Gangsters in Blue

Guest submission and video by a loyal Cop Block fan! To submit your story click HERE and to take part in CopBlock.org’s “Featured Content of the Month” contest, click here.

Its almost been a year since Kelly Thomas from Fullerton, CA, a homeless man, was senselessly and brutally tortured and murdered by the ruthless Fullerton Police Department. Mentally unstable, poor, and harming no one, he became a martyr. His death encouraged and inspired me to be part of solving this ever-growing problem within our states, our cities, our streets.

I told myself from that night on that I would no longer be complacent to the aggression that the police bestow upon the same citizens they swore The Constitutional Oath to protect.

On the evening of March 24th, 2012, I came across yet another incident involving several police officers investigating a homeless man sitting under the 22 freeway on Beach Blvd. I immediately pulled out my phone, which I always have ready to record any police activity I see. I recorded nearly the entire interaction between this man and the police, as a safeguard against the same brutality issued to Kelly Thomas.

This is also my personal “Thank You” to CopBlock.org for fighting the good fight, and providing well-needed motivation to continue filming the police, despite the possible consequences. Great work to all of you associated, and thank you for doing your best to make this country the place it ought to be, a free country where we can feel safe from an over-bearing government, as well as a militarized police system. I will continue to do my part, with what resources I have.

Here is a link to my YouTube channel, where I have several other police watching videos (like the video below).

Thank you, I (Ademo – editor) especially liked how you handled this interaction, click here.

Orange County CopWatch babysitting Huntington Beach Police Department while they harass a homeless man is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Vincent Bess, USMCBess on YouTube, was at the gas station with his friend when he noticed police questioning a man. He decided to film it and sent it to CopBlock.org as the first submission for the “Featured Content of the Month” contest. The above video contains  his footage, which I edited into a more compact video, it’s just too bad the officer didn’t actually stick around to chat with Vincent, like he said he would.

The video proves there are officers out there who continue to intimidate people who merely want to record their actions. And it says alot when police treat observers like this, yet demand those same people pay for their jobs. Are you fine with giving police your money and then being treated they way officers commonly treat people focused on accountability?

A special thanks to Vincent, not only for filming the police, but for submitting the first video for CopBlock’s Content Contest. You too can win up to $100 in CopBlock.org swag and goodies, by writing a blog post, taking a picture or creating CopBlock.org videos (copblocking or philosophical ones).

Not many have entered so the prizes are up for grabs, click the banner below for more details.

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Short Copblock is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

On Wednesday I blogged about Jeff, aka HonorYourOath on YouTube, who was arrested for ‘refusing to show cops his ID.’ According to the description on HonorYourOath’s YouTube video of the arrest – the raw version (also posted below):

This video was being illegally held by the Lawtey police as evidence at the Bradford county Fl Sheriffs Department. When I explained my case to Sheriff Gordon Smith he immediately over road Lawtey Pd and returned my property. I then showed the video to Sheriff Smith and he said I did nothing illegal. I am asking the State Attorney of Bradford county to immediately drop charges against me.

I hope Jeff can get these charges dropped quickly as the video clearly shows he was doing nothing wrong. Makes one wonder if Jeff is having an affect on their revenue from speeding tickets?

The raw video has several of minutes at the beginning of Jeff holding up his sign, not yelling at cars like the police claim, so I took the time to edit dead time out, add a few graphics and include parts of Jeff’s video with commentary - video above.  Below is the raw arrest video.

Though I wish this didn’t happen to Jeff (or anyone), I’m submitting this video for April’s “Featured Content of the Month” contest, as best CopBlocking video thus far. Great job Jeff, you’ve set the bar high in the best CopBlocking video category. Remember, you too can win $100 worth of CopBlock.org goodies without being arrested. Click the link above for more details.

If you'd like a CopBlock.org Power Post - as seen above - contact us.

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HonorYourOaths illegal arrest video(s) is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

A good friend, though we’ve never met, and CopBlocker was arrested yesterday while conducting some speed trap outreach. HonorYourOath – Jeff – is a Florida Truck driver who spends time on his days off (or after work) holding warning drivers of sneaky cops trying to speed trap them. Below is his account of what happend but to see more of Jeff’s work visit his YouTube channel (or see links below):

On 4-2-12 I was illegally arrested by Officer Hughes and Officer Singletary of the Lawtey PD. I was in Lawtey Florida doing my normal speed trap blocking as I have done numerous times in the past – you may have seen a few of my video’s on CopBlock. My most recent video “Meet Officer Blom of Lawtey FL PD” (see below) documented a friendly exchange that occurred between myself and Officer Blom.

