Man Charged With Bomb Threat After Filming Building Housing Israeli Consulate In Miami

August 13, 2011 @ 6:33PM

Man Charged With Bomb Threat After Filming Building Housing Israeli Consulate In Miami

Topics
News

Bill Rolland, a professional videographer from California, said all he was doing was videotaping the outside of a building in downtown Miami for a client last month when he was arrested on terrorism charges.

But a security guard claims Rolland vowed to blow up the building, which houses the Israeli and German consulates.

Police were called and shut down the area, arresting Rolland and finding no explosives on him.

But now, almost three weeks after the July 25 incident, a federal grand jury indicted Rolland on one count of conveying a false bomb threat. He could face up to five years in prison.

In an interview with Photography is Not a Crime Saturday, his attorney said Rolland is innocent.

“My client was there on legitimate business to interview the CEO of a company that is also housed in that building,” said Robert Stickney.

“He was on the street videotaping the front of the building when a security guard came running towards him and told him he was not allowed to videotape the building.

“My client corrected him and told him he was allowed to videotape the building from the street.

“The security guard said if he didn’t stop, he would call police.

“My client told him he was not going to stop videotaping, that he was only doing his job.”

The security guard then walked back inside, apparently to call police.

Meanwhile, Rolland finished his shot and walked back towards the building, informing the security guard that he did not have time to wait around, but if police wanted to talk to him, they were welcome to come to his hotel which was only a couple of blocks away.

Rolland then went on his way, stopping into a Walgreen’s to purchase a few items.

Stickney said a security guard came running after him yelling profanities.

When Rolland emerged from the store, he was surrounded by Miami police who ordered him to drop all his belongings.

Even though they didn’t find explosives on him, streets were shut down, the bomb squad was called in, traffic was backed up and news stations warned locals to stay away from the area.

The Associated Press based its report on the FBI affidavit:

Investigators said that on July 25, Rolland walked into a lobby of an office building on North Biscayne Boulevard and began talking loudly on a cell phone while videotaping the lobby with a camera.

A security guard approached him and asked if he needed anything. Rolland initially ignored the guard, then later confronted him and asked if he had a problem with him talking on his phone, according to an FBI agent's affidavit. The guard said he didn't have a problem.

Rolland then went outside and started videotaping the outside of the building. He then came back into the lobby and told the security guard and a building engineer, "Listen, I am going to blow up the building tomorrow," the affidavit said.

Rolland’s website indicates he’s nothing but a professional videographer who specializes in corporate video.

Bill Rolland, Inc. specializes in writing, directing, and producing corporate “interview-style” videos. With its worldwide partnerships and global reach, Bill Rolland, Inc. is able to provide video production resources wherever they are needed. As importantly, Bill Rolland, Inc. is in demand by clients who want their project handled virtually “touchless” - independently, professionally, and successfully.

Clients include such Fortune 100™ companies as Apple, Chevron, Cisco, ConocoPhillips, Infinera, US Signal, Verizon, XO Communications, and many more.

He has several clips on his site, including the above tutorial on how to shoot with a Flip camera where he doesn't exactly fit the profile of a domestic terrorist, whatever that would be.

Stickney said Rolland had the cameras rolling when he was harassed by the security guard across the street, but had turned them off when he walked back towards them and told them he was leaving, which was when he allegedly threatened to blow up the building.

Stickney said the building’s surveillance video, which has no sound, shows Rolland pointing to his hotel during this brief conversation.

He said it is just a matter of overbearing security guards who are fabricating the story because he defied their initial orders.

“The security guards got upset with him because he defied their authority,” Stickney said.

“But their authority does not extend to the street. My client has been doing this for 25 years. He knows what his rights are.”

Rolland is back home in California after being released on a $300,000 bond.

Comments

Tom Stedham

6 months ago

Carlos,

Not to start anything, but .... I believe the fact that the Israeli consulate was in there is what caused all the ruckus.

I'm sure this guy has now been thoroughly investigated and will find himself on all kinds of unpleasant lists.

Just my opinion. I can't wait to read more about this...

