Photograph a Cop, Go to Jail

By Darius Radzius, WJHL

Nearly everyone carries a cell phone and it’s hard to find one without that camera feature. It’s convenient when you want to take that impromptu photo, but a Tri-Cities area man ended up behind bars after snapping a shot of a Johnson County sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop.

The cell phone photographer says the arrest was intimidation, but the deputy says he feared for his life.

“Here’s a guy who takes me out of the car and arrests me in front of my kids. For what? To take a picture of a police officer?” said Scott Conover.

A Johnson County sheriff’s deputy arrested Scott Conover for unlawful photography.

“He says you took a picture of me. It’s illegal to take a picture of a law enforcement officer,” said Conover.

Conover took a picture of a sheriff’s deputy on the side of the road on a traffic stop. Conover was stunned by the charge.

“This is a public highway,” said Conover.

And it was not a place where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy as Tennessee code states. The deputy also asked Conover to delete the picture three times.

“He said if you don’t give it to me, you’re going to jail,” said Conover.

Under the advice of the Johnson County attorney, the sheriff would not comment and the arresting deputy said he didn’t want to incriminate himself by talking to us.

In an affidavit, the deputy said he saw something black with a red light which he thought was a threat. Conover was also arrested for pointing a laser at a law enforcement officer.

“At no time did I have a laser. I had an iPhone,” said Conover.

When you take a picture in the dark with Conover’s Apple iPhone, there is no flash or any light that comes from the phone that could be mistaken for a laser.

In a witness statement by a Mountain City officer, is says the deputy asked about the picture rather than looking for a laser.

“If you arrested me, wouldn’t you take the laser? If you arrested me, wouldn’t you take the camera?” said Conover.

He expects these charges to be dismissed.

“This guy maliciously arrested me, charging me with phony charges that he don’t even understand himself,” Conover said.

The American Civil Liberties Union would not comment on Conover’s case without fully reviewing the allegations, but told us there is no law that prohibits anyone from taking photographs in public areas, even of police. Taking photos is protected by the First Amendment. Conover is ordered to appear in a Johnson County court on August 6th.

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No audio either!

I was nearly arrested because I wanted to record a police officer that was trying to stop me from holding up an anti-Bush sign at a public intersection. His seargent confirmed that in Florida it is illegal to audio record an officer "during anarrest orofficial investigation".

Law Enforecment Listen Up Right Now - Class Action Americana

You have been illegaly instructed as to what the actual laws governing the free movements of United States Citizens are

I repeat - YOU HAVE BEEN MISINFORMED

People of United States of America don't listen to a bunch of

WAR CRIME THUGS WHO OCCUPY 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

I repeat - prosectuion is gathering a gigantic amount of leverage to in fact bring charges against the President and the Vice President of the United States

do you wish to join them in court - do you

your pensions and your careers are on the line

I repeat - you are to show due constraint and consideration to the American Public

grievances will be aired out - grievances against the federally maligned mauled and decapitated former local state police forces will be aired out in public

AS WAR CRIMES get the light of day

LAW ENFORCEMENT GETS THE LIGHT OF DAY SHOWN UPON THEM

YOU HAVE ACTED IN THE MOST DISPICABLE MANNER IN THESE LAST 7 YEARS and you have been a disgrace - THERE IS SO MUCH VIDEO EVIDENCE IT LOOKS LIKE SOUTH AFRICA DURING APARTHEID

Imagine the lawsuits, imagine the hefty fees coming out of those pensions

THEREFORE: arresting a lawful citizen going about his own free will GET YOU IN JAIL, WILL GET YOU IN PRISON, WILL GET YOU SUED FOR FALSE ARREST - statute of limitations is still pending on you

Your self protectionist and unlawful conduct is hereby on notice

this will make SERPICO look like a feel good movie

If you do not honor the badge that you wear - then the badge comes off

America - prepare your testimony - the hour is ready for you - attorneys line 'em up - class action and now there's CLASS ACTION AMERICANA

CLASS ACTION AMERICANA

CLASS ACTION AMERICANA

CLASS ACTION AMERICANA

PROCEED>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

50 states full of misconduct - class action United States of America

PS: Life in the United States of America is NOT a privaledge, IT IS AN INALIENABLE RIGHT - do you acknowledge or are you still under illegal authority and command - 'just following orders is what the crime family says - oh and those who dishonor the shield'

PS: national guard units still under direct authority and by each State Governor can enforce a whole lot UPON YOU - YOU ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW

PS: YOUR OWN LOCAL SWAT COMMANDER MIGHT BE OPENING UP AN ENVELOPE WITH YOUR PICTURE ON IT READING 'THIS GUY' HAUL HIM IN DEAD OR ALIVE

PS: Homeland Security ain't gonna do diddly

PS: YOU THINK THIS IS A JOKE WAR CRIMES, TORTURE, AND AGGRIVATED POLICE BRUTALITY - GUESS WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW WHO YOU ARE - THE TRAIL OF CIVIL COMPLAINT AND DEATH BY ARREST IS A WHOPPER BIG BOY - THINK ANYONE NOTICED

The American Public is not some open cow pasture from which to bleed

FIRE THEM ALL FOR THEIR CONTEMPT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE - LET THEM LOOK FOR WORK ELSEWHERE

The day you killed innocent bystanders was the day you lost your soul

Writers, Journalists, Attorneys, Victims, Grieved Relatives - the ship of state is but near to change course

JUSTICE means even the Federal Judiciary gets an overhaul

'save us from the time of trial'

'rebuke them, 7 X 70'

the hour of repentance is at hand

and you police thugs ganged up on the innocent and kicked the last breath out of them - we got it on film and the American People shall continue to review your behaviour like it or not

smile YOU ARE ON VIDEO CAMERA

button that shirt thug - kkk don't get you outa jail card 'no more

CLASS ACTION AMERICANA vs Police Violence, Brutality, Torture, Intimidation, Murder, False Arrest, False Witness, Illegal Search and Seizure, Illegal Stop and Seizure, Planting of False Evidence,Illegal Check Points, et. al.

TO CLASS ACTION AMERICANA

Don't misunderstand what i say as rejection of what you wrote above. I almost like it, alot. but, it comes over as possible rantings of a madman.

I read every word. I just don't know what it is exactly, what your trying to say here.

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