being told that I will be charged with obstruction of justice for for exercising a constitutional right. It just doesn't seem like I told you who I was. Look, I'm a journalist. >> Yeah, I know. I know. You know, I'm trying to deescalate the situation, but I don't I don't take too kindly to being threatened with arrest my freedom taken from me, right? >> So, if we could just if I could speak to a supervisor, that'd be perfect. >> Yeah. Be free to get in contact with him right now. >> Cuz like I told you, I already went through the Excuse me, ma'am. I already went through the entire building and I'm here at the county clerk to do an open records request as is my right for public information. So, trespassing me from the building or obstruction of justice, that would be violating that right, Deputy. and and you might get it. And um I listen, we had a great conversation upstairs. >> Hey, >> hey, >> if you're done recording and you were just about to leave anyways, that's fine. Um the sheriff said it'd be a while before he come talk to you, said it'd be about an hour, but I can take down your number and he can give you a call when >> Yeah. [music] Um you don't have any supervisors besides the sheriff? >> I do. Yes. But he's at the top. He said he would like to speak with you if anybody. >> Yeah. So, I was going to record and grab my open records request as is my right for public records and documents. Um, there is no law. I'm just letting you know, you know, I don't know if you want to call your sheriff one more time. Obstruction of justice, you have there that doesn't apply here, you know, and as much as I don't want to take the ride with you guys, this sounds like something I'm probably going to have to take the ride with because at the end of the day, it it's you're violating my rights. You're violating my rights. I'm not doing anything. I'm not causing a disturbance. I'm not breaking any laws. Obstruction of what? Justice? What? What am I doing? I've been polite with both of you. >> Amid the tension thick as a wire, the journalist [music] demanded to speak with the superior. And from that moment, the entire confrontation shifted into a new phase [music] where every mistake would come with a price. >> Standing in court to take this to court is you will be arrested if you don't stop recording. And then I will leave the building and there will be consequences. I guarantee you that there will be [music] consequences for everybody involved that tried to violate my rights here. >> It is illegal illegal to willfully delay or obstruct a public any public officer in the discharge or attempt of discharge of his duties. >> Six said the same thing that I said. It's not wrong. >> He's going to call. >> I know it's true. >> Okay. Six is the supervisor, correct? >> Yeah, he's he's the sergeant. >> Sergeant, correct? >> Yeah. I just, you know, you guys, you guys have treated me, Listen, you guys have treated me with respect. I've treated with respect in in turn. You know, it's not personal towards you guys. I just I would hate to see you guys make a mistake because your name goes on the your name goes on the lawsuit, sir, and you lose qualified immunity and all the I don't you seem like a good guy. You seem like a good guy, sir. I don't want to see that happen. I don't want to lose my freedom. I want us to all leave here happy. And you know, we're free America, freedom, right? That's it. You know, no one's breaking the law. I'm not breaking any laws. That's not my goal here. >> I'll still be able to get the the information. >> I will I promise you I will give you that information. You could check it out for sure. >> And then once you check it out, you'll I promise you'll be like, "Oh, it's a really good thing that we did not do that." >> I know. >> Once you check it out, you'll be like, "Oh man, good thing we didn't do that." So, I'm read I'm just reading for my viewers the obstruction. It is legal to willfully delay or obstruct any public officer in [music] the discharge or attempt to discharge of any of her duties. A person does not have to use physical force to be guilty of obstructing the officer. Words alone may be enough to support construction. But again, your duties is to uphold the United States Constitution. >> Just when it seemed everything had settled, an inside source revealed a shocking [music] twist. The deputies were punished for events that went far beyond the bounds of justice. being corrected. That's the land records only section. >> Yes, I have it here as well just in case. >> Well, I don't have problem saying [music] that. >> Of course, neither do I. >> If you'll write that down your request. >> I will write down the request >> and your email address and you will have it before you get probably out the door. >> Thank you. I appreciate it, ma'am. I'm going to fill this out over here. Thank you. unless doing anything. >> It's a better day than it has been this week. >> So, that's the request. That's my name and that's my email [music] address >> or any of these capitals. >> No, just >> all lowercase. I wanted to [clears throat] make sure I got it right. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I will have Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. >> Thanks. >> Appreciate it. Hey, sir. Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm good. You [music] could come on. I could tell you exactly. So, we have and this is exactly why I didn't, you know, you treated me with respect and I like to treat people in respect and this is exactly why I didn't want to I didn't really want to I was I was going to go to jail today if I had to cuz that's my job, right? >> My biggest thing was I was >> That's my job. >> Try not to take anything wrong. >> Exactly. So, I'm glad that worked out. I'm I'm super happy it worked out that I didn't have to go to jail. But, I was ready to go to jail if I need to cuz I knew I wasn't doing anything wrong. and I know my rights and you know most people when they get arrested they don't have 375,000 people behind their back right so I do and I'm fortunate enough and that's why I fight for people who get unlawfully arrested as well as I fight for myself >> so that's basically it you know didn't really want to escalate the situation here I did the public records request and now I'm on my way there was nothing >> she she hooked up on that though >> yeah she she took care of me yep she took care of me but um anyway I'm going to be getting out of Thank you, sir. It was really nice meeting you. No problem. >> Citizens can sue [music] police officers under SS1,983 when their rights are violated. Officers who break the law may be required to pay damages and face disciplinary action or termination. Police officers could face civil lawsuits, lose qualified immunity, face disciplinary action or termination, and even be subjected to criminal investigations. Up next, stepping into the Dawn Police Station, the auditor immediately ran into a tyrannical no recording ordinance, setting the stage for a confrontation no one saw coming. >> It was at the intersection of Edison and Industrial, and it was a car accident that had hit a telephone pole. >> Uh, no, I'm gonna I'll I'll give it to you here in a second. Um, so yeah, it was just a car accident that had caught fire yesterday around 11:07 a.m. And it's Ed, it's Edison and Industrial was the intersection. >> Who was involved in that? >> I don't know the names. That's that's part of what I'm trying to find find out through the incident number. So I can put a public records request at that point. So basically, you're making it easy for me to put a do a public records request later. >> Okay, thank you. Just the incident number, CAD number is fine. >> She got a little bit of an attitude. Mhm. I don't like that [ __ ] All right, so mission statement. It is the mission of the city of Dand Police Department [music] to safeguard the lives and property of the people we serve. Well, obviously they don't safeguard the lives of people if indeed it was them [music] uh being the gatekeepers of having uh citizens go in there and help those people trapped in their in their wrecked vehicle that caught fire. Right. Seems like a glaring contradiction. >> Oh, and last thing, it actually was on the 5th, not yesterday. Yeah, it was on the 5th of this month at 11:07. >> Okay. >> The auditor spotted the motto protecting lives inside the station and the gap between that promise and the officer's actions quickly became impossible to ignore. >> How's it going? >> Good. How you doing? >> Police assistance. >> Do I need No, no, no. I think I think the lady back in the private room probably does. >> Okay. Do you need any help? >> I'm getting help right now. Yes, >> you're getting help. Okay. Is there something that I can help you with? >> Why would you need Why would I need your help? >> I'm just asking you because you're recording. We have a city ordinance against it. >> Mhm. >> So, I'm just asking you if you need any assistance. [music] >> Uh, one second. Sorry. Is this um >> That's what you ask. >> Do you need my email address, too, right? >> Huh? >> You do need my email address. >> Hey, Timmy, hold on a minute. No recording in the lobby. Turn it off. >> Well, I've been here many times before and they said they said I'm fine. >> No recording in the lobby. >> But why is it? >> We're asking you politely to stop recording. >> No recording in the lobby. >> If I don't stop, what's going to happen? >> If you don't stop, you're going to be trespassed. >> And if I and if I if I stay after trespass, I'll be arrested. If you stay after we tell you you're trespassed. Yes. That's how a trespass works. >> Am I trespassed right now? >> If you stop recording, you will not be trespassed. It's pretty simple. >> Okay. So, >> I'm not trying to banter back and forth. That's our city ordinance. You can sit here and complain. >> Am I Am I not complaining? I want to be clear, sir. >> Yes, sir. >> Am I being trespassed? >> You're being trespassed. Okay. >> So, don't come back. >> All right. You guys will hear from me again. I promise you that. >> You're being trespassed. >> You guys are a bunch of tyrants. You're a bunch of you bunch of clown bunch of clown tyrants. >> Leave. >> I am leaving. I am leaving. >> You got 2 seconds before you get handcuffs right now. I'm not going to play this game with you. >> You're in the parking lot. Go. >> Go. >> I can't I have to leave the whole I have to leave the whole property. >> I need to make this an issue, bro. Just go. >> I'm not making an issue. What? I'm just You're >> I'm backing up. >> Leave. Go. >> Calm down. >> Go. >> Calm down, man. You got huge huge timer vibes. >> You got to get off the >> huge You're a sergeant. Get you can get out the >> What does it look like I'm doing, [ __ ] I'm leaving. >> Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. Thank you for violating my rights. >> While handling legitimate paperwork, the auditor was suddenly swarmed by officers enforcing a vague ordinance and demanding he shut off his camera, marking the start of an intense act of coercion. >> What's your badge number? >> No, somebody in chat knows your name. What's your badge number? >> DL702. >> DL702. >> Yes, sir. >> Why