Nathan J

6 months ago

It sounds like it's basically his word against the word of the security guard. It would have been great if he had kept the camera rolling during his entire encounter... then he would likely not have been indicted in the first place. But still, when this reaches a jury, I hope they will see the absurdity of the situation.

Rance

6 months ago

What an extremely bizarre story! I've heard security guards say some pretty stupid shit, but this takes things to a whole new level. I look forward to more details about this when they surface.

jose

6 months ago

a year or two ago, i mailed a letter to the mayor of city of
MIAMI, asking was there any buildings in downtown miami.
that could not be filmed legally from the street, awhile
back some jackass came out a federal court house downtown
and told me I was not to photograph the new federal buildings.
i told him there ought to be signs and i stopped, he didnt
want to see my images, he didnt even ask. and said nothing about
even deleting anything. its a joke, this should be
interesting to say the least! morons all of them, the ones from
that building, and the ones in that metro station.
its dangerous to go out alone at night, and for photographers its dangerous to go out alone anytime of day, well in MIAMI and miamibeach that is!

Rail Car Fan

6 months ago

You need to start using "left justified margins". It's very hard to read your comments when you write with "center text".

Rail Car Fan

Jon Quimbly

6 months ago

That'll show those pesky videographers, think they can videotape our building!

Guy Fawkes

6 months ago

A good lesson here, ALWAYS keep the camera rolling when dealing with dickheads in uniform.

JdL

6 months ago

Absolutely agreed. On the other hand, that wouldn't stop the dickhead from claiming there was ANOTHER conversation, not filmed, in which the guy stated he was going to blow up the building.

Anything connected with Israel has typically got ten times more paranoia and authoritarianism than even the "usual" paranoid cops. I put nothing past those bozos.

hal

6 months ago

things to not do alone: skin dive, swim, snorkel, walk in central park, street photography!

guy: or up until the time they taser, or arrest you

Kol. Klink

6 months ago

Isis-Ra-El. European 'tards sporting bad hair styles with inferiority complexes who think they're mystically Incredible Egyptians. Try walking like one.

Duane Kerzic

6 months ago

I think they need to investigate the security guard. He's probably made false statements before.

Nothing like a libel charge against that company.

Stan47

6 months ago

WTF is it with Miami these days?

Rusty Carr

6 months ago

You can bet your ass the cops did NOT separate the guard and the engineer and question them in detail to see if their stories matched up. The police know what to do and what not to do if they want a case to go one way or another.

jose

6 months ago

if this is true, then the COPS also need to be investigated, and fired if this is true. way too much of this shit going on for them to just get a few days off. fired and jail time to warn others that we aint gona put up with this shit any more!

and it is not COPS, the FBI was also involved, his case is in u.s.district court, he was charged by the AUSA.
i think this case is going to be very good for us down here, or very bad!
does anyone know which company the SO's work for, or are they also feds?

Tom Jankowski

6 months ago

Time for a photo/video protest?

jose

6 months ago

when and where? talk is cheap, time for a protest!

Tom Jankowski

6 months ago

Obviously at that building behind the story. When is up to you. I have no plans to be in Miami in the near future, but if anyone wants to have a photo protest, go right ahead.

jose

6 months ago

pixiq is acting funny, i didnt click twice and it reposted same again.... uugghhhhh

IceTrey

6 months ago

Why do you have a link in the article that leads right back to the article?

Carlos Miller -...

Pixiq Expert

6 months ago

I meant to post this link. I just corrected it.

http://www.local10.com/news/28657043/detail.ht

hal

6 months ago

carlos:

that link doesnt seem to be working, well not for me is not, that other question, wtf seems to be going on down here. its getting really fucked up down here and it seems that we are doing nothing about it!

taking a look at them, they seem to be the same url!

StarGeek

6 months ago

http://www.local10.com/news/28657043/detail.html

Link was just missing the ml at the end.

Rail Car Fan

6 months ago

It was stated..

"Clients include such Fortune 100™ companies as Apple, Chevron, Cisco, ConocoPhillips, Infinera, US Signal, Verizon, XO Communications, and many more," and "My client has been doing this for 25 years."

