Posted on 04/23/2015 4:40:11 AM PDT by Timber Rattler
A Virginia police officer detained a television news videographer Tuesday because his camera vest could have been tactical gear.
The incident was captured on cell phone video by veteran investigator reporter Russ Ptacek from WUSA9, who posted it on Twitter along with photos of the detainment. The video is posted below.
The cop was from the Arlington County Police Department, part of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
More police state type nonsense going on...
Looks like DARPA called in the cops on the reporter...
Every day it gets uglier.
Obama’s Amerika.
Even if it was “tactical gear”, I’m fairly certain it’s not illegal.
I wear military surplus clothing a lot when doing stuff on weekends. I wonder if I’ll be subject to arrest?
Liberal newscritters suddenly discover oppression from socialism that they strove mightily to institute.
If only TEA folks were targeted, they wouldn’t mind it, at all.
I suspect it is illegal. It looks like a high-capacity vest with more than five pockets, and several of those pockets are capable of holding more than ten flash drives.
Memo to Russ:
Get your affairs in order, the IRS audit will commence shortly.
As will the background checks.
And the phone calls from blocked numbers.
Are you now, or have you ever been, a Republican?
It doesn’t even look remotely tactical.
If I didn’t know he was a photographer, I would guess “fishing vest”.
The cop thought that vest was tactical gear? Not to bright
Looks like a standard photographer’s vest.
And just what is
“tactical gear”?
Sincw when is apparel, even military apparel, illegal?
I lived in Arlington for 3.5 years. The cops in Arlington...are five-star law enthusiasts. They can take any law....state or county...and whip it into a $500 fine very easily. But when you compare them against the DC cops....they are five times better and more competent.
Last year, they had one of their cops take a break at a local mall...and his cruiser-car was stolen. No kidding....the guy got into it, crossed the wires and drove off across the river to dump it in some local neighborhood.
What's happening is that all these federal and state agencies are now unilaterally declaring illegal "no go, no photograph" zones around their facilities, even on public property like sidewalks and highways and streets, to keep the nosy public away from their internal surveillance activities.
This is all because of the Patriot Act, which Senate Republicans are now wanting to extend for another five years.
No sir, the question is will you allow yourself to be arrested?
The photographer had come in to Virginia from Washington, DC?
Well, as suspicious as that is, as long as the guy had his passport with him the cop should have let him go on his way...
It seems our politicians have been on a mission to take away citizen freedoms with ever more security and surveillance against Americans (not illegals), when their mission should be maintaining our Constitutional rights and freedoms.
Seriously, though, even if a photographer’s vest is considered “tactical gear”, so what? It’s not illegal to wear tactical gear in public.
At least the Commies were open enough to put ‘no camera’ signs on buildings you weren’t supposed to photograph. They didn’t use secret lists.
What the heck is tactical gear? Does that mean a bullet-proof vest? I have tactical boots. They’re not bullet proof. Do I have to take them off in Virginia?
I am so sick of citizens having to keep their hands up when some cop decides someone might get hurt. I’d like to see the cops keep their hands up and away from their weapons.
Excuse me. You need to stop talking about this.
And I need to see your papers.
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