Man Arrested for Taking Pictures in Front of Federal Building in Seattle
Phil Mocek, who was arrested in 2009 after videotaping a TSA security checkpoint, was arrested again this week, this time for taking photos in front of a federal building.
Mocek was with a group of activists protesting the governor’s veto of portions of a medical marijuana law when he was confronted about taking photos Monday.
The guards ended up pushing him to the ground and handcuffing him, according to the Seattle Weekly.
During the struggle, Mocek handed a digital recorder to his friend, Greg West, who was then arrested in the middle of the street.
Both men were charged turned over to Homeland Security where they were charged with obstruction of justice.
Any confusion about whether it is legal to take pictures in front of a federal building should have been cleared up in last year’s settlement in which the Department of Homeland Security acknowledged that it was legal.
UPDATE: Here is a link to Mocek's blog where he goes into great detail about the incident and below is a news video that shows much more than the top video shows.
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Comments
What a horribly disgusting society we have become, where it is perfectly acceptable for 10 people to tackle, kneel upon, handcuff, detain, and fine a person for taking a picture of a building.
It's so sad that there are so many people who not only find this acceptable, but that there are so many others who are willing to be paid to take such actions.
I warned Phil he better crawl under the
barbed wire and try to find a Free Speech Zone.
They never listen.
rent a COPS mean nothing in FLA.
they have no arrest powers, no more then you or I have as an NONCOP! maybe they were feds?
is there anyone out there that either has or can get the name of that security company them buttheads work for?
seems no one in Florida knows this fact.
i am willing to bet that this is the same in any other State,
if there is anyone out there that is not in FLA. and their state gives the same powers to a rent a cop as if they were COPS, i would love to see it!
this still happening, its fucking disgusting!
Hal, it's Seattle not Fla and the company is Paragon Security. Perhaps a remedial reading course would help?
brian:
[1]i didnt say it happened in fla.
[2]i didnt follow the link to where that company name was, so sue me
maybe a course for u in [<[101/bite my ass]>]
"bite my ass"
Sorry to disapoint you dude, I don't swing that way.
BRIAN:
sorry i said that, i should never make fun of, nor say anything like that to the mentally challenged/retarded!
dude!
Very funny
I just updated the story with a new video and link.
Injustice everywhere is reporting that the DOJ is investigating a pattern of racial profiling and civil rights violations In Seattle and asking people to call them with their experiences.
Just FYI
A security officer not within his jurisdiction and doing that shit, what kind of bullshit is that? he was outside on the street then starts running after someone, someone should have decked the shit head! as someone pointed out to me, they are not in FLA. but Washington State. even there that cant be right, no fucking way!
He needs to lose his license. and never get it back, then also charged with assault.
FYI, i will be checking the laws/regulations and let everyone know just how wrong i was. :D or if i even hit the target at all!
and oh ya, that other video is great, it shows alot, that company is in deep shit!
it sounds like Carlos won't be the only one making some money from police brutality. I hope we get to hear how badly the rent a cops get beaten in court
This is why you never walk away from a court case against the government without a consent decree.
Frank: Who walked away from a court case?
@pmocek:
me too, i had no idea what he was talking about.
let alone what you asked, wtf is a "consent decree", and anyway it seems something a lawyer would need, and they would know to get one if they needed it. i dont think anyone bringing a suit in small claims would need one.
and I have brought cases against the GOV. in U.S.District court myself, without a lawyer. so i been there done that.
I asked -- in an entirely friendly manner -- what the guard had come out to speak with the news reporter about, then about the rumor I'd heard that someone told protesters that there were not allowed to photograph the building. There's more detail on my blog.
UPDATE: On September 30, 2011, the Assistant U.S. Attorney assigned to my case informed my attorney and me that she was dropping the case. She said she had dropped the charges against Greg by mistake, and would not prosecute me since she wasn't prosecuting him.
OH? that was just so nice of her, since the charges should not even have been leveled against you both in the first place! And she admitted it was a mistake that her office dropped the charges against GREG? and I have a bridge in BROOKLYN i would love to sell you! [brian, thats a bridge in NYC, and the joke is, its not for sale! and i dont even own it! {FYI}]
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