The only problem is, it's two against one as far as what was or wasn't said. My money says the two are lying.

It would seem to me that someone with that client background and experience wouldn't say anything close to "blowing up the building".

So my question now is.. "What's to prevent some two bit rent-a-cop from saying the same thing the next time one of us is in the same situation?"

Rail Car Fan

Johnny Law

6 months ago

I wonder what really happened. I find it hard to believe that the bomb angle just appeared. It was probably some offhand joke or remark that wasn't really meant but got taken seriously.

JdL

6 months ago

I agree that such an explanation is probably the most likely, and if true, it was pretty dumb on the part of the videographer to make such a "joke".

On the other hand, if it was shown that the security guard made the entire "bomb" thing up, I wouldn't exactly be stunned.

Gregory Key

6 months ago

I noticed the AP omitted the CEO comments, if any, that our Videographer was to have been doing photographs for in this case. Most likely the guy had bad English and was eavesdropping. The only thing if a video and engineer would be blowing up would be schematics of the buildings, ugh, or making the videos larger so you can see the detail. Heaven forbid. I've personally experienced were LE have coaxed/lead/seeded a conversation to get the "report" they wanted, oh yea not to mention the higher charges so it wouldn't be a cat in the tree call and could be legitimized.

hal

6 months ago

JL: oh ya, them SO's dont have a brain, they could not come up with shit that fucks with people, naw!
the bomb angle, there is no way they could have come up with shit like that out of thin air!
BUT maybe it could be they eat at the donut shop their COP friends eat?
could that be possible?
What if one of their COP friends talked to them about how life is as a COP, and talked about how they lie on "police reports" and shit!
What if one of those SO's was a retired COP, then they already would know how to lie on "police reports, if this was true, JL. then maybe it is true, and those SO's just like the COPS we love so much do!

But JL, we all know COPS dont lie! COPS dont fuck with people just cause they can!
COPS take their oath seriously and would never break the law! COPS never shoot or beat the crap out of anyone that does not deserve it!
do they JL? [this is meant only for JL, and i know he wont read it, so I am just venting......that felt good]

StewB

6 months ago

Well that was utterly pointless. Thanks for that. I can now relax the rest of the day because I've got a chance to hear your inane anti-cop speal.

Although none of us know the truth with this story, that never stops most of us from spewing our own spin on the story. In fact, here's mine...

What I think happened is the security guards threw a fuss about the man filming, he muttered a joke or some statement like "what do I look like, a bomber?" and the security guards took that one word and ran with it. Look at all the idiots that still make jokes in the airport about bombs. Just because someone films for fortune 100 companies does not put him above the idiot blurting something inappropriate out category.

kay marie smith

6 months ago

"What I think happened is the security guards threw a fuss about the man filming, he muttered a joke or some statement like "what do I look like, a bomber?" and the security guards took that one word and ran with it."

Yep, this is the more likely scenario.

JdL

6 months ago

Are you actually a cop, trying to discredit those of us who are often critical of cops, by drooling out an incomprehensible anti-cop screed?

Either way, please stop.

hal

6 months ago

well ya know what, fuck you both cause IDGAF! there ya go, fucking short, and fucking sweet!

Beniamino

6 months ago

@StewB:

Let's recapitulate: a videographer is legally filming the outside of a building, is accosted by a security guard who professes to "order" him to stop filming and subjects him to aggressive questioning, and the videographer states (your speculation, not mine): "what do I look like, a bomber" - are you actually claiming that those words could reasonably be construed as a threat of violence?

I'm going to go way out on a limb and assume that you have a sufficient number of brain cells to concede that the answer to that question is "no."

If Bill Rolland is in fact being prosecuted, at considerable expense to the taxpayers, on the basis of a comment that cannot reasonably be construed as a threat of violence (credible or otherwise), how does that make him the "idiot" in this story, as opposed to, say, the security guard, the cops, and the prosecutors?

StewB

6 months ago

Beniamino, You read way too much into what I was saying. I don't think the security guards nor the police/FBI were at all correct in their handling of the situation, if the article is true. I agree completely with you that the videographer was completely within his rights to be filming from the public street. No, I don't think "what do I look like, a bomber?" could reasonably (or unreasonably) be considered a threat of violence.

