Man facing 6 Years in Prison for Videotaping Police, Videotape Missing

[no limit]

A member of Orlando Cop Watch, an organization which tries to document police abuse, has been arrested for...documenting police abuse. The officer involved has a history or abuse and arresting people for the crime of recording him.

According to court records John Kurtz (full name Johannes Michael Germann-Kurtz) is charged with Resisting arrest, opposing a police officer, and battery on a police officer after trying to video tape police during a domestic dispute. The police report clearly says Kurtz was videotaping the altercation but the video has since mysteriously disappeared. It was never given back to Kurtz and it was never checked in to evidance.

Orlando Cop Watch describes the events as follows:

Just before 2 AM on January 1st, 2011 John Kurtz left a Private Party on Orange Avenue and Church Street, Downtown Orlando to investigate some apparent police activity on Church Street.

Kurtz approached the scene and videotaped the incident, which included the use of tasers, a violent take down, and a pepper spraying AFTER the suspect was subdued and in handcuffs.

Officer Adam Gruler repeatedly told Kurtz to go away and turn off the camera. When Kurtz informed Gruler that he knew his rights and wasn’t going anywhere, Gruler violently took Kurtz to the ground and arrested him.

After multiple attempts to deny Kurtz bond, relentless efforts by Kurtz’s friends, family, attorney and other privately contracted help, Kurtz was finally released from Orange County Jail after a full 7 days behind bars.

Kurtz’s Video Camera with the evidence on it that would easily clear or condemn him of these charges mysteriously went missing. It was not in Kurtz’s personal effects when he was released from jail, nor was it entered into evidence. It is unknown what happened to Kurtz’s camera. However, at best it reflects negligence on the Orlando Police Department for failure to secure evidence; at worst it shows absolute corruption and evidence tampering.

John Kurtz is a peaceful person who adheres and promotes the non aggression principal. Kurtz is known by his friends as a pacifist who is much more likely to turn the other cheek, than to retaliate with violence.

To read more please visit their website:

http://orlandocopwatch.com/action-alert-trial-of-john-kurtz-facing-6-years-in-prison-for-videotaping-police/

[Tesha]

1. If there's no videotape (evidence), they'll have a tough time convicting him.

This calls for the ACLU.

Tesha

[meegbear]

3. A tough time? He's in Floriduh ...

Good luck Kurtz, you're gonna need it!

[rhett o rick]

4. Resisting arrest and battery on an officer, dont need evidence for a conviction. nm

[no limit]

5. innocent till proven guily*

*unless the cop says you're guilty

[Tesha]

6. Those are "the standard charges" anytime an officer wants to hassle you.

In this case, the officer can't come up with the evidence
for why he was hassling the guy in the first place; the
ACLU knows how to handle these situations.

Tesha

[Juche]

16. that and disorderly conduct

Cops have a lot of leeway to make crimes up if they want to intimidate you.

[Tesha]

18. Together, they're referred to as "the holy trinity". (NT)

[ThomCat]

11. Right. Those are the standard charges any officer can use at any time

to put any random person in jail for no reason, with no evidence, even if the person didn't do anything, simply because the cop wants to. An accusation, and the cop's word is good enough.

[ThomCat]

10. You're kidding, right?

The lack of evidence proving his innocence will probably be seen as proof of his guilt. "Justice" often works differently when cops are directly involved and you're questioning their ethics.

[Shagbark Hickory]

2. Stuff like this happens on a daily basis down there, Orlando, Miami Beach especially.

Fuck the video, he's lucky to be alive.

[LetTimmySmoke]

7. The prison-industrial-complex needs more "raw materials."

War on Drugs not producing enough slaves? Time to get creative, like imprisoning people for making videos.

[hootinholler]

8. Time to file theft charges against officer obie. n/t

[ThomCat]

12. It's only random minorities who can be put in jail without evidence

on the simple word of a cop saying you did something. That doesn't work in reverse. Without proof that a specific cop took something, nobody is going to get convicted of theft. No way.

[gratuitous]

9. Is there a problem with this?

All the right people say Kurtz is guilty. What's all this "trial" "evidence" and "testimony" foofaraw? Kurtz clearly resisted arrest and refused to comply with a police officer's orders - the officer said so, even according to Orlando Cop Watch. I have been reliably and repeatedly assured over the last 10 days or so that that is more than sufficient foundation for putting a bullet in a person's head.

[ThomCat]

13. Yes, it is amazing how many people think

that assassination is acceptable, and how low their standards are for allowing it. :(

I hope most of us don't think assassination is ever acceptable though, and think that real laws, faithfully enforced, should be brought back to this nation sometime soon. x(

[hootinholler]

15. Brought back?

:rofl:

When was it ever so?

-Hoot

[Ignis]

14. Oh, well played.

Sad to see those type of sentiments repeated ad nauseam here on DU, isn't it?

[FiveGoodMen]

17. Only a fascist country would ever allow such a thing to be criminalized

We're WELL on our way!

[rhett o rick]

19. How can we allow a law making it illegal to videotape police? If the Constitution protects

fucking Corporation's free speech, it sure as hell ought to protect a citizen from prosecution for videotaping.

[mountainlion55]

20. Anyone who

has had any dealings with cops know that they lie like a drunken sailor on shore leave! You are guilty until proven innocent unless your rich or a cop!:smoke:

[Dawson Leery]

21. It is next to impossible to defend those who are above the law.

This Adam Gruler seems to be a parasite.