Rent-a-cop problems

[colyn]

Did the real police say anything about why they didn't arrest him?

Actually he was arrested after his supervisor arrived and was told of the situation..

I have to go in Monday and file a formal complaint.

 

[colyn]

So Colyn - did you get pics of the real cops putting the bad guy on the ground?

Unfortunately no..I did however shoot a few of him in cuffs afterward...he wasn't very happy..

 

[proenca]

now this was a REAL situation in my country, Lisbon - Portugal.

Guy gets home, see his home door broke and from outside can see the theives still inside. Phones 911 and reports the situation :

Hello ? 911 ? Got some thieves inside my home, can you come please ?
911 : sorry, all our units are busy, best ETA will be 15 minutes.
P : but by that time they are away !!
911 : sorry, its the best we can do, we got loads of calls.
P : ok, thank you

he hangs up, counts 30 secs and call back

P : I call because a robery in XXXX , you dont need to send anyone anymore
911 : really ? are you ok ?
P : yap, I kill them, everything is fine
911 : excuse me sir ?
P : no worries, have a good day

he hangs up

30 secs later he has 3 police cars, an ambulance and paramedics on his door. the thieves , still inside, were arrested.

sargent confused, goes to homeowner

S :sorry sir, thought you kill them ???
P : and I thought you were busy ?

gotta love Portugal




yours is a scary story. you handle it well. without want to hijack the thread, just want to throw some humor on it

 

[nikon_sam]

Thanks...this really made my day...Good for you for sticking up for your rights, keeping a clear head and calling the cops...Hope I can handle it as well as you did...They should throw in Littering too!!!

 

[nikon_sam]

I too carry a copy of "The Photographer's Rights" along with a copy of the "The First Amendment"...

 

[dmr]

I handed him a copy of The Photographers Rights which he tore up and threw in the street without reading it.

Did the real cop cite him for littering?

He was detained till his supervisor arrived and relieved him of his duties. I now have to go to the security firm's office Monday and file a formal complaint.

Although I hate to hear of confrontations, I think this is great news, particularly that the real cop stuck up for you!

I hope word of this incident will be spread in the private security industry!

 

[colyn]

Thanks...this really made my day...Good for you for sticking up for your rights, keeping a clear head and calling the cops...Hope I can handle it as well as you did...They should throw in Littering too!!!

For years now I've taught my daughter to do the very same thing I did in this kind of situation. She's never had to put it to use and I hope she never has to. I hope I never have to do it again either.

In all honesty it is a rather nerve racking experience..but I still plan to go back tomorrow...

 

[colyn]

Did the real cop cite him for littering?

I'm not sure yet what other charges if any he will be facing other than assault but I made sure they knew what he did..

Although I hate to hear of confrontations, I think this is great news, particularly that the real cop stuck up for you!

The first officer on the scene saw him attempting to attack me with the stun gun for no reason. That with eyewitness accounts convinced the police I did nothing wrong..

I hope word of this incident will be spread in the private security industry!

Supposedly the security company supervisor will be educating (??) the other officers on photographers rights since I gave him a copy..

Security officers nationwide need to be better informed of what they can and cannot do..

 

[jan normandale]

Colyn, this is a well set out course of action you took from the offering to inform through a pamphlet on photography in public places, to calling 911 and finally taking a course of action.

I run a group "the harassed photographer" on flickr, it's intent is to educate. If you get a chance could you relate this event along with a shot the "offendiing image" if possible?

Best on the legal route. Keep us posted please!

http://flickr.com/groups/leavemealone/

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Colyn... I have to admire your presence of mind. And in a case like this, it does pay to have a cell phone! I'm glad you didn't back down. Good!

 

[rpsawin]

Colyn,

You did a great job of handling the situation. Thankfully, the situation resolved without any harm to you. I can only hope that this a.h. meets the love of his life at a jail dance.

Bob

 

[oftheherd]

As someone who has been in the security business for years, this sort of crap really makes me cringe. There are a lot of good people in the business - students, young kids getting experience before they get pulled into an academy, retirees, and so on - and then there are some serious freaks. Heaven knows I've worked with enough of those, and had to fire more than my fair share of 'em.

His authority is derived from his acting as an agent of the property owner of the property he is protecting (at least in most jurisdictions). Off his property, he's got no more or less rights than you do. From the way the incident is described, this is legally no different than a mugger who trying to steal your camera while threatening you with a stun gun. He just happened to be wearing a uniform instead of a ski mask.

Thanks, I was going to say something similar. There are good guys and bad guys in every job. This was one of the bad ones who give all the good ones a bad name. As already mentioned, unless NY laws are contrary to most, once he leaves his property and/or is off duty, he is a citizen, nothing more or less. He needs to be subject to law and hopefullly conviction. That will help prevent him from getting a job in security again.

Glad things worked out well for you. It could have been serious.

 

[Pherdinand]

by the way by tearing up and throwing away the print you gave him, he also destroyed a property of yours, and he also littered in a public place
try to find as much as you can against him.

 

[Al Patterson]

It is good to see one of these come out where it was the cowboy security officer arrested rather than the innocent photographer.

I hope your lawyer nails this guy to the wall. Since the supervisor seems to have the right attitude, I'd offer to drop a lawsuit against the security firm if they fire the guy who confronted you. This individual shouldn't be working security ANYWHERE. He should be sweeping floors at McDonalds...

 

[Pablito]

now this was a REAL situation in my country, Lisbon - Portugal.

Guy gets home, see his home door broke and from outside can see the theives still inside. Phones 911 and reports the situation :

Hello ? 911 ? Got some thieves inside my home, can you come please ?
911 : sorry, all our units are busy, best ETA will be 15 minutes.
P : but by that time they are away !!
911 : sorry, its the best we can do, we got loads of calls.
P : ok, thank you

he hangs up, counts 30 secs and call back

P : I call because a robery in XXXX , you dont need to send anyone anymore
911 : really ? are you ok ?
P : yap, I kill them, everything is fine
911 : excuse me sir ?
P : no worries, have a good day

he hangs up

30 secs later he has 3 police cars, an ambulance and paramedics on his door. the thieves , still inside, were arrested.

sargent confused, goes to homeowner

S :sorry sir, thought you kill them ???
P : and I thought you were busy ?

gotta love Portugal

Hmmm this may have actually happened somewhere sometime but It's about the 20th time I've heard this story, usually told as a joke....

 

[Zathras]

Unfortunately no..I did however shoot a few of him in cuffs afterward...he wasn't very happy..

Cool! Are ya gonna post them here?

Mike

 

[Roger Hicks]

by the way by tearing up and throwing away the print you gave him, he also destroyed a property of yours, and he also littered in a public place
try to find as much as you can against him.

Seconded!

And congratulations to the OP for handling it so brilliantly.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Ronald M]

I love the Lisbon story. Here you might get arrested for filling a flalse report.

 

[Finder]

Very good idea to get your lawyer to handle this. They want you to come to the office on Monday so you don't go to one. The complaint form will most likely free them from legal action even though they are responsible for their employee's action.

 

[John Robertson]

Unfortunately no..I did however shoot a few of him in cuffs afterward...he wasn't very happy..

Just make damned sure he does not get to know your private address, especially if he is fired!! He sounds a bit "off-balance" to me!