The whole point of my post was to comment on the fact that we don't really have many facts and, as usual, most of what is posted in the comments, including my comment, are at best speculation to what the really happened.

My idiot comment towards the victim was conjecture. I was simply stating that all we no based on that one article is he said she said. The security guards are probably the ones making a big deal out of nothing, but then again, it could be the filmer who did something, ummm... idiotic, to bring trouble upon himself. Once again, based on that one article, we can't really say for sure.

But thanks for going out on a limb for me!

jose

6 months ago

Beniamino: you now have done it, you gave me the ability to say the following:

there is at least one person out there that has a brain and knows how to use it. and for that to be a true statement of fact!

Tijuana Joe

6 months ago

Cops in Florida are beholden to the Corporations,
not the people. Did anyone see where
the news guys looking for BP oil, digging on a beach, were threatened with arrest? Amazing.

Back in California, the "Art Police: are back:
9:45am | Police Chief Jim McDonnell has confirmed that detaining photographers for taking pictures "with no apparent esthetic value" is within Long Beach Police Department policy.

http://www.lbpost.com/life/greggory/12188

jose

6 months ago

[taking pictures or video footage "with no apparent esthetic value," and taking notes.]
they have got to be fucking kidding, or TJ you know what? they are creating work for the COPS cause REAL crime is going down! that has got to be it!

well there is one more thing, like JL and bart, they could very well just be the morons we think that they are! [and please dont feel left out, if your a moron and are not bart or JL, i am now including you, feel better now?]

TJ: i for one cant stop thinking about southern california, its almost as bad as south florida...heya? MBPD, dont ya just feel the love?

Jude

6 months ago

Yeah, that's what he gets for thinking he can stand on a public street and film a building. Don't you know that the building has an inherent right to privacy? It doesn't need the constant harassment from paparrazi videographers!

jose

6 months ago

HEY....jude!

hal

6 months ago

lets get something straight, no photographer in this case, neither joked nor said anything about bombs or made any type of statement about the fact that they didnt look like a bomber! that just did not happen!

second: SO;s for the most part dont get any respect from LOE's. I had one LEO's ask another in front of me, if I was trying to make out like I was a COP? This douch didnt know that the fact is in Fla. except for one word difference in both badges, both the LEO badge and the one for SO's are exactly the same badge,[unless you take a close look]! Was it my fault, the idiots in Tallahassee did this, and that is the way it is with those two badges?
also except for the fact SO's are required to get a Fla. issued License, they are no different then non-SO's and non-COPS. they have no COP arrest authority at all! The License is required for employement as a SO!

Howard

6 months ago

I can't find any information on how to show support for Bill Rolland. Does anyone know of a site? Is he accepting donations to support his legal fees?

A federal indictment is not cheap to defend, even if you did nothing wrong. Many people accept a plea rather than risk the high costs and the possibility of being found guilty.

Tijuana Joe

6 months ago

“If there is a law to charge him with, definitely he is going to get charged,” said Miami police Detective William Moreno."
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/25/2330199/traffic-alert-downtown-mia...

There has to be some kind of law we can charge
him with, I mean we arrested him, handcuffed him,
jailed him, ruined his whole month, now where's that damn law?????

Beth Dyer

2 months ago

In case anyone is still interested, Mr. Rolland has been exonerated. In a federal trail in Miami, which cost Mr. Rolland and taxpayers 100's of thousands, a jury found him not guilty in less than an hour. What a travesty of justice. Even more outrageous, not a single media source carried the story of the trail or the outcome. Incredible.

hal

2 months ago

i would have tried to make it to some of the trial if i had known. it wasnt in the mainstream media as you and i know for a very good reason. I was charged, and tons of tax payers money was also wasted on me. two felonies, in U.S.district court, i got convicted. i got lucky and got an old judge that just couldnt put me into prison, or else i would have went and my whole life would have been fucked up. i got 3months in halfway house, and five years probation. fact, this case and mine, among many others i am sure, show how fucked up the system really is! [the present media blows big dick, and that is a fact]