I'm not going to do what? >> going to do that. Do not put that video on me. >> No, I'm going to record it. >> You make a U-turn around the building. >> Okay. We have public lobby denoted on that sign. And this gentleman Is that a public lobby, sir? >> Did you hear Did you hear the instruction I gave you? >> But I'm asking you a question. Is it a public lobby? Ma'am, you So what's going to happen if I try to access the public lobby after I park? >> We're going to charge you with trespassing because you were >> Trespassing on public property? >> Public property This is a secure facility, sir. This is a jail. >> Well, it says public lobby right there, right? Is Is that a public lobby or not? >> A man arrived at a county jail to pick up a recently released neighbor, but was quickly confronted by a security officer and ordered to leave without what he believed was a valid reason. When he began recording and asserted his rights, the officer allegedly reached into his vehicle and made physical contact with him in an attempt to stop the recording. The man immediately reported the incident and demanded an investigation. Instead of reviewing the evidence, the responding officers appeared to side with their colleague and dismissed his complaint. Calm but firm, the man repeatedly challenged their explanations, demanded accountability, and requested a supervisor. Even after a supervisor arrived, his concerns were largely ignored. Watch as this encounter raises serious questions about transparency, accountability, and how far officials are willing to go to protect one of their own. >> Ladies and gentlemen, uh help ahead of me is a sign that clearly says public lobby. >> going to do that. >> Hold on. I'm not going to do what? >> going to do that. Do not put that video on me. >> No, I'm going to record it. >> You make a U-turn around the building. >> Okay. We have public lobby denoted on that sign. And this gentleman Is that a public lobby, sir? >> Did you hear Did you hear the instruction I gave you? >> But I'm asking you a question. Is it a public lobby? Ma'am, you So what's going to happen if I try to access the public lobby after I park? >> We're going to charge you with trespassing because you were >> Trespassing on public property? >> Public property This is a secure facility, sir. This is a jail. >> Well, it says public lobby right there, right? Is Is that a public lobby or not? Are you detaining me? >> No. >> Okay. Do I have to show you the ID? >> I'm asking for it, yeah. >> Okay, at this point I'd not. >> Okay, walk back to your vehicle. >> Okay, and but before I do that, I'd like to report a battery. The gentleman in the security uniform there. >> Okay, there's cameras right there. So, if you're filing a false police report, I'm going to arrest you right here on the spot. >> Let's do it. >> Okay. >> Look at the video. >> you to leave the property. He can put his hands on you if you're not leaving. Just like I'm going to. >> okay for him to put his hands on me? >> Yes. >> He reached in and touched my hand. >> when he's telling you to leave, >> Okay. >> and you're not leaving, he can do that. Let me see your ID. >> He reached in and grabbed my hand. He said, "Don't record me." And I recorded him anyway, and he reached in and grabbed my hand. It wasn't because I was parked there and talking to him. I was talking to him about There's a sign that says public lobby. Is that a public lobby or not? >> It's not open to the public. No, it's not. >> a public lobby? >> It's sheriff's department property. >> You mean so much to change the sign then? Does that not say public lobby, deputy? >> You cannot go to the public lobby without being searched. Furthermore, >> Okay, I'd like to be searched to go to the public lobby. >> go. >> Well, without without being searched? >> Or without Or at all? >> At all. Because you're not allowed. >> said without being searched. Didn't you say second ago without being searched? >> Yes. >> So, now you're reversing yourself and saying I can't go at all. >> saying is you cannot go in there unless you're posting bond. You didn't ask to post bond. >> I'd like to post bond. >> What's the Let me see your ID then. >> Okay, I'd also like to make a report of a battery. >> Uh you already told me that. >> Okay, are you going to write that report up? >> Uh not on battery, no. >> Will you look at the video and verify he battered me? >> me your ID, please, if you want me to do anything? >> No. >> No? All right, get out of here. >> I can't wait to hear from the guy. I'm waiting for the community to come. >> Go. >> And you're going to arrest me if I don't leave this spot right here. >> yes, sir. Go. I don't even know who you are. You're not identifying yourself. >> member of the public. >> Okay, you're not identifying yourself. >> property? >> No, it's not. It's Pinellas County Sheriff's Department property. >> Okay. >> I tell you to leave, and you don't, you will be arrested. You are refusing to identify yourself. >> If I identify myself, then can I stay? >> Here? >> Yeah. >> No. The visitor parking lot's that way. >> I'd like to go post bond. May I go post bond? >> I will look into that and make sure that the bond hasn't been posted. And because of all the trouble that you're starting, I shouldn't even let you go in there. >> What kind of trouble? The dude put his hands on me without my permission. I I want I want to write up a battery report, sir. >> Okay. >> Now, you told me to read this. That's about contraband. What What about this applies to me? >> a battery report? >> Yeah, I do want a battery report. He battered me. >> Okay, how's that? >> He put his hands on me without consent. He reached in and touched the back of my hand without consent. I did not consent to be touched. >> So, if I go like this to you, is that battery? >> I don't know. You tell me. >> You tell me. You know so much about the law. >> I'm asking I'm asking you. He grabbed me. >> battery. >> He grabbed me. >> That's not battery. >> Okay. >> Okay. You weren't You weren't listening to him. He told you to stop recording him and he probably told you to leave that you can't go in there. >> Don't I have a right to record county county employees doing any execution of their duties? >> You can record all day long down from at the visitor parking lot. That's where the media records, okay? You're nothing special. Make sure you get that. I'm video I'm recording, too, right here. >> I'm I'm amazed you're acting this way and you've got a body camera on. >> All right. I'm acting this way? You're the one here causing problems. >> It says public lobby. I'd like to go post bond. I'd like to go and inquire about >> bond on. >> I'd like to go and inquire about a bond. >> Give me your name. >> I'm requesting that you that you write a report that I'm accusing this guy of battery. >> I'm going to write it. I'm not writing a a battery report. >> All right. I mean >> But I'll write an incident report. >> Why won't you include an accusation of battery? >> Because it's not battery. >> All right. Well, it's your discretion. I mean, I'm >> Well, I mean >> Who Who is your supervisor? >> Thomas. >> What you just said is not a battery. Okay. >> No, I have I have I sight problems. That's why I have glasses. >> Here's your license back. >> I I I'm accusing him of a battery. I don't know why you won't put that I don't I'd like for it to be in your report. >> in the report that you're accusing, but I'm not going to I'm not going to make a battery report cuz it's not battery. >> Did you watch the video? >> I don't have to. >> there was a video and you >> described to me what happened. >> I'll listen. >> Okay. Can you give me a call for 911, please? >> The guy reached in and grabbed my hand cuz he was he was mad about me recording a public a public employee in the execution of his duties. >> Okay, well, that's not a battery. I can put my hands on you right now. It's not a battery. >> Okay. You told me you didn't have to. >> known him a long time. I didn't say that. When did I say that? >> I'm recording what you're saying. You said, "I don't have to look at the video. You described what he what he did." Okay, >> but I don't need it to to make a report based on what you told me. >> no reason to reach in my car and grab my hand. What was his justification for doing that? >> I don't know. I haven't watched the video yet. >> Okay, well, why don't you ask him? Do a Do an investigation and ask him. He battered me. >> That's not a battery. If I accidentally bump into you, >> It wasn't an accident. He He consciously I told him to stop and he reached in and grabbed my hand again. He reached in my car a number of times. I said I said, "Get your hand out of my car. Don't grab me." or something like that and he reached in and did it again. I am going to push this issue. I'm >> make an internal affairs professional standards complaint and I I want him charged with battery. >> That's not a >> me. >> Well, we'll see. >> All right. >> Why don't you call the police? >> I asked her to get a deputy here and she said one's on his way. I damn sure did ask her to call a deputy for that very reason. And hopefully there's audio on the camera, too, that'll that'll damn sure show that. He battered me and I'm going to push the issue. I'm telling you. >> Yes, he grabbed my hand a couple times. >> Okay. >> He sure did. To try to pull my hand away from the phone or pull the phone away from me or something. I don't know what his motives or intentions were, but he grabbed my hand out of anger cuz he didn't like me recording a public employee in the execution of their duties. >> And he put you in fear. >> Yes, I was in fear. >> That's why you walked back up here cuz you were in fear. >> I was in fear to I was I was in I wanted to report it. >> you walked back up here. >> Listen, I was in fear at the time he did it and I came back to her to ask her to call the deputy to report it. Okay? And yes, I'm getting all this on video. YouTube will also I Okay. >> I can put you on YouTube, too. >> That's good. YouTube will see all of it. Your supervisor see all of it. Hopefully I'm going to I make an access to request of public records and hopefully get that video if that falls under the purview of public records and we'll see how you, a uniform deputy, let this guy grab me and not do nothing about it. Grab my hand out of anger putting me in fear and not do nothing about it. I want something done about it. That's not cool with you. It's your discretion. Fine, use your discretion. >> make a report. I'm not going to I'm not going to charge you with battery for that. >> Well, will you watch the video? >> Yeah. >> Okay. What if it shows he committed a battery? Will you still not charge? See, you're making a decision before you even watch the video. >> case then I'll send it up to the state attorney and make it up up make it up. >> I hope I hope so. I hope so. >> Okay, but from what you're telling me is is not battery. >> I'll bring him to your car. >> Perfect. Perfect. Thank you. >> weren't so confrontational, uh things would have gone a lot easier. >> I think you confronted me from the start. >> you What? >> I think you confronted me the way you walked out of your vehicle and demanded my ID. >> your ID. >> I think it was I think your behavior was more confrontational than mine. >> think that when I watched that video that you're you were confrontational with him. >> Do you have audio or just video? >> I don't know, to be honest with you. I know there's video. There's camera right there. >> Well, I think I think what you'll see if >> I don't think it's audio. >> I think what you'll see is me stopped there asking questions and letting them know I'm going to report I'm going to record a public employee in the execution of their duties and him getting mad and reaching in out of anger and grabbing my hand more than once after I told him not to. Well, you may not hear me telling him not to if there's no video, but he couldn't tell me. He committed a battery. And if you're going to let him get away with it, that's your discretion, man. But you got a body cam, I got a cam I got a camera on >> witness it here. I didn't witness it. >> You're going to watch the video, right? >> but I don't think