Posted on 10/03/2016 3:50:17 PM PDT by MeganC
It was an apparent case of retaliation, but you’d have to see the video to believe it.
“Give us a call; we’ll be there when you need our help,” joked Little Rock Arkansas cops Jason Roberts and Thomas Thompson.
The two Arkansas cops who were so offended by a 79-year old legislator who championed people’s Constitutional right to record police in public that they arrested him for recording a traffic stop.
Little Rock Police Chief Kenton Buckner immediaetly dropped the charges against Walker and wrote an apology for the arrest, which was caught on dash cam.
The shocking dashcam footage released last week shows dialogue between the two cops and Walker getting heated as they accuse him of being a “race baiter” for simply standing along the of the street recording them during a routine traffic stop of a black male.
As the dialogue ensues, Roberts and Thomas aggressively approach Walker.
“Mr. Walker, what is your concern today?”
“I’m here just to observe.”
“I’ve observed policemen at times, when they was involved in a case when they were arresting some black boys about ten years ago” said the legislator and civil rights lawyer. “They arrested me for watching.”
“Officer Roberts began lecturing Walker about how the driver had expired tags, and that he was training another officer and treated the guy he pulled over with respect, even though he arrested him for a traffic warrant,” he tried to calmly explain.
“And that’s why he’s in that car,” officer Roberts explained as if he didn’t have the discretion to let the man go without arresting him.
The conversation soon devolves in to Roberts screaming out at Walker.
“You’re a race baiter is what you are, OK?”
“I’m just telling you how it is, Mr. Walker.”
“What did I do?” asked Walker.
” You’re sitting there filming,” replied R0berts.
“This aint the first time you’ve done this, neither. You’ve been doing this since 1994, since I’ve been here” said Roberts.
Police then ask him if he would have stopped to record if it were a white person.
As officer Roberts walked back to his patrol car, apparently to mull over possibly arresting Walker he joked and sarcastically told, “give us a call. We’ll be there if you need our help.”
Which is the thin blue lines way of saying they wouldn’t help him because he chose to exercise his right to record police in public.
Police then ask him if he would have stopped to record if it were a white person.
Officer Roberts then walks back to the patrol car, apparently to mull over possibly arresting Walker and tells him, “give us a call. We’ll be there if you need our help.”
“By all means, call us,” said Thomas.
They then begin giving him directions, telling him where to stand when it was they who approached him.
Little Rock police then came back and arrested Walker, charging him with obstructing government duty.
Although he was released shortly after posting a $1,000 bond.
Little Rock Police Chief Kenton Buckner issued a letter of apology, dropped the charges and cut him a check for the money spent on bail.
One of the officers can be heard saying the 79-year-old civil rights lawyer had been a “thorn in the side of police.”
Walker said he doesn’t accept the apology for his arrest, and expects a lawsuit.
Some police cannot adapt to new laws and need to adjust or retire BEFORE they do this.
Of course, now we have a real concern on who will replace them...thanks BLM
NOTE that the full title didn’t fit and it is:
“Arkansas Cops Arrest 79-Year Old Legislator who Championed Right to Record Police for Recording Police”
If the Chief really wanted to do the Rught Thing, He would PERSONALLY Arrest and Charge them with FELONY KIDNAPPING and a Whole host of assorted charges involving a Firearm
I agree. Seems to me the next step is to make it a felony for cops to arrest people for doing things that are perfectly legal.
Ah, it’s all rigged so that civil suits (whose costs are eaten by the taxpayer) are the only thing that can be done, unless Uncle Sam looks into it.
At the Federal level it is.
direct link to video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcx_me7tB0I
Thanks for posting that! I meant to and forgot!
Not only does the legislator have the right to sue the city and police department, he has the right to demand that the cops involved be fired (free speech). He can suggest in a negotiated settlement that he’ll drop the suit if the two cops are fired. Legislators make the laws, cops enforce them. Since the cops were not following the law then they are negligent and can be dismissed from the force.
It’s possible that this fellow, due to his seat, can successfully raise a hell that the common citizen can’t. But is this going to help the common citizen.
On the one hand, I want to be outraged that the cops would abuse their authority in such a manner. On the other hand, were I a cop, I would be frankly scared that anything I did or said would pop up on twitter and potentially misconstrued to represent me as a racist killer. Put a bullseye on people’s backs and they might be inclined to get a tad testy at times.
Had it been a white conservative vs. IRS, there would have been no recourse.
...obstructing government duty...Hmm. Methinks this is going to be an increasingly common charge against citizens.
The man wasn’t interfering with anything, he was completely across the street. The officers chose to confront him, not the other way around.
See?
THIS is why horrible organization like BLM do find some grounding in the minds of some undecided, credulous honkies.
Sorry, but the cops were wrong.
It’s like they WANT people to mistrust cops, this time.
Member of the public: The fine for breaking that law is ridiculously high.
Officer: Then don’t break the law, and you won’t have to worry about it.
Officer: You’re a race baiter if you record us.
Member of the public: Then don’t break the law, and you won’t have to worry about it.
The current tense atmosphere with BLM is not helpful to a reasoned solution. So many alligators that everybody forgets that we wanted, first of all, to drain the swamp (except, of course, for alligator fans).
I would not be surprised to see Big Ears jump into this, bringing up a very charged chaotic distraction.
I guess the chief did right for trying to put a damper on the fuss very quick. I hope the legislator will be happy if Arkansas institutes a statewide training program on the law.
Thank you.
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>> “ But is this going to help the common citizen.” <<
Who knows, but it will all greatly benefit some leftie lawyers.
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