Posted on 07/16/2008 3:18:48 PM PDT by BGHater
Nearly everyone carries a cell phone and its hard to find one without that camera feature. Its convenient when you want to take that impromptu photo, but a Tri-Cities area man ended up behind bars after snapping a shot of a Johnson County sheriffs deputy during a traffic stop.
The cell phone photographer says the arrest was intimidation, but the deputy says he feared for his life.
Heres a guy who takes me out of the car and arrests me in front of my kids. For what? To take a picture of a police officer? said Scott Conover.
A Johnson County sheriffs deputy arrested Scott Conover for unlawful photography.
He says you took a picture of me. Its illegal to take a picture of a law enforcement officer, said Conover.
Conover took a picture of a sheriffs deputy on the side of the road on a traffic stop. Conover was stunned by the charge.
This is a public highway, said Conover.
And it was not a place where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy as Tennessee code states. The deputy also asked Conover to delete the picture three times.
He said if you dont give it to me, youre going to jail, said Conover.
Under the advice of the Johnson County attorney, the sheriff would not comment and the arresting deputy said he didnt want to incriminate himself by talking to us.
In an affidavit, the deputy said he saw something black with a red light which he thought was a threat. Conover was also arrested for pointing a laser at a law enforcement officer.
At no time did I have a laser. I had an iPhone, said Conover.
When you take a picture in the dark with Conovers Apple iPhone, there is no flash or any light that comes from the phone that could be mistaken for a laser.
In a witness statement by a Mountain City officer, is says the deputy asked about the picture rather than looking for a laser.
If you arrested me, wouldnt you take the laser? If you arrested me, wouldnt you take the camera? said Conover.
He expects these charges to be dismissed.
This guy maliciously arrested me, charging me with phony charges that he dont even understand himself, Conover said.
The American Civil Liberties Union would not comment on Conovers case without fully reviewing the allegations, but told us there is no law that prohibits anyone from taking photographs in public areas, even of police. Taking photos is protected by the First Amendment. Conover is ordered to appear in a Johnson County court on August 6th.
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Don’t tase me Bro!
I am just a sarcastic old cynic with a lifetime of experience. Since the individuals you noted as giving contradictory sworn statements were both officers of the State, as a practical matter your question of “who is lying” is purely an arcane philosphical exercise. I do salute you for asking the question.
People who would rather trade their liberty for police state security are faux conservative.
What a sad indictment of our society...
If they have nothing to hide, what are they afraid of?
Maybe it would help keep some of this outright lawlessness on behalf of law enforcement in check if we peons know who they are...
Not all police officers anymore want a “free republic.” How many law enforcement officers these days can define a “republic” ?
I was one day threatened repeatedly with arrest by officers who could not arrest me — they knew it — and I knew it — but they started in thinking I didn’t know it, so that they could intimidate me into doing something I had no intention of doing.
The officer told me that I could not “post a sign on the U.S. highway without a permit from the state DOT.” When he stated that, a friend went to a phone and called the DOT, and the DOT stated that they have no such rule, ‘cause we weren’t planting a sign, we were CARRYING the sign.
Later that day I told the Sheriff about it, and he told me that he would have a talk with the town police chief about it (that town was within that Sheriff’s county).
I don’t know how they’re training some of these officers these days, but they should not use intimidation tactics, nor threaten people with arrest when they have no law; nor should they falsely state that there are laws that do not exist.
I am a supporter of law enforcement, and I teach my children to be respectful always and to be supportive of officers, and to obey their reasonable requests even when inconvenient.
But MAN ALIVE(!) they ARE putting some wackos on the streets in some places behind a badge.
Like bar bouncer or night security guard.
Use your noodle.
Who's more likely to order a hit?
An annoyed sheep facing a $50 traffic fine?
or a
Drug trafficker facing 50 years?
Who's more apt to have a friend who can 'take care' of the witness?
Real police work is more dangerous than harassing drivers. Besides traffic stops are money makers. If it ever goes to trial the conviction rate pushes 100% very hard. And the fines are good.
Besides,
Real police work is a money looser. It's expensive to prosecute, expensive to gather evidence, expensive to try, uncertain outcome, and even if you do win, ya gotta pay to incarcerate the perp!
Okay! But maybe not here in S.F. One of those police commanders I was meeting that morning is now the Chief of Police. And a former girlfriend is a higher-up in the Office of Citizen Complaints under the Police Commission. And a brother-in-law is a long-time officer. Etc. So if I got killed, those rookies would have payback coming their way.
I was wondering why I can't drive to or from work during rush hour without encountering an army of armed toll collectors, but I can't bribe a cop to investigate a property crime.
Now I understand.
So, the cops are a actually a street gang.
Something I have long suspected.
Which movie was it with Dirty Harry, was it Magnum Force? That was just a movie! By payback, I meant they’d probably get assigned a lesbian partner or something like that.
I don’t remember, but I got your drift.
See post # 4 My Man, see post # 4.
Didn’t take long at all.
You bet they would have. Right where they put it.
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