Tag Archives: bodycam footage

Cops Bust in a Home, Force the Family Outside and Handcuff the Dad (who I interview)

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Cops with the Idaho Falls, Idaho Police Department busted in an innocent family’s home, breaking their front door, looking for a third party fugitive. Though the homeowner knew his constitutional rights and demanded a warrant, the cops claimed they didn’t need a warrant because they believe a dangerous fugitive (the girlfriend’s brother) was inside. They did come inside and forced the family outside into the cold for about 30 minutes.

During this time period they handcuffed the dad, even though he was suspected of no crime and there was no search warrant for the home. The problem is, according the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1981 opinion in Steagald v. United States (1981), exigent circumstances to enter a home do not exist merely because the police know the location of a fugitive, even if they possess an arrest warrant for that person. They must also have a search warrant for the residence.

Cop SLAMS 70 Year-Old Man Over Traffic Ticket

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In Oklahoma City, a police officer slammed a 70 year old Vietnamese man head-first onto pavement, seriously injuring him, during a traffic detainment. Due in part to a language barrier, the officer and the Vietnamese man began to argue about traffic law. When the old man poked the officer on his chest (causing him no harm) the officer violently threw the man to the ground. He gave no warning that he was about to do so. Nor did he tell the man that he was under arrest before doing so. He just slammed him. Now the officer is on paid administrative leave and the department is investigating itself.

Here’s the raw footage showing the violent use of force:

The family’s Facebook post:

The department’s statement, also provided in Vietnamese:

The case law I cited in the video:

Casey v. City of Federal Heights:

Perea v. Baca:

Cop Follows Man Home After Traffic Stop, then Tases Him Repeatedly | 14 Other Victims | FIRED!

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In Warrenton, North Carolina, bodycam was recently released showing now-fired police officer Mark Oakley following a black man home from a traffic stop and then repeatedly tasing him in his driveway. Dwayne Hicks was originally pulled over for a minor traffic violation. Finding a pickup order in the system for Mr. Hicks’ license plate, the officer got a screwdriver and pulled the plate off Hicks’ vehicle. Then he told Hicks that he was “free to leave,” and encouraged him to leave the scene. The officer even waved as he drove away from the scene. Instead, former officer Oakley followed Mr. Hicks home and performed another traffic stop – this time in Mr. Hicks’ driveway. The encounter quickly escalated into violence.

Oakley’s statements about the incident:

Media report here.

Cops Tased Autistic Son – After Making Him Participate in Father’s Arrest! (then lied about it)

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A Peruvian family who resides in Bradenton, Florida, was pulled over by the Holmes Beach Police Department after an automated license plate reader flagged the vehicle’s plate as possibly being driven by someone without a valid license. The driver was Orlando Diaz, who spoke very little English. The officer asked his son, who is autistic, to translate. The officer then proceeded to have the son translate to his father that he was under arrest, rather than being given a citation. The son became quickly and visibly upset after seeing his father being placed in handcuffs. Shortly afterwards, the father would be thrown on the ground and the autistic son, Francisco Diaz, would also be thrown on the ground and tased several times.

Here’s the family’s GoFundMe:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/uwfz6-justice-for-francisco-diaz-help-us-fight

LEAKED: Police Chief’s Anti-First Amendment Message to his Officers

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Surprise Police Chief Piña recorded an internal message video for his police officers about a week after the arrest. In it, he defiantly and irrationally claims that there was no First Amendment violation. He also has another officer, who gained valuable experience in First Amendment (and other) violations, while working at the Phoenix Police Department, give the officers advice on how to respond to encounters with so-called First Amendment Auditors.

Here’s the first video I did on this.

Ignorant Cops Harass Veteran Over Cardboard Sign | Enforce Law Held Unconstitutional in 2019!

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Cops in Little Rock, Arkansas harass a veteran holding a cardboard sign that reads, “God Bless Our Homeless Vets.” The veteran happens to be Jeff Gray, a YouTuber and legendary First Amendment activist. Like moths to the flame….

Here’s the 8th Circuit case discussed in the video.

Rodgers v. Bryant, 942 F.3d 451 (8th Cir. 2019)

Here is Jeff Gray’s Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@HONORYOUROATH/

My Video Made the News in Idaho | Cop Surfaces, the Bodycam! | UPDATE

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UPDATE to the case where my video made the TV news in Idaho. The cop, former Meridian Police Officer Bradley Chambers, who disappeared, has now surfaced at another agency. Also, I now have all the police bodycam footage from the incident. The footage corroborates much of what we already knew. But it also raises new questions.

Here’s my first blog post on this incident with the prior videos and details.

Cops Called about a White Suspect, then Arrest DEAF Black Man with Cerebral Palsy

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In Phoenix, Arizona, cops were called by a Circle K gas station in reference to a white man they wanted trespassed from their store. When they arrived, the white man pointed across the street to a black man, claiming that the man was the actual culprit. Just taking his word for it, Phoenix officers Ben Harris and Kyle Sue violently attacked the black man. His name is Tyron McAlpin. He’s completely deaf and has cerebral palsy.

Officers Harris and Sue took him to the ground, punched him in the head at least 10 times and tased him at least 4 times, all the while shouting commands that he was unable to comprehend.

Media report here.

RAW Footage from Ben Harris’ bodycam:

Raw surveillance footage:

Shocking Arrest During City Council Meeting | Bodycam Released | Lawsuit Filed

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The Supreme Court has made clear that “one of the most precious of the liberties safeguarded by the Bill of Rights” is the sacred promise to every American, enshrined in the First Amendment, that citizens enjoy the freedom to complain about their leaders. Lozman v. Riviera Beach, 585 U.S. 87, 101 (2018). But the city of Surprise, Arizona and its mayor, Skip Hall, broke that promise, arresting Plaintiff Rebekah Massie in front of her 10-year-old daughter for criticizing a public official at a city council meeting.

The complaint:

Massie v. City of Surprise – Complaint_2Download

UPDATE October 24, 2024:

Surprise Police Chief Piña recorded an internal message video for his police officers about a week after the arrest. In it, he defiantly and irrationally claims that there was no First Amendment violation. He also has another officer, who gained valuable experience in First Amendment (and other) violations, while working at the Phoenix Police Department, give the officers advice on how to respond to encounters with so-called First Amendment Auditors.