In this video, we've got edited footage from a police interaction in the parking lot of a Walmart in Washington DC that goes sideways when the person starts recording. At the start of the video, we see Mr. Freeman being escorted out of a public building by four or five officers. The event may not be the same, but the reason he added this footage was to show this guy. Officer, no. After this interaction, the video skips over to the Walmart parking lot where he finds the same police officer in the middle of an interaction and decides to start recording. I approach and quietly record him from about 25 ft away. I don't speak until the girl speaks to me. Yeah, that was helping this girl. What are you doing? What's that? What are you doing? Just recording him. No sir. Why? Cuz it's my job. It's your job. But if it's only me, just me. Okay. But we have another patient. That person doesn't want to. Shut up. Shut up. What is language is that? What language is that? My job is to watch you. Shut up and do your job. More specifically, he says that he can record him, but not her. According to the United States Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, quote, the first amendment protects the right to photograph and record matters of public interest. This includes the right to record law enforcement officers engaged in the exercise of their official duties in public places. However, when it comes to recording the public, there is a so-called two-party consent law, which according to Washington, recording law means that it is a quote crime to intercept or record a private telephone call, in-person conversation, or electronic communication unless all parties to the communication consent. She was stunned at first, but later she pulls out her phone to start recording as well. So, technically, there's no problem here. Some might say that he was recording too closely, which could obstruct the officer's investigation, but because he was keeping about 25 ft away from the incident, this doesn't count as obstruction. [ __ ] happened. Please don't talk like that. What do you have in your pockets with there? Is it a gun? No, not a gun. It's not a gun, you [ __ ] idiot. Yeah, go back, [ __ ] idiot. It's a radio. You know that, you stupid piece of [ __ ] Yeah, get back. He's trying to shoot me now. His narration pretty much is spoton, and his judgment was completely right. A wrong move on his part would mean that the officer would have to detain him or possibly make an impulsive decision to shoot him. What's actually peculiar here is his right hand, which covers the body cam he's wearing as he moves toward Mr. Freeman. According to the model policy on bodywn cameras, quote, "If an officer fails to activate the BWC, fails to record the entire contact, or interrupts the recording, the officer shall document why a recording was not made, was interrupted, or was terminated. We are unsure whether he was questioned on covering his body cam or not, but because of Mr. Freeman's side of the recording, there is definitive proof of violation of the model policy." No, you're being recorded. Yeah, I am. You You're still recording. This is citizen. It's a recording. You are making me feel scared. Get out of here. So, I'm over here watching this Washington city police officer and he's trying to say that there's a gun right there. It's a radio. You see it? I'm with I'm with news media. I document police activity. I'm not here to record you either. I'm only You're being I'm not here to bother you or record you. My job is to record him. After the officer made the false claim that he was carrying a weapon, he called for backup. Dude, this place is psycho. This place is psycho. But yeah, you're right. So guys, I'm going to I'm going to stay here with my camera down and my hands up because he just called for backup and tried to say that I have a gun on me. Hey, can you guys turn your cameras on, please? And put them on me. [Music] Put my camera on you. Yeah, please record me, please. This guy just tried to say that I have a gun on me and called for backup, saying that I'm trying to shoot him because I'm recording him. According to Mr. Freeman, this was his safest way to stand. His camera was on the ground while he stands with his hands up behind the cop car. After some time, some nearby shoppers noticed the incident and he gets one person to record. Guys, please turn your cameras on and point them at me. You okay? Yeah, I'm fine. What's going on? Okay. Nobody Are we okay? Yeah. What's going on? Well, he just tried to Don't touch me. He tried to say I have a gun on me because I'm recording. Wait, I don't know what he has. You don't need to know what I have. You approach me. Hold on here. Hold on. It's legal