did you kick me out of there? I was almost done with my business. >> I I asked you to stop recording. >> I was just trying to get some clarification as to where we were. >> I get what you're doing. Trust me. I promise you. I am on your side. When I ask you to stop recording, I'm asking >> you can come closer. >> Yeah, you can come closer so I can hear you a little better. >> Listen, man. I'm not trying to make it difficult for anybody. It's a city ordinance. We enacted it. You were recording in there. I asked you politely. You didn't. Okay. >> Okay. What I'm I hear you. What I'm saying is is I came here two other times on two other occasions doing the same exact thing. >> And both of those times they never kicked me out or or tried to trust I even talked to Matthysse as a lieutenant. I can't remember his lieutenant or sergeant, but he said, "No, you're fine, man." And so I had every reason to believe when I come back here, they're not as long as I'm conducting legitimate business, which which submitting a public records request and getting a a CAD number, incident number, that it doesn't get any more legitimate than that, brother. That's all I'm saying. >> Do you feel the way that you backed up slowly and I tried to ask you to stop and you didn't stop? Do you feel that was appropriate and then you started? >> I was I left. I I wanted to hear Listen, I'm exercising my rights. You said you understood that. >> I'm standing I'm standing up for my rights. I did leave when you told me to leave, but I wanted to find out if we were at that point that I was being trespassed. You >> were at that point when I asked you to stop recording. >> Well, I've done this many times. If I if I would have left earlier, >> deal with me. >> I have not dealt with you, but I've dealt with many police officers and I know how the I know how they play word games to say >> Here's here's the thing, bro. I'm I'm very straightforward with people. It's a city ordinance. Okay, I get I get the I get the point that you're trying to make. Okay, I completely get it. But right now, it's a city ordinance. It's been enacted by the city. City's attorneys uh approved it. So, we're we're enforcing it. Okay, that's what I was >> But why are you guys enforcing it now and you guys weren't enforcing it for the last, you know, year? >> I've been on that [ __ ] for the last 3 months, bro. I had to deal with this. I'm the only one that's in service right now to deal with it. So, I had to come over here because you were videotaping, which is against our city ordinance. I came I asked you to stop recording. >> Did somebody Did somebody complain? Yes, somebody complained. >> Was it a receptionist? >> I don't know who it was. I got a phone call to come over here and take care of it. So, I did. Okay. I came to the lobby. I was the only one in service. I had to deal with a lot of other stuff. Promise you that I would rather be dealing with than I had to come over here. I had to ask you to stop. You didn't stop. You kept on doing that back up slowly while you're still recording. My captain asked you to stop. You still kept on recording. The sergeant began justifying the recording ban, but every word he spoke only exposed the contradiction between constitutional rights and his own coercive actions. >> Do you know the first amendment? >> You would have stopped. Yes, I know what the first >> You know freedom of press then, right? >> Yes, I know freedom. >> Okay. So, freedom of press says that as a journalist for news purposes and for documenting my my my lawful business, which is why I told you what I was in there doing. It protects that and it cannot be infringed upon, man. It cannot be infringed upon. >> Okay. >> You see, I'm passionate about this stuff. >> What you're saying, bro. I'm just trying to I'm trying to educate. >> I wish we can have a conversation without a camera. Okay. >> Like like a hearttohe heart. When do you get off work? >> I promise I I get off at 18:30. I get off at 6:30. >> If you want to have if you want to have coffee off camera, I'll be happy to talk to you more about what I do. >> I promise you if you knew me personally, you would understand where I stand. But at this moment, I'm working. This is my job. This is how I make I get it. I honor my oath. I promise you, dude. I I am I am 100% for what you're doing. However, I have to do my job when it comes to the city when city ordinance are violated and stuff like that. If that's the case, you know, go to court with the city, get it overturned and changed it. But at the moment, it legally passed to have that in effect. Okay? So, that's what I'm enforcing. When I asked you to leave, all you had to turn off your camera, you would have been able to do whatever you needed to do. That's all I was asking. >> Well, legal can be different than constitutional or even lawful. >> Okay. Well, again, semantics, right? If it's legal or not, but all I'm saying is all you had to do is turn off the camera. You give them whatever you wanted to do. That's it. That's all I ask. >> Yeah, it may it may seem like a small thing to you, but it's it's a huge deal because that's how the government takes our rights away little by little. And recording that's a constitutional right, man. It's just a modern day taking notes. >> Understand why now they had that in there, right? Because everybody started recording and all this other stuff happened. So now it just instead of we have cameras in there already. >> Exactly, man. So why did people make it diff? Why did they say this is so much different? >> I personally don't care if you record in there. I personally