Virginia Cop Detains Television News Videographer, Fearing Camera Vest Could be Tactical Gear

[KamaAina]

http://photographyisnotacrime.com/2015/04/virginia-cop-detains-television-news-videographer-fearing-camera-vest-could-be-tactical-gear/

A Virginia police officer detained a television news videographer Tuesday because his camera vest could have been tactical gear.

The incident was captured on cell phone video by veteran investigator reporter Russ Ptacek from WUSA9, who posted it on Twitter along with photos of the detainment. The video is posted below.

The cop was from the Arlington Police Department, part of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.

The station will be reporting about the incident this Thursday at 11 p.m., so it must not the most pressing issue for them.

Luckily, the reporter was white.

[niyad]

1. this moranic cop has never seen a photog's vest? and so what if it was "tactical gear", since

this stuff seems to be available everywhere?

[951-Riverside]

9. I know he did this to harass the photographer but funny thing is Virginia is an Open Carry state

If I follow this cop's logic, carrying a loaded rifle in public is okay but if you dare wear a vest with too many pockets while carrying a camera, you're in deep shit.

Unfuckingreal



Source: http://wtvr.com/2014/07/01/long-guns-carytown/

[niyad]

2. thank you for directing me to that wonderful site!

[snooper2]

6. Just FYI, PINAC site has people from all over the political spectrum

Of course it is one thing we should band together on-

[FSogol]

3. In the dangerous crime-ridden streets of Arlington, VA?

Sounds like that cop watched too many episodes of "24".

[Sparhawk60]

4. What is Wrong With a Tactical Vest?

Even if he was wearing a tactical vest, so what?

[Daemonaquila]

7. Exactly.

Good morning, loser cop - it's not illegal even if it was tactical gear. But really, you probably should be familiar with the concept of a photog's vest. They're not rare in any way, on pros or amateurs.

[MrScorpio]

5. The police are all out of control in this country...

That always hasn't been the case. When I lived in Arlington back in the late 80's/early 90's, I didn't see the APD as and out of control organization.

There were certainly some over the top PDs around DC at the time, most notably in Maryland, but most NO VA PDs seemed relatively sane.

Now it seems like the APD has gone over to the dark side as well.

[951-Riverside]

8. They're getting ready to shoot people who photograph them. Watch yourselves and stay safe.

Its not the first time I've seen video of a cop claiming that a camera could be a gun. Fast forward to 3:40 in the video below:

The officer said:

"I'm going to tell you what, I don't mind you recording that but you are not going to point it at me because there are firearms that are made of devices like that”

We are so fucked