Jervis Fitzgerald

🚨Did Officer Russell have reasonable articulable suspicion of a crime in this video, or was this just another “someone is uncomfortable” call? Law enforcement or feelings police? April 2023, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (public park known as “The Landings”): A man filming for the YouTube channel Audit CDA Idaho recorded a group of females dancing/exercising in the park. The women objected saying minors were present, confronted him and called police, accusing him of suspicious activity. Coeur d’Alene Police Officer Russell (radio K-67) arrived. He told the man he was called for “suspicious activity” involving recording the young females and following them to their vehicle, and referenced Idaho’s stalking statute as a potential concern. The man repeatedly asked if he was detained, asserted his First Amendment right to film in public, demanded a specific crime with reasonable articulable suspicion, and requested a supervisor. No arrest was made; the encounter ended as only a confrontation. Filming in public places is generally protected by the First Amendment. Officers may investigate reports of suspicious behavior, but detention requires Reasonable Articulable Suspicion of a crime. ❓Why won’t some officers clearly answer “Am I being detained?” when it’s asked repeatedly? ❓Is it the officer’s job to investigate why people are filming, or only whether a crime is occurring?