Yesterday was a completely different situation despite doing the exact same activity, and parking in the exact same spot as I did in the Officer Blom video. I was standing beside my car simply holding my speed trap sign as I normally do when Officer’s Hughes, and Singletary approached me very aggressively. As Singletary approached, he addressed me as” Mr Gray” to which I responded “Yes I’m Mr Gray”. Singletary then began demanding ID despite already knowing exactly who I am. When I declined to show my ID I was immediately arrested and later charged with Resisting Without Violence!

They claimed that they were responding to a suspicious person complaint,and that they did not know who I was.(despite Singletary addressing me by name as he approached) They claim that I was standing on the road way, pointing, and shouting at cars. They claim that I was illegally parked on the road way even though I was parked in a restaurant parking lot. I have video of the entire incident and it will prove the Lawtey Officers charges to be lies. Only problem is, my video is in custody of Lawtey PD as evidence. This is an obvious attempt at intimidation,with the goal of stopping my free speech right to protest their speed trap. I need some help, please call Lawtey Florida PD and tell them what you think. 904-782-3751

Thank you,
Jeff (HONORYOUROATH)

We’ll (Jeff and I) keep you updated on this pending story. Right now Jeff is working on getting his property back so he can show the world the video of his wrongful arrest. At that time we’ll release more names and numbers for concerned folks to call. Click here for more about HonorYourOath.

REMEMBER APRIL IS THE START OF COPBLOCK.ORG’S “FEATURED CONTENT OF THE MONTH” CONTEST, SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS:

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Honor Your Oath wrongly arrested by Lawtey PD is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

This would be a for sure finalist in this months “Featured Content of the Month” contest. Per the YouTube channel hosting the video:

Hostile Houston Cop comes after two innocent guys video taping at a Wal-Mart in SouthWest Houston for NO REASON, the men were held against their will before later being hand-cuffed to be arrested but released after another cop came to their rescue. The incident was only resolved after the cop tried to bribe and threaten the men to ERASE this footage or go to JAIL…. (This is a REAL police officer of the Houston TX Police Department. Apparently he works part-time as a guard for Wal Mart after his shift. This information was CONFIRMED by the other police officer who came to our rescue on the scene and who’s information will remain anonymous for being a better person although they also took the bad cops side when it came to erasing the footage before our release. We made them think we erased it so YOU could see this for yourself. Also what you see in this video is the FIRST contact made with the police officer which was initiated by HIM. Had he ordered we stop video taping Wal Mart or just to plain STOP video taping we would have been happy to comply, but his issue was “Don’t record ME!!” when my friend asked “What? Stop Recording?” the officer replied only with “NOT ME” and both of us confirmed he was not being recorded on purpose and continued with our harmless film which would probably have NEVER even surfaced had he not done what you see here) The police department also denies this as one of their own even while his information is public knowledge. We have yet to hear about him being in anyway punished for his actions so your help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks for watching!

Houston Cop goes CRAZY is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

My friend is being violently and unnecessarily “detained” at the start of the video. Roughly 10 seconds passed before I pulled out the cam to film what I saw as a overbearing use of force. Basically making sure we obtained video evidence of this injustice.

A few seconds pass and the cop says to stay 10′ back from him. He leaves to tell the other officers that I am filming. They pick up my friend and move him to the other side of the street to get him out of my view. I take a step into the street to film the remainder of the incident, and to my surprise I end up getting slammed, choked, and arrested.

We were charged with “resisting arrest”

What arrest were we resisting?

- Anonymous

FIlming my Friend leads me to getting slammed by cop is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

By Jason Talley of Fr33Agents.com:

Various individuals on Facebook are encouraging people to call the Keene PD (603) 357-9815 and demand the release of Derrick J. Freeman “who was just violently arrested and assaulted by Officer Finton Moore outside the KAC for no reason.” according to Clyde Voluntaryist.

Cecelia Freechild reports from LadiesinKeene.com:

Today, my dear friend Derrick J. Freeman was attacked and beaten by Officer Moore of KPD. Derrick was riding his bike when Moore came up behind him in a cruiser. Moore flipped his lights on, then proceeded to remove Derrick from his bike by hitting Derrick with the cruiser door. Moore then got out of the cruiser & stuck his night stick in between Derrick’s spokes. Flipping Derrick and his bike over, breaking several of the spokes on his tire.

Moore then tackled Derrick, and from the video being uploaded is seen hitting Derrick. Myself, and at least 10 other activists, came to the scene to see Moore on top of Derrick, pushing him into the ground. I witnessed Moore shove Derrick’s head into the ground when Derrick tried to adjust his sunglasses.

Moore was apparently trying to serve Derrick with no trespass papers for all of Keene School District, which he was already served with this morning, about 2-3 hours before this incident. Moore refused to answer activists as to why he was kidnapping Derrick.

I’ll be following this story along with other concerned members of the community. Expect more about officer Moore.

