A Philadelphia family said they are outraged over the arrest of one of their family members.
The family of Neftaly Cruz said police had no right to come onto their property and arrest their 21-year-old son simply because he was using his cell phone’s camera. They told their story to Harry Hairston and the NBC 10 Investigators.
Cruz said that when he heard a commotion, he walked out of his back door with his cell phone to see what was happening. He said that when he saw the street lined with police cars, he decided to take a picture of the scene.
“I opened (the phone) and took a shot,” Cruz said.
Moments later, Cruz said he got the shock of his life when an officer came to his back yard gate.
“He opened the gate and took me by my right hand,” Cruz said.
Cruz said the officer threw him onto a police car, cuffed him and took him to jail.
“He opened up the gate and Neffy was coming down and he went up to Neffy, pulled him down, had Neffy on the car and was telling him, ‘You should have just went in the house and minded your own business instead of trying to take pictures off your picture phone,’” said Gerrell Martin.
And this part makes NO sense…
Police also denied that they told Cruze he was breaking the law with his cell phone.
If they admit he wasn’t breaking the law, exactly why did they arrest him? We previously covered a similar incident from New Hampshire.
I always have a tendency to wait for the other shoe to drop on these *cop abuse* stories. If what happened according to the victim, did happen, then he should sue away….make them hurt, maybe they will learn from it.
John is right though Smartalix, cops have been anti-picture/video since the Rodney King fiasco way back. Has very little if anything to do with 9/11 or loss of freedoms.
Well Thats one of the problems photographers face. Security gaurds and cops are ignorant to the law.
Public Property
You are allowed to take pictures of a cops. PERIOD!.
You are not allowed to enter a crime scene with out proper id and permision however you can shoot the crime scene from outside.
Some cops do not like having thier picture taken, so why push your luck.
Hey Keep in mind big brother has cameras taking your our pictures in public on street corners in every city.
Joshua,
Pre-9/11, cops didn’t like getting their pictures taken.
Post-9/11, now they arrest you for “security reasons”.
#22 Some cops do not like having thier picture taken, so why push your luck.
Comment by Richard Brill — 8/1/2006 @ 1:59 am
Because authority is for pushing…
#23…Smartalix….I still don’t think it has much to do with 9/11 as much as just normal big city cop behavior. Though the terminology is new.
Sorry, I could care 2cents about this article, it’s the picture of N.Cruz that’s getting me all horned up. Wow. What a hot and fine ass man!