and lawful. I don't have a gun. Not to approach him while he's on a traffic stop. Look, I was I was within reasonable distance recording him. What reasonable distance may be okay with you, may not be okay with him. He's in control of the scene and he knows I don't have a gun and he tried to say I did so he could try to shoot me. Okay. Regardless, what's your name? Hold on. You asked me a lady a couple hours ago. Hold on. I'm Just talk to me for a second. The explanation here is quite simple. It is legal to record and it is legal to carry arms. Not that he had any on him. I'm scared. I'm [ __ ] scared. He's trying to say I got a gun on me so I can so he can shoot me. You keep moving. Why can I not move? Have I done something wrong? Have I done something illegal? If you keep cutting me off, how are we going to have a conversation? I don't want to have a conversation. I just want to record what he's doing and and not get shot. Okay. But if you want to understand what's going on, how are we going to get to that point if you're not going to talk? I don't need to understand anything. I just want to record. Actually, you do need to understand a couple of things. When you insert yourself into an investigation, you become part of the problem and not part of the I didn't insert myself. I silently record it. But by you coming up and getting within his space, that becomes a problem. I wasn't in his space. You can't deny. You can't say one way or the other whether that's good or bad. He has the right to make that call. What's your name? Agent Drestler. Agent Drestler. That's his name. Don't come near me. Back him away from me now. He's right near his car. Back him away. Tell him to stop coming closer. Sir, just because you're recording, he tried to say I have a gun so he could shoot me. He said you might have had a weapon. I'm pretty sure your your recorder will say that that he as you as you approach you. We don't know what you have. He tried to say that was a weapon. No, I didn't say that. The waistband, sir. I I don't know what you have on. It doesn't It doesn't matter. This is the United States of America. We're allowed to have weapons. approach a guy on a car stop. Okay. You can't you just So So anytime citizens record you, you're going to threaten to kill him. Also, you also scare You're going to threaten to kill anybody. So you also scared the complaining over there. The camera scared me. The camera scared her. I didn't see you. But the fact that he came up from behind the police officer, should it be considered as obstruction or hindering? Well, according to the US code of conduct 181503, obstruction of justice is defined as an act that quote corruptly or by threats of force or by any threatening letter or communication, influences, obstructs or impedes or endeavors to influence, obstruct or impede the due administration of justice. So yes, he kept his distance safely from the incident and he did not obstruct the investigation. You guys are a bunch of liberal retards. This is ridiculous. I'm I'm not here to argue with Can I Can I You can You can step over here for me. Okay. That'll put you away from him and allow him to complete his stop. Okay. And then we can work out. Can you take his firearm off of him? No. There is no reason. He's unstable. No, sir. You're the one right there. What's his name? You're the one that approached him. What's his name? What's your name? I'm not going to I'm asking you to stand over here. That doesn't I need his name before I need I need You will more than likely get his name. Okay. Just stand right here by trying. Are you trying to Jeff Wine? Before we clarify whether he intended to shoot him or not, Mr. Freeman asked whether he was trying to quote Jeff Winehouse him. To those who don't know, Jeff Winehouse is an anti-government internet blogger who was shot by Missouri Highway Patrol investigators in a meeting arranged at the MFA oil gas station under the pretext of returning his computers and video equipment. In reality, they had a warrant for his arrest and when they started moving towards him, they noticed Winehouse's gun and fired several times out of fear for their safety. The difference between Jeff Winehouse and Mr. Freeman is that he didn't have a gun. You give me an exact precise right about where you're at. Right. Right about I need a precise place where where I can stand that I can do without the car. Keep that distance compared to the car. So I can pick up the camera and it doesn't matter if I put hands in pockets or whatever. Nobody's going to shoot me, right? Uh I'm going to be uncomfortable. You put hands in pockets cuz I don't know you from anybody and you're in a in an area where you Why do you guys think this is okay? You've been