Dramatic Video of Derrick J. Being Knocked off His Bike by Keene Law Enforcement is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Last week I posted the video taken at Occupy Wall Street, where protesters were fishing for cops (using a string and a donut).

Sticking with the fishing theme, yesterday a video was given to me featuring a Dublin, NH police (name unknown) officer, who was aware of CopBlock.org. This officer may have seen the video from Occupy as well, as it seems he’s dead set on ending any and all illegal fishing activities and I’d just like to say thanks to Occupiers for ruining fishing for the rest of us. I mean it wasn’t even a year ago that police were threatening to arrest a father and son for NOT having fishing poles, as featured on CopBlock.org - what a difference a year (or one video) makes.

[Author's note: I don't seriously think this officer ticketed the teenager because of the Occupy video, I'm just trying to be funny.]

Fishing for Trouble is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Someone passed this video along via the submission tab (the email was a dud), so I added a intro/outro and posted it to CopBlock.org’s YouTube. I found the text below by clicking the link in the original video, posted here.

There’s some that would pat the cops on the back for being over dramatic assholes. They think its ok for cops to do whatever they like and justify any actions made by officers as, that’s what keeps them going home to their families. Protecting their partner and asking questions later. Which sometimes I know can be the case that cops have to take certain measures to protect themselves.

That isn’t the case in this video shot last night. And yes I know, your might say, well what was the whole story? There’s got to be some reason those officers were on high alert like that! But, in my opinion, whatever the situation at hand before becomes irrelevant after the cop pushes the guy away. They obviously weren’t trying to arrest these particular individuals. The guy talking to the cop before the push looks like he had been there for quite awhile talking to the cop with his arms folded when the push took place. Now I could care less about the cop pushing him. After the officer pushed him away which seems a bit drastic, he went back to writing in his journal immediately. That to me doesn’t warrant the other officer to arrest him thereafter in my opinion. But he does……dramatically.Whats your take on it?

Always film the police, or any government official for that matter.

For those interested, the “Featured Content of the Month” contest will be starting April 1st – this could have been a great submission for the CopBlocking category – click the banner below for more details.

Pushed by Cop, Sent to Jail is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Here’s a story from a few days ago in Orlando, Florida.

An internal investigation by the Orlando PD decided that an officer used excessive force when he threw a 100-pound woman violently to the ground face first, smashing her front teeth out on the sidewalk.

Go figure.

It doesn’t take a doctor or an expert in restraint techniques to realize that his actions were far too extreme to deal with a petite woman who might have had a couple of drinks in her.

OPD say officer used excessive force: MyFoxORLANDO.com

I read this story and watched the video (above) and was horrified as always when we hear stories like this that have become all too commonplace, but it was the comments at the bottom of the page, nearly all left by cops, that really got my blood boiling. You can go read them for yourselves, but here are some priceless gems that I’d like to make sure none of you miss out on:

“Hey I have an idea…how about this POS female doesn’t fight with her POS boyfriend and act like a POS criminal and get assaultive with police when they show up to deal with her POS self?”
This guy must have missed the ‘Protect and Serve’ memo.

“Had it been a controled takedown, with an arrest afterwards…this wouldn’t be an issue.”
Hmm, another cop suggesting that you arrest your victim to avoid scrutiny. I’m sensing a pattern here.

“Ya know what…keep your hands off of my Officer`s, act like you have some sense and keep all of your teeth”
Exactly the education level I would expect from one of these jackasses.

“An arm bar technique often results in a busted mouth if the suspect does not hold their head up when landing.”
In order words, it’s our fault that we haven’t been trained in the proper procedures for taking a beating.

“We need a unit in every police department to be able to oversee the I.A. division. Who watches them and makes sure they are really upholding integrity?”
OK, so watchers to watch the watchers who watch other watchers. No, all you need is Copblockers to record you.

“Where I work if somebody gets hurt in a tussle with one of us…so be it”
In other words, “I need to strut my manliness to feel better about my anatomical shortcomings and low test scores.”

“I don’t care if the suspect weighs 65 pounds or 300 pounds, they CAN kill you or severely injury you.”
Right… it’s much better to bodyslam the shit out of them and bust all their teeth out to make sure they can’t be a threat to you. I see that now.

“Maybe if she didnt act stupid this would not have happened.”
Here’s an obviously proud activist for cop’s rights to bash people’s brains in. I think he has a website at ISniffGlueOnTheJob.com.

“Anyone can see that the officer was wrong, he shouldn’t have thrown her to the ground. He should have socked her in the gut.”
Especially if she was pregnant, huh genius?

Anyway, there are a lot more. I’ll stop now since I’m only halfway down page 2 and this thing could get pretty long if I let my irritation get the better of me and just keep typing.

Keep up the good fight!

- Blither

[Editor's note: I figured I'd add a rational cops comments as well, see pic below. Ademo]

Police One Comments Reveled is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights