Despite having a federal lawsuit against the The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, photographer Shawn Nee, was detained yet again and had his bag searched without his consent, violating his 1st and 4th Amendment rights.
Archive for the 'Los Angeles County Sheriffs' Category
LA County Sheriffs Unlawfully Detain Photographer (again), Illegally Search his Bag
Published May 12, 2012 Above The Law , Harassment , Hollywood , LASD , Los Angeles , Los Angeles County Sheriffs , Photographers' Rights , Police Harassment , Sheriffs , Street photography 2 CommentsTags: discarted, first amendment, shawn nee
Videographer Unlawfully Imprisoned by LA County Sheriffs for Recording Them
Published April 27, 2012 Above The Law , Assault , Harassment , LASD , Los Angeles , Los Angeles County Sheriffs , Photographers' Rights , Police Harassment Leave a CommentTags: 323-563-5111, Badge #494469, Badge #509083, Deputy Fernandez #509083, LA County Sheriffs, LASD, Los Angeles, Lynwood Detention Facility, M. Weinstein, police abuse, police brutality, Raven Williams, Sgt. Jean
From YouTube:
The first incident happened on Feb 1, 2012 at the hands of Los Angeles Sheriff’s deputy, M. Weinstein, Badge No. 494469 at the Metro station near the Compton/ Lynwood border in Lynwood. The second incident happened on April 2, 2012 at the hands of Deputy Fernandez, badge # 509083.
In both instances, I was merely arrested for recording the cops’ interactions with the public…then I was grossly abused, with my SD card from my cellphone stolen in the 2nd incident!
I was held at the Lynwood Detention Facility, 11705 S Alameda Ave
Lynwood, CA 90262 (323) 568-4500The TSB station is 2000 Imperial Hwy. Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 563-5000
Sgt. Jaen’s office is (323) 563-5111
Please watch.
If You See Something, Film Something
Published February 8, 2012 Above The Law , Harassment , LAPD , LASD , Los Angeles , Los Angeles County Sheriffs , Photographers' Rights , Photography , Police Harassment , Security Guard Harassment , TSA Leave a CommentTags: accountability, Constitution, first amendment, lapd, LASD, police abuse, police brutality
From YouTube:
This video was created as an example of the importance of filming the police. Video provides transparency, accountability, and an accurate account of incidents that occur. It is no secret that the United States has a serious problem with police abuse, brutality, and corruption. It is essential for civilians to document their encounters with police officers to ensure transparency, accountability, and safety to all of those involved.
Police departments have, for too long, tried to bully, intimidate, threaten, arrest, or otherwise harass law abiding citizens from recording the activities of law enforcement in public. Enough is enough! It is time for all of us to take a stand and expose police brutality when we witness it. Even if the officers behavior is correct, and justifiable, we still encourage the recording of the police activities for the transparency and accountability that is desperately needed in many departments.
If you see something, film something, the freedom of press begins with you!
If you feel the need to upload this video to your Youtubes, please contact us and we will make sure you acquire a high quality version of the film with our info. And please, add our links in the description, thanks
LA County Sheriff Tells Photographers Not to Photograph Them
Published January 6, 2012 LASD , Los Angeles , Los Angeles County Sheriffs , Photographers' Rights , Photography , Police , Police Harassment , Protests , Protests & Rallies 4 CommentsTags: civil rights, Constitution, first amendment, LA County Sheriffs, Los Angeles, Photographers' Rights, police abuse, Police Harassment
While waiting for OccupyLA members to arrive at the Wilshire/Normandie Metro station in Los Angeles, CA, an LA County Sheriff told two photographers not to photograph them.
At that point, a video camera was turned on to document the encounter, as the photographer defended his constitutional rights to take pictures in public.
The irony of the video is the fact, that at the beginning of the footage, the Sheriffs tell the photographers that photography is not allowed on the Metro (which is quickly rebuked by the photographer). However, five minutes into the video, the sheriff backtracks, and starts saying the opposite—so suddenly photography is allowed on the Metro?
And it is, in this case, for now, simply because the photographer knew his my rights and Metro policy and stood up to these Sheriffs.
This kind of behavior from police officers needs to stop. We can no longer allow them to continue harassing photographers exercising their constitutional rights while using the Metro.
To voice your concerns regarding this officer’s behavior, contact the LA County Sheriffs via this complaint form.
Like this:
ACLU Sues LA County Sheriff’s Department on Behalf of Photographers
Published October 27, 2011 Hollywood , LASD , Los Angeles , Los Angeles County Sheriffs , Photographers' Rights , Photography , Police , Police Harassment , Shawn Nee , Street photography 3 CommentsTags: ACLU, discarted, Greggory Moore, lawsuit, Peter Bibring, Richard Gylfie, Shane Quentin, shawn nee
From LATimes.com:
ACLU of Southern California sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and several of its deputies Thursday alleging they harassed, detained and improperly searched photographers taking pictures legally in public places.
LA County Sheriff Harasses Photographer, Unlawfully Orders Him to Move From a Public Sidewalk
Published September 26, 2011 Harassment , LASD , Los Angeles , Los Angeles County Sheriffs , Photographers' Rights , Photography , Police , Police Harassment 13 CommentsTags: first amendment
Photojournalist Unlawfully Detained by LA County Sheriffs
Published June 16, 2011 Harassment , Los Angeles County Sheriffs , Photojournalism , Police Harassment 2 CommentsTags: LA Weekly, Los Angeles County Sheriffs, Ted Soqui
From YouTube:
This is what happens when you try to take photos from the street of L.A. County Jail. The six deputies let me go only after I was searched and run through their computer system. Was told by the deputies that the jail area is private property, and there were national security concerns. For the most part, they were professional and somewhat polite during the stop. Still it seemed highly unnecessary for 6 deputies to stop me for taking images from the sidewalk. The images of the jailhouse building are for use in an upcoming story for the L.A. Weekly.
There’s not much to see in this video showing Los Angeles County Sheriffs unlawfully detaining photojournalist Ted Soqui for taking pictures from a public sidewalk of the L.A. County Jail (a constitutionally protected activity) since the cops prevented him from recording the encounter—actions that should raise serious credibility issues on the part of the officers because if the cops were acting in a legal manner then they shouldn’t be concerned about being videotaped. Like cops say, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about. So I’m curious to know why these officers moved Ted’s camera as far away as possible and prevented their conversation from being recorded.
Is it because Ted’s detainment was unlawful and the cops had no legal grounds for stopping him? Is it because the officers didn’t want their questionable or illegal behavior documented? Or is it because they didn’t want themselves on YouTube in another video that shows LA County Sheriffs unlawfully detaining another photographer for performing a constitutionally protected act? We’ll never know.
But there are a few things to remember.
Continue reading ‘Photojournalist Unlawfully Detained by LA County Sheriffs’
LA County Sheriffs Harass Student Reporters
Published December 6, 2010 Los Angeles County Sheriffs 3 CommentsTags: LA County Board of Supervisor, student reporters, Zev Yaroslavsky
In November, three student reporters from the Art Institute of California went to the LA County Board of Supervisors to film a story on foster care fraud, and the moment they arrived at the building for a scheduled interview inside, security guards and the LA County Sheriffs pounced. The security guards asked for their IDs and told them it was illegal to film without a permit or press credentials. Then, after the reporters gave over their IDs and were walking away from the building, seven sheriffs approached and surrounded them, for no apparent reason.
Slow day at the county supervisor, I guess.
Two things though: One of the reporters, Cody Garcia, on the tape says not everyone can afford the huge expense of the permits required to film in LA. Wrong. Those permits are for commercial productions, not for news gathering, or any individual with a camera on public property for that matter. And Jesse Garcia says he understands why the police harass people because they are sussing out potential threats. Wrong again. We shouldn’t operate on the assumption that people with cameras pose a threat since all claims to that effect are unsubstantiated. (That is, unless the FBI gets involved.)
