Indiana police threaten to confiscate man's camera

December 26, 2009 @ 8:14PM

Indiana police threaten to confiscate man's camera

By Carlos Miller -...

An Indiana man said police threatened to confiscate his camera as he was filming a traffic stop in front of his house while standing on his own property.

The man, who goes by the username dUsTjUnKy2000 on the forums of the Indianapolis Star newspaper, said the incident occurred Christmas Day after police pulled over his neighbor for a seatbelt violation.

The cops wanted to search his neighbor, but his neighbor did not consent to the search.

Meanwhile, one of the cops started threatening him for filming them.

According to his forum post, the following exchange occurred between the cop and himself:

“If you’re going to keep on filming me, guess what I’m gonna do. I’m going to come over there and confiscate that camera and keep it for evidence.”

I said ”Evidence of what?” “I’m on my property, I am not interfering. I can photograph whatever I want to from my property.”

He replied “Take that camera inside or it’s gonna be mine and I’m gonna confiscate it.

Minutes later, a female cop walked up to him and demanded the camera and the following exchange occurred:

‘You’re going to need to give him that camera.’

I replied ‘I’m not breaking the law. Anything viewable from the street is legal game to be videotaped. If he wants my camera, he needs to get a warrant. Also, if you don’t have a warrant, then you need to leave my property.’

The female cop walked off, telling him “we are going to need that camera eventually for evidence.”

The man eventually stepped back into his house where he continued filming. He also called the police dispatcher to inquire whether they could take his camera but she was no help.

The man has yet to post the video even though several forum readers are urging him to do so.

Comments

Anonymous

2 years ago

poor swine didnt get their way….

Anonymous

2 years ago

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Anonymous

2 years ago

[...] national exposure. Apparently, some of their officers are in need of remedial training. via Carlos Miller [...]

Anonymous

2 years ago

DustJunky acted properly. It is also correct that the police may need (by warrant or subpoena) what he videotaped, as evidence for either a criminal case against the driver or civil court case brought against them. Make copies (for friends and news media), document ownership of the camera used, and contact a lawyer. Everyone needs to thank DustJunky for standing to protect our rights.

Anonymous

2 years ago

If the police believe the video is evidence, ask nicely for a copy. Demanding it without a warrant, fuck you.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Ah good, a system I can stay logged in with. I like this.

Typical stunt. The officers KNOW they have no actual right to the camera or the content, but try to bully the person filming into giving them up.

Good on DustJunky for standing up to them.

Anonymous

2 years ago

I must say without the video being posted after multiple requests, I'm becoming a bit skeptical.

I hope we do see proof, but so far only a telling of what was supposedly to have happened.

Anonymous

2 years ago

I like the attitude of Indian police they handle very aggressively this case.I like this all replies also thank you for this one I like this all detail

Anonymous

2 years ago

Seatbelt enforcement zones are just an excuse to search vehicles and maybe RICO your car if you are dumb enough to consent and they find or plant something. No wonder they object to being filmed while thy loot and oppress.

That guy did great in mentioning getting a warrant. That throws the ball into the judge's relm where he would eventually be dragged. Judges don't like it if their bailiwick is bypassed.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Hey this story is about me! Awesome. Thanks 4 the support all. However posting the video is not something I'm likely to do, since it shows EXACTLY where I live in Greenfield.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Hey this article is about me! Btw it was Christmas Eve. About 4:00pm.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Hi I’m Greg Cox, this story is about me!!!! I’m a liar and an attention whore and I recently escaped from the mental hospital. None of this is true, gotcha!!!

Anonymous

2 years ago

This is the same character who’s got some screwball feud going with some woman who supposedly ‘stole’ a toy gun at a Christmas party, with multiple threats of violence and even death going back and forth between sides, and now her house has been torched by an arsonist.