Still No Explanation On Why Cop Confiscated Newsman's Camera

June 14, 2011 @ 1:13PM

Still No Explanation On Why Cop Confiscated Newsman's Camera

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News

Miami Beach officials say they are still investigating why an officer snatched a video camera from a television news reporter and locked it in the back of his trunk in the aftermath of an officer-involved shooting on Memorial Day.

In other words, they are laying low about this issue until it is forgotten.

Thankfully, Miami blogger (and occasional PINAC nemesis) Random Pixels is making an issue about it by posting screenshot images of the face and license plate of the cop who confiscated a camera from Local 10 videographer Jason Ely.

The incident was discussed Sunday on This Week in South Florida, a weekly news show hosted by Local 10 news veteran Michael Putney.

Putney was interviewing Miami Beach City Manager Jorge Gonzalez and Miami Beach Police Chief Carlos Noriega about the controversy over Urban Beach Week, which attracts thousands of young, black people every Memorial Day Weekend.

Noriega explained that the reason police held a gun a man who had videotaped the shooting was because he had fit the description of other alleged shooters.

Noriega is still trying to make us believe that police were not the only ones shooting that night, although everything we’ve seen indicates that they were the only ones shooting, which means they would be responsible for striking the four innocent bystanders that were shot.

Rather than ask the chief, Putney asked the city manager about the incident between the cop and the Local 10 videographer.

And Gonzalez simply said, “that’s a matter that is under investigation.”

And Putney, usually one not to back down, seemed to be content with that response (check out that exchange at a little after the 11 minute mark in the video).

That’s the problem with the mainstream media. They’re so hung up on keeping themselves out of the story as well as maintaining civil relations with the police departments that they will turn a blind eye towards these violations.

It’s true that traditional media dictates that journalists should never be part of the story, but when police officers illegally confiscate their cameras, they automatically become part of the story.

So news agencies should not only pursue the matter journalistically, they should pursue the matter legally as well.

After all, how else are they going to send out the message that these types of Constitutional violations will not be tolerated?

Comments

WMS

11 months ago

It is time that all Floridians contact the Florida State Attorney to conduct a comprehensive investigation, and to prosecute those who were criminally involved. And this should include conspiracy after the fact toward those who have impeded and/or covered up the facts.

Tijuana Joe

11 months ago

"That’s the problem with the mainstream media. They’re so hung up on keeping themselves out of the story as well as maintaining civil relations with the police departments that they will turn a blind eye towards these violations."

Isn't this official confirmation of a Police State?

Norwegian Chap

11 months ago

Not really. A police state is a state inwhich the police may act without any legal ramification. That's not the case in any western society, even though it's hard to make a charge against police officers stick.

Keep in mind there is no legal censorship of the media in the US (or Florida), what we're talking about is either self censorship, or just poor journalism.

The language you bring up about "a police state" is not language to be encouraged if I'm asked. Anyone who doesn't immediatly support the cause of photography in public will immediatly brand you, and thereby the whole group, as a bunch of cop haters.

Remember the old public relations addage, it's not what it is, it's what it looks like.

Jack Rand

11 months ago

I AGREE, SELF CENSORSHIP AND BAD JOURNALISM. AS FAR AS INVESTIGATION JOURNALISM. THEY GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT AND HOPE YOU FORGET A LOT (MAINSTREAM MEDIA)! THAT IS WHY THE INDEPENDENT NEWS ORGANIZATIONS ARE TAKING OVER AND YOUR SEEING MORE PAID PROGRAMMING SELLING THINGS LIKE SEA MONKEYS MORE AND MORE. A SHOOTOUT ON MIAMI BEACH WAS PUBLICIZED SO MUCH. WHO DID THAT AND WHY IS THAT! SHOOTING HAD TO BE COMING FROM BOTH SIDES TO BE CALLED THAT!WHERE DID THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA GET THAT INFORMATION AND WHO TOLD THEM HOW TO REPORT THAT STORY!THEY HAD TO WAIT TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE VEHICLES OWNER BEFORE THEY COULD SEARCH THE VEHICLE. THEY DIDN'T SEE A FIREARM IN THE CAR DURING THE SHOOT OUT. TAKING THE BODY OUT. AND TOWING THE VEHICLE. AND THEN THEY TRIED OR DID PIN ANOTHER CASE ON THE DECEASED WHERE A WEAPON WAS USED. WHY IS RESPECT AND PUBLIC OPINION SO LOW FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE STATE ATTORNEY TOO! THEY HAVE NOBODY TO BLAME BUT THEMSELVES. MAINSTREAM MEDIA TOO.

Jack Rand

10 months ago

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT CHAP. WHEN PEOPLE DO WRONG THINGS AND THOSE WRONG THINGS ARE POINTED OUT BY SOMEONE. DOES THAT MAKE THEM A PEOPLE HATER. SEEMS YOU HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED WHAT SOME HAVE AND DO. THERE IS NO LEGAL CENSURING OF THE MEDIA! THEN IF IT'S DONE IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL, CORRECT? WHATS YOUR COMMENT LOOK LIKE AND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. NEW ORLEANS COMES TO MIND. COP HATERS ARE BIG WORDS USUALLY STATED BY SMALL PEOPLE TO JUSTIFY THEIR ACTIONS BY TRYING TO PUT THE BLAME ON SOMEONE OR SOMETHING ELSE. ARE YOU A CIVILIAN HATER?

William

11 months ago

The mainstream media is less concerned about Constitutional violations than generating revenue. If it alienates the people in power, it runs the risk of getting shut out, which means people will tune-in elsewhere. Advertising declines, etc.

The only time the mainstream media defends the Constitution is when it is in its financial interest to do so.

These people aren't idealists - they're in business to make a buck. Don't expect them to do anything that will put that buck at risk.

Norwegian Chap

11 months ago

Sadly, that's the reality of the bosses. You'll find a lot of idealists among the people who do the legwork, but they've gotta pay the rent, you know.

IceTrey

11 months ago

"the reason police held a gun a man who had videotaped the shooting was because he had fit the description of other alleged shooters."

Description = black, male

Revolution Now

10 months ago

Local 10 News is nothing more than a propaganda public relations spokes person department for the police. Plain and simple, this is actually the case for any local news media. So therefore the cop was just taking their own property.

How many times did local 10 report on this???? Anthony Weiner and Gabby Gilfords got more play from local 10 than this story. They should be ashamed of themselves. If they are not a public relations division of the police, which I don’t believe for one second, then they are a bunch of PUSSY’s at the very least.