Baltimore police delete personal videos at Preakness

Learn more: http://www.aclu-md.org

Concerned that the Baltimore City Police Department routinely violates the First Amendment by threatening citizens who try to photograph or record police encounters, the ACLU of Maryland on August 4, 2011 informed BPD that the organization is prepared to sue on behalf of Christopher Sharp, a man whose personal videos, including many of his young son, were deleted after he filmed Baltimore police officers roughing up a female friend of his in the Clubhouse at the 2010 Preakness Stakes. Video taken of the beating by another observer can be found on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWF3Ddr7vdc

The ACLU asserts that after Sharp recorded the police beating, he was detained and harangued by police officers, demanding that he surrender his cellphone as "evidence". Sharp politely declined, but police continued to demand that he give up his phone. Fearing arrest, he finally handed over the phone to an officer who assured him he would simply download the videos for evidentiary purposes, then return the phone to Sharp. Instead, police destroyed the police encounter videos and all other videos it contained -- about two dozen in all -- before returning the phone to Sharp.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• police
• abuse
• video
• First
• Amendment
• horse
• racing
• Preakness

[jason09able]

Shut up

[obcmark]

its a good thing that they finally overturned that no videoing the cops in maryland, now the people can bring accountability to these slimeballs. i wont call them tough guys, because they always need backup, but wouldnt everyone just love to see the tables turned. remember, these are the guys that got picked on in school.

[Torito468]

What a goof!!! People in the world are dying of hunger, and this idiot is at a loss for his phone!!! His pist because he didn't anything to hold over the city's head to SUE! Whaaa Whaaa!!! Cry me a river!!! Instead of filming the officer, perhaps you should have HELPED the officer restrain the assailant!!!

[jason09able]

this man should of never took out his phone a just walked away he would still have is pics that's what you get when you try to film cops when they are doing there job was it wrong that his pics are gone yes

[2ndRevoltDotCom]

@fuzz461 Fuzz I don't want to keep going back and forth, it's obvious we each could. Just be a good cop, be one that the people turn too when things get crazy, not one that people run from... No matter how rediculous it may seem sometimes, you do work for the people, please remember that. I took the oath just as you did and I didn't realize the importance of that oath until a short period ago. Please remember it as well and do your best to make sure it's honored...

[2ndRevoltDotCom]

@fuzz461 You are correct the Constitution is not meant to be hidden behind. But there are rights that need to be upheld no matter what, even if you think they are stupid or hold no merit. Was this guys phone being taken and videos erased a violation of his 1st Amendment, sure it was, as stupid as it may seem. All I ask is you uphold the oath you took. I know this world is going crazy right now and we need people like you on our side, ones that will stand up against the BS that is happening...

[2ndRevoltDotCom]

@fuzz461 Of course if you have a drunk idiot that punches a cop in the face, regardless of sex, that person deserves to be taken down... Dude look at your original statement. Then you reveal in here that you're a cop. Wow that is some professionalism my friend and just the type of public servant I want protecting my best interests. The point is you showed your ass my friend... Remember when I said you would need us. Look whats happening around this country, you as well are part of the 99%...

[2ndRevoltDotCom]

Unfortunately it does... "If, and this is a big if, you can prove that you felt the verbal statement made you fear for your life then it violates your right to feel safe. Basically, if the words cause danger or the impression of danger, then those words are not protected under the first amendment." Schenck v. United States, Brandenburg v. Ohio... Don't try double think on me fuzz. You are completely going off topic from where this thread between you and I started...

[fuzz461]

@2ndRevoltDotCom im not hurting you or anyone. what Im trying to say is people should not hide behind the constitution. the 1st amendment does not mean you can go ahead and verbally abuse people, to include cops. the 2nd amendment does not allow you to shot people or anything because you feel like it. i believe the issue in this pimlico incident was some drunk idiot punched a female cop on the face, when the police arrested him, he resisted and force had to be used.

[2ndRevoltDotCom]

@fuzz461 You are doing nothing to help us, only to hurt us. You are using the power intrusted in you against the people when you think like you do... Funny thing, when the SHTF you're no better than any of us. Remember you are one of us and you will need us one day...! Saying that I'll close with a quote from the great Thomas Jefferson that clears it ALL up... "When the Government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the Government (this includes you) there is tyranny."