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Man Arrested For Unlawful Photography[TN][Took Photo of A Cop]
WJHL ^ | 11 July 2008 | Darius Radzius

Posted on 07/16/2008 3:18:48 PM PDT by BGHater

Nearly everyone carries a cell phone and it’s hard to find one without that camera feature.  It’s 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 sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop.

The cell phone photographer says the arrest was intimidation, but the deputy says he feared for his life.

“Here’s 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 sheriff’s deputy arrested Scott Conover for unlawful photography.

“He says you took a picture of me.  It’s illegal to take a picture of a law enforcement officer,” said Conover.

Conover took a picture of a sheriff’s 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 don’t give it to me, you’re going to jail,” said Conover.

Under the advice of the Johnson County attorney, the sheriff would not comment and the arresting deputy said he didn’t 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 Conover’s 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, wouldn’t you take the laser?  If you arrested me, wouldn’t 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 don’t even understand himself,” Conover said.

The American Civil Liberties Union would not comment on Conover’s 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.

---------------------------------------------------------

Documents:

Affidavit of complaint.

Statement by Mountain City, TN patrolman Kenneth Lane.  He was the assisting officer at McCloud’s traffic stop.

Statement by Mountain City, TN patrolman officer Ben May.  He arrived on scene as McCloud and Lane were talking to Conover (cell phone photographer).


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: arrested; cop; donutwatch; leo; photograph; tennessee
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To: PalmettoMason

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.


101 posted on 07/17/2008 4:41:36 AM PDT by nkycincinnatikid
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To: meyer; TNdandelion
But can we still video tape police brutality cases? They’ve certainly come in handy.

Perhaps you've struck upon the reason that they don't like being photographed....


Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding!

We have a winner!
102 posted on 07/17/2008 4:46:24 AM PDT by Dr.Zoidberg ("Shut the hell up, New York Times, you sanctimonious whining jerks!" - Craig Ferguson)
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To: RDTF

People who would rather trade their liberty for police state security are faux conservative.


103 posted on 07/17/2008 4:52:56 AM PDT by Rebelbase (Black dogs and bacon bombs.)
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To: RDTF
so then I guess you think it makes sense to put their lives and indentities in jeapardy by allowing the possiblity of their faces plastered all over the internet?

It's already public record who is a police officer and who is not. As for their lives being in danger, that's part of the job. Their lives are in danger every time they put on their uniforms.
104 posted on 07/17/2008 6:58:27 AM PDT by JamesP81 (George Orwell's 1984 was a warning, not a suggestion)
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To: BGHater
More LEO thuggery. No real surprise any more.

What a sad indictment of our society...

105 posted on 07/17/2008 7:02:43 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (What would a free man do?)
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To: RDTF
Yes. In fact, all government law enforcement at all levels, including FBI and BATFE, should have their photos on their respective agencies websites.

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...

106 posted on 07/17/2008 7:06:40 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (What would a free man do?)
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To: Dead Corpse; RDTF
If they have nothing to hide, what are they afraid of?

On a related note, this is a policy that it is appropriate for a citizen to have towards the government. It's not appropriate for the government to have this policy against the citizenry. That whole 4th Amendment thing.
107 posted on 07/17/2008 7:22:08 AM PDT by JamesP81 (George Orwell's 1984 was a warning, not a suggestion)
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To: RDTF

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.


108 posted on 07/17/2008 7:22:33 AM PDT by John Leland 1789
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To: JamesP81
With the added responsibility of delegated police powers, should come increased scrutiny. If they cannot perform their duties ethically and with constant oversight, then maybe they should find other work.

Like bar bouncer or night security guard.

109 posted on 07/17/2008 7:26:07 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (What would a free man do?)
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To: elkfersupper
Then maybe they should be careful and engage in police work instead of "Click It Or Ticket".

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!

110 posted on 07/17/2008 7:28:34 AM PDT by null and void (Barack Obama - International Man of Mystery...)
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To: elkfersupper
In this town, you would have wound up dead. Not necessarily right there, but certainly eventually.

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.

111 posted on 07/17/2008 3:06:17 PM PDT by roadcat
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To: null and void
Thank you for clarifying that it's all about the money.

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.

112 posted on 07/17/2008 7:37:45 PM PDT by elkfersupper
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To: roadcat
So if I got killed, those rookies would have payback coming their way.

So, the cops are a actually a street gang.

Something I have long suspected.

113 posted on 07/17/2008 7:40:04 PM PDT by elkfersupper
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To: elkfersupper

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.


114 posted on 07/17/2008 7:56:13 PM PDT by roadcat
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To: roadcat

I don’t remember, but I got your drift.


115 posted on 07/17/2008 7:59:37 PM PDT by elkfersupper
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To: frankiep

See post # 4 My Man, see post # 4.

Didn’t take long at all.


116 posted on 07/17/2008 8:00:25 PM PDT by sport
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To: doorgunner69

You bet they would have. Right where they put it.


117 posted on 07/17/2008 8:10:58 PM PDT by sport
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