hostile. We're I've been hostile. I didn't say a word. I came up with on your camera from the time that I made contact with you. Well, that's because he tried to say I had a gun so he could shoot me. Listen, you've been hostile toward me. You better. You bet I had. I was He threatened to shoot me. He tried to kill me. I don't know what's going on. He tried to tell a lie so he could shoot me. Hey, if you want to pull it if you want to pull it up on your camera and show me where he said that he wanted to shoot you. What do you have in your pockets for that? Is it a gun? No. And a gun. In this overall interaction, the key point to note is the fact that the officer claimed it was illegal to record or approach the cop while he was doing his duty. Mr. Freeman maintained his safe distance, which the second officer revealed should have been farther away from the investigation. You're in five to go home. Johnny 5 to go home. You guys Johnny is right. What's up, Tann? Just real quick, man. Uh management's going to come out and they're going to have you leave. Okay. Yeah, correct. So, she'll be out in a second or she doesn't even need to come out. I'll leave. Okay. Well, if you want I get it. I get what private property is. Yeah. She's on her way. She doesn't even need to come. I'll leave. Okay. Is it just you or is there more? Just Just me. And I'm actually shopping here, but I'm assuming she doesn't want me shopping here now, too. She's going to have you trust. Yeah, we'll go somewhere else. I need his name, though. I'll go out to public property to get it. It's on his name. I can't see it. I'll go out to public property and you can let me know what it is. Does that sound good? I'll tell you right now, it's No Way. How do you spell that? N O E. N O E. All right. And then I'm Tanner. This is This is her, though. So, just let her hear you out because it's private property. She's the one that I understand. I I fully understand how private property works. That's fine. That's fine. How'd your interview with St. George go? Um, yeah. I I liked it. You know, how many How are you, guys? You keep calling the whole whole department for us. People keep calling you guys in because you're stop, man. That's not Hi, Stephanie. Stephanie. Hi, Tanner. And I don't know his name, but Okay. James, you want me out? Yeah. Yeah. You all right? We're So, I'm going to trespass. Understood. Which means you're not allowed in my parking lot? I get it. No problem. All right. What's your last name, James? Do I need to give it or can I just leave the property? I legally lawfully have to give it. Well, I'm not I'm not unwilling to leave. So, why do I need to give it? How about I just walk away right now? Hear me out, though. Okay. I'm hearing you out, right? Right. But let's go talk out there since she told me to leave. Is that okay? Can I go out there? I don't want to be arrested. I don't want to see it. Can I leave? Thanks. Can I leave? Just hold on, man. You're You're such a rush right now. Because you guys want to She wants me to leave, I'm going to leave. It's her private property. Explain the process. Can I explain the process? Yeah. If I refuse to leave, then you have to do a formal written. But but if she simply asked me to leave, the only reason you have to do a formal written thing is if I refuse to leave, which I am not. You're not hearing my side out though. What I have to do What I have to do though on my side. Okay. I have to document that you Why are you doing that? Hey. Hey. Over here, man. Why are you doing that? I'm right here standing here cuz I can stand here and and you guys are accusing me of of Okay, are you listening? You got to hear me out. Remember, he's trying to talk to you. Listen for a minute. The reason why is we have the document on our side. So, if you do come back, then you will be charged for want to do it. That's fine. Is the supervisor here? That's me. Okay. Can I Can I talk with one of you over here? You can talk to us all right here. Okay. Can I go off the property since they've asked me to leave the property and talk to you? Leave the property. Sir, don't come back right here. Sorry. I'll get out of your way. I'm sorry, man. Thank you. Yeah, no problem. All right. You have a good day. Don't come back. What's your name? You're trespassed. Well, I I understand how private property works. What's your name? Have a good day. Have a good day is his name. As far as handling the situation goes, Officer No failed to control the situation. It is plausible that Mr. Freeman jumped the gun with his allegations and falsely accused Officer No of reaching for his firearm. But honestly, any sane person would fear the officer racing towards him yelling. But Mr. Freeman acted wisely overall.