But you have to hand it to the guys, who didn’t take the harassment quietly — as you can hear the one reporter repeatedly protesting and calling out the armed officers’ intimidation tactics: “How can I provoke a confrontation when I’m walking away — from seven armed officers!”
Despite repeated attempts to get a comment from LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky about the matter, the reporters have yet to receive a response.
A Case for Photographers Rights in 11 Points
Published December 17, 2009 Los Angeles County Sheriffs , Photographers' Rights , Police Harassment , Richard Gylfie #2955 3 CommentsTags: shawn nee
For an 11-point analysis of Shawn’s incident with LA Sheriffs in the Hollywood and Western Metro station back in November, check out the Magic Flute Fine Art Nudes blog. (Yes, of all places.)
Thanks to photographer/blogger Stephen Haynes for providing such a thorough and thoughtful look at the situation – where the gist is basically photography is legal and this deputy was out of line. (Warning: Photos on the site are NSFW.)
Rick “Dirty” Sanchez Ignores Facts, Spins Story
Published November 12, 2009 Los Angeles County Sheriffs , Photographers' Rights , Police Harassment , Richard Gylfie #2955 6 CommentsTags: CNN, Janelle Griffin, MTA guidelines, photographing transit, Rick Sanchez
In a desperate attempt to spin a story to his liking, Rick “Dirty” Sanchez (a man known for hitting Jeffrey Smuzinick with his car during a drunk driving accident and fleeing the scene, as well as publicly attacking Fox News for their lies) decided to ignore some very important facts regarding my detainment during his broadcast yesterday. However, even though his three-minute smear campaign against me was an honest and accurate report in his delusional mind, it’s too bad that others saw right through Sanchez’s gutter journalism report and have started calling him on it.
If you would like to voice your disgust at Rick Sanchez and his producer, Janelle Griffin, for spinning this story and running such a lopsided and biased segment (which intentionally and egregiously did not air Sheriff Gylfie’s lies, false claims, and threats), you can contact Janelle at (404) 827-1500. I’m sure she’ll appreciate your call, and make sure to ask her the following questions:
- Why did you cut out Richard Gylfie saying, “It’s against MTA rules,” when photography is allowed on the Metro? More important, why did you include the entire beginning, but removed only this section of the video?
- Why did you cut out Richard Gylfie threatening Shawn when he said, “You know what, I’ll just submit your name to ah…(chuckles)…T.L.O.”
- Why did you cut out Richard Gylfie threatening Shawn when he said, “You’ll be on the FBI’s hit list. Is that what you want? That’s the direction you’re heading.”
- Why did you cut out Richard Gylfie threatening Shawn when he said, “We’ll just put your name on the hit list, dude…that’s fine.”
- Why did you cut out Richard Gylfie’s inaccurate claims about bombs being planted in the London subway bombings, when the explosions were caused by suicide bombers?
- Why did you cut out Richard Gylfie’s inaccurate claims that photos were taken by the 7/7 terrorists prior to the attack being carried out when, in fact, photos were not taken? The four men involved in the attack did a trial run, which did not include taking photos.
- Why did Rick claim in the segment that Shawn “is clearly out to provoke the officer, it seems, to try to make him look like a jerk” when that is absolutely not true? Do you have actual evidence to back up this claim?
- Did Rick intentionally try to publicly smear Shawn by purposely leaving out very important facts involving his detainment?
- Why did Janelle Griffin call Shawn on Wednesday morning to berate him, demand to know his attorneys’ names, and threatened to make him look bad on the show after he told her he was not going to participate?
Finally, if you’re going to call Janelle, make sure you do it during normal business hours, because as the producer of “Dirty” Sanchez’s show she apparently only checks her messages during that time.
