Man Arrested For Shooting Photo Of Police Activity

[Ian David]

ell Phone Picture Called Obstruction Of Justice
Man Arrested For Shooting Photo Of Police Activity

POSTED: 6:41 pm EDT July 25, 2006
UPDATED: 11:58 am EDT July 31, 2006

PHILADELPHIA -- A Philadelphia family said they are outraged over the arrest of one of their family members.

The family of Neftaly Cruz said police had no right to come onto their property and arrest their 21-year-old son simply because he was using his cell phone's camera. They told their story to Harry Hairston and the NBC 10 Investigators.

<snip>

Cruz said that when he heard a commotion, he walked out of his back door with his cell phone to see what was happening. He said that when he saw the street lined with police cars, he decided to take a picture of the scene.

<snip>

"He opened up the gate and Neffy was coming down and he went up to Neffy, pulled him down, had Neffy on the car and was telling him, 'You should have just went in the house and minded your own business instead of trying to take pictures off your picture phone,'" said Gerrell Martin.

Cruz said police told him that he broke a new law that prohibits people from taking pictures of police with cell phones.

"They threatened to charge me with conspiracy, impeding an investigation, obstruction of an investigation. … They said, 'You were impeding this investigation.' (I asked,) "By doing what?' (The officer said,) 'By taking a picture of the police officers with a camera phone,'" Cruz said.

More:
http://www.nbc10.com/news/9574663/detail.html



Thankfully, The ACLU is on the case:

"There is no law that prevents people from taking pictures of what anybody can see on the street," said Larry Frankel of the American Civil Liberties Union. "I think it's rather scary that in this country you could actually be taken down to police headquarters for taking a picture on your cell phone of activities that are clearly visible on the street."

[ThomCat]

1. Yet again, Go Get 'Em ACLU!

The authoritarian attitude is getting very blatant. I hope this kid sues that police department down to their knees.
x(

[Uben]

2. Violation of rights

Sue em, have the officer fired, the department repremanded, and make a public apology to the gentleman. Some police officers think they make law rather than enforce it. These rogue cops need to be identified and removed immediately!

[endarkenment]

3. Is it fascism yet? nt.

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. I hear quacking. Do you hear quacking?

It sounds awfully like a duck. Or maybe it is the sound of a goose, stepping.

[bowens43]

4. Welcome to bushes Amerika.

[draloo]

8. Just doing my job

It isn't a Bush or Hitler who impose totalitarian rule. It is the million of bureaucrats who are just doing their self important jobs.

[Quantess]

6. "shooting a photo"

Silly me, when I read the title I imagined someone shooting bullets at a photo of police activity, LOL.

Here in the Pacific NW, I don't hear the phrase "shooting" a photo very often.

[kestrel91316]

9. Maybe you are just young and not familiar with the phrase?

[dkos refugee]

7. 2nd amendment time

What is it going to take to put an end to this? Maybe someone needs to exercise their right to self defense, or their right to bear arms, or both. Maybe then it will make at least make the news.

[cmb3366a]

10. who really runs the show?

It's high time we started rolling back the government/police 's rights, and restored those of the citizens. Last time I checked the job of the police agencys were to enforce the laws passed by the duly ellected legislature, and if constitutional, upheld by the courts. Not harrass law abiding citizens, engaage in espionage/wiretapping, and forming para-miliary assault forces. When we get legislative majority we need to but a boots to the gestapo mentality in this country.