my personal >> I know you're just doing your just following orders. You're just following orders. I I'm I'm doing what I was told, what I swore to do is protect the Constitution, protect my city, protect the oath that I took for city ordinances, and they're down. All right. >> How long is a trespass for before I forget? How long? >> A whole year. >> Right outside the station, the utar forced the sergeant to confront his oath to uphold the Constitution. And in that moment of fumbling excuses about just following orders, the truth behind the abuse of power began to surface. Next. When a man is behind the wheel and has no idea where he is, what do you think is waiting around the next corner? >> All right, put your hands together like this. Put your hands together. >> He repeated a single sentence. I'm going home. But those words did not save him from the cold handcuffs and body cam lens. >> Home. That's it. >> Uh-huh. >> You know where you are? >> Yeah. Hogan. >> Where are you? >> By Hogan. >> You where? >> By Hogan. >> By Hogan. >> By Hoboken. >> By Hoboken. You know what town you're in? >> Hogan. >> You know you're not in Hoboken. >> Home. >> Where's home? >> Like two blocks away. >> I'm in uh Seus. >> You live in Sea Caucus, sir? >> Where in Caucus do you live? >> Like a block away. >> Block away. Can you roll that window a little bit more? >> Okay. You understand what's going on right now? >> Yes, sir. >> What happened? >> I went home. That's it. >> No. You understand what's going on, though? Do you understand why I'm here talking to you? >> Brother, >> what happened? >> Uh, stop. >> Huh? >> Motor vehicle stop. >> It's not a motor vehicle. Stop. >> You weren't driving. >> You had it, brother. I'm going straight home. >> You're going straight home? Where you coming from? >> Uh, Union City. >> You coming from Union City? >> Yes, sir. >> Where you doing? >> Uh, just going straight home. >> You were just driving straight home? >> Yes, sir. >> You understand why why I'm talking to you though right now? Do you understand what happened? What happened right now? >> Going a straight line. I said I was I'm going to go home. >> You drive home. That's it. >> Yeah. But but you're not answering my question. Uh you weren't driving your car. Okay. I didn't stop you. You already stopped. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Do you understand that? >> Yes, sir. >> You understand what you were doing? >> Yes. I mean, stop and then go straight home. >> No, you're not understanding. You're not understanding what I'm saying. Reason why I'm here is because you fell asleep. >> Yes, sir. So, I must >> No, you didn't say any of that. Okay. I just woke you up right now. >> Yes, sir. I went straight home. That's it. >> Okay. You You're repeating yourself. All right. I two blocks away. That's it. >> Two blocks away or anything? >> Exchange. >> Okay. You your your speech a little slurred. Okay. Did you drink anything? >> I had a couple drinks. >> You got a couple of drinks? >> Okay. Perfect. All right. I'm going to ask you to step out of the car for me. >> Your car. Leave your car in park. Right. Just step by the car. An offduty officer stopped a car in the middle of the road and secret smelled of alcohol in the middle of the road. Instead of showing his license, he showed his badge. But this time, the title police officer was of no help. >> What I'm going to ask you to do, okay, you have any medical conditions, you wear glasses, contacts, you have a glass eye, >> no? >> No. Okay. What I'm going to ask you to do, okay, look, look at me. Look at my pen. Okay. All right. And you just follow my pen without moving your head. All right? Just your eyes. OKAY? Don't move your head. Look straight and just move your eyes. Again, look straight. Okay? Just move your eyes. Okay. You had a couple of drinks, huh? But how many >> that you can remember? >> Two or three. >> Two or three. >> Two or three. Okay. >> Go ahead. You may begin. 4 5 6 Okay, come over here. Come over here. >> When a balance test turns into a career-long slide, is this just a one-time slip or the tip of the iceberg? >> One leg stand. Okay. Now, stand like this. Hands to your side like this. Exactly like I did with the with the nine steps. Okay. You're going to hold your foot up. Okay. All right. Like this. You're going to say, you're going to count 1 1,000, 2 1,000, 3 1,000. Okay. 6 ines up, which equals about about the size of a dollar bill. Okay. The length of a dollar bill. Okay. 6 ines off the ground like this. 1 1,00 2 1,000 all the way to 30. I'll tell you when to begin. Okay. Either either leg is fine. Towards me. Towards me. Towards me. Towards me. >> All right. You may begin. 1 100 1,00 2 1,000 3 100,000 4 1,000 5 1,000 6,000 6 100,000 700 1,000 8 1,00 9,000 10,000 Okay, that's fine. That's fine. All right, just turn around for me and then just put your arms back like this. Right. Turn around real quick and just put your arms out like that. Okay, that's fine. All right, put your hands together like this. Put your hands together. >> Okay. You're being arrested right now for suspicions of driving under the influence of alcohol. Okay. >> As an officer, if convicted of a DWI, you will likely be stripped of your patrol privileges, suspended, [music] or subject to an internal investigation. In addition to criminal penalties, if convicted, the administrative consequences can be serious for the reputation of Union City PD. A society can only remain safe when its people are respected and power is restrained by law, not by the whims of any individual. 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]