Posted on 10/15/2015 1:35:52 PM PDT by Borges
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A man was stopped by police after taking a walk in the park with his camera last month. A neighbor spotted David Updike taking photographs and feared that he was taking pictures of children. She took his picture and reported a “creepy guy” to police.
Six police officers cornered Updike on the sidewalk near his home where he was questioned for 20 minutes. Updike was very upset by the anonymous neighbor’s behaviour. He did not do anything wrong. The entire situation could have been avoided if the woman had simply introduced herself.
Updike wrote this open letter about the incident to the Cambridge Chronicle. It it called, “To the woman in Dana Park who called the police on Sept. 23 around 5:30 p.m.”
Dear Neighbor,
Yesterday was a beautiful day, I think you will agree. I decided to take a short walk from my house on Hamilton Street to Dana Park, which I have been coming to almost daily since 1989, the year my son was born. As I often do, I brought my camera, sat on a bench for about 10 minutes, did one lap around the park and headed home.
I had barely gotten across the street when three police cars pulled up: I was told to stop, and swiftly surrounded by six policemen. I was “detained” there for approximately 20 minutes and questioned; another officer returned to the park to find out why you had called them.
My suspected crime, apparently, was having a camera in a public park, and allegedly taking pictures of children. As it turned out, I had taken no pictures that day. But I have been photographing in this neighborhood for 30 years, and have published a children’s book of poems and photographs, always with permission.
The policeman returned and wanted to see my “flip phone,” and then asked me if I knew how he knew I had a flip phone: I didn’t. He knew, he told me, because the woman who called the police had taken a picture of ME, sitting on the bench, and shown him the picture. They then took away my phone, scrolled through the few pictures that were on it.
They continued to hover around me asking questions. As it happened, I was standing near the house where my son now lives, and when my wife appeared, walking down the street after work, and saw me standing in front of his house with six policemen, she instantly feared something terrible had happened to our son. She was shaking, and I explained the situation. She is an English teacher at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School; I am a college professor of English. Our son spent much of the first 15 years of his life in Dana Park.
You must be new in the neighborhood. I am often in the park, on foot or on a bike, talking to friends who have children who play in the playground. I know you were standing very near to me for the entire time I was on the bench, though I could not figure out why. Now I know: you were taking my picture.
Suggestion: the next time you suspect someone is up to no good, perhaps you should say hello, speak to them first and, if still anxious, ask what they are taking pictures of. That’s what people do in a neighborhood park: talk to each other. This would save someone the humiliation and degradation of being stopped and held by the police, and might save the police from wasting their time when they could be doing something more useful, like managing the daily mayhem in Central Square.
The fact that you now have my picture in your phone is both sadly ironic and, well, creepy. Could you please delete it?
Your neighbor,
— David Updike, Hamilton Street
What happens in a public place may be photographed, filmed, or recorded, as long as no effort is made to conceal the actions.
Many police who have taken away folks’ recording devices, be it cellphones with cameras or video cams or whatever, have had t heir hands slapped for their efforts.
She thought he looked suspicious. If he were a suspicious character, as a woman, she would be foolish to engage him in conversation.
She did what she felt was her duty. If he had been a pervert, we would be lauding her.
It occurred in Mass. The guy could have been guilty of “thought crimes” and Comrade Reporting Woman did the right thing to protect the Cambridge Collective.
He had taken no pictures that day, his camera proved it. She thought he looked suspicious because he HAD a camera with him. She should have waited and watched him from a distance to see if he was actually taking pictures of children.
She is a busybody and needs to be reprimanded for her actions.
I betcha this is from that ‘see something, say ‘something’ garbage. Most conservatives never see the posters for this crap, as they’re typically in libraries, gubmint offices et al.
Horseshit, basically. If it were me, I’d have told the officers to get a warrant or arrest me.
I don’t know what he’s surprised about. This happens in Massachusetts all the time. People can’t wait to call the cops instead of minding their own business. It’s the end game of Liberal politics. We can’t have people just enjoying their freedom the police need to do something about it.
Question back to the police -
“am I under arrest or am I free to go?”
What’s the charge?
Irritating a busybody?
If that were true, every business with a security camera would be criminal. Publishing them without permission may of may not be illegal. Definitely not if they are celebrities though, or the paparazzi would be out of business.
I’m an amateur photographer but I don’t even bother trying to take photos of strangers in public places. It’s perfectly legal, but not worth the hassle. (And don’t even think about photographing a stranger’s kids!) Landscapes, architecture, friends and relatives — that’s about it.
Another way of looking at it.
This exact thing happened to me in nearby Connecticut. The cop had me show him every pic on my camera. The busybody paranoid lady quickly split when I was absolved.
This exact thing happened to me in nearby Connecticut. The cop had me show him every pic on my camera. The busybody paranoid lady quickly split when I was absolved.
I’ve seen the videos people have taken, especially with the border patrol -
the drive simply repeated “am I under arrest or am I free to go”
until they gave up and waved him on.
Yes, that's the rule in communist countries, and a way you can tell if you live in one.
I understand the writer's side of the story. However, I also know that it is wise to go with your gut instincts. If you feel creeped out by someone, there is more often than not a good reason for it.
I just laughed at them. . .I said, "hey boys. . .I'm a dad, just waiting for his daughter". . .Fortunately, my daughter walked up right about that time.. . .they said some woman complained that a creepy guy was sitting in a pick-up truck taking pictures of kids.
I suspect most of these woman with the hair-trigger paranoia are stone-cold Libs. They never feel safe, see all men as potential predators. . .especially those that drive pick-up trucks.
What a creepy woman. Sounds like some projection going on.
The world we live in.
I do believe that making audio or video recordings of someone without their permission is not legal.
agreed if you want a hoot go to times square, nyc and take a picture of the sony electronic billboard. he will see you and take a picture of you. very cool.
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