I'm trying to discuss this in good faith. There's no need for the confrontational tone.
He certainly did initiate contact. He came pretty darned close- too close for the officer's comfort. That's contact in my opinion. He had to be asked to move away.
He had no legitimate vested interest in taking video, other than being a PITA. Need or not- it wasn't his business.
If he had been arrested for interfering, there might have indeed been a good chance of his being convicted of a crime.
Confrontational tone? Really? You can hear my voice? Nope, just checked and my microphone is turned off.
You might want to take a glance at my profile to see what I do and why before you suggest that I am not posting/operating in good faith.
I suspect you think I am being confrontational because I disagree with your assessment and conclusions.
- SCOTUS has ruled that recording a LEO in public is legal and not interfering with the officer. https://www.aclu.org/kyr-photo
- As to vested interest - his girl friend called him on his cell phone requesting assistance. That adds vested interest to what he already has a right to do.
- Had he been arrested, there is an extremely good probability of a positive Ka-Ching in his life.
How far away do you think he needs to be? Note he was across the street and did not approach the officer, which he could have done to ask a question, but likely would have had to step back if the officer asked him to wait. Does he need to be 50' away...100'? Answer: none of the prior.
BTW - I have personal experience with such. I was ready to go into a local Food Lion one night when the night mgr/stock boy told me I could not carry there. I waited outside while he called the police instead of getting the written rule he said he was getting to show me. Five cars and 6 officers showed up and tried to intimidate me. Told me to stop recording them and no pictures allowed. After getting what I needed, I asked if I was free to go - no response. I said, "Well then have a good night." and walked off and into a nearby restaurant. Within minutes a Sgt and and officer came in and said they wanted to talk to me. As I was on the phone with a private phone call and declined. They sat down. I got up and called a friend....bring a camera, I need a witness too. Meanwhile I refused to talk to the police and just sat there drinking my coffee...waiting.
My friend showed up and immediately started taking HD pictures outside before he came into the restaurant. We talked for a bit and checked outside - the officers were gone. The power of recordings, two cameras, and a friend willing to come to my assistance.
The next day the manager of Food Lion gave me his personal cell # and a signed permission slip/permit to carry in that Food Lion. The night mgr. was caused to move on to other employment. The Sgt. involved was given desk duty and shortly thereafter resigned to go to a much smaller dept. elsewhere. Those are also facts, not opinion.
Now I have added a dash cam to my tools. Not because I expect trouble, but because I wish to avoid it AND will not give up my RKBA (particularly OC) to placate someone else's opinion that I am a PITA.
That,sir, is discussing in good faith. You are entitled to your opinion, but do not try to sell such to us here as truth, reality, or the final word. We've been down that road before. Hope you learn to look beyond your knee jerk emotions and are able to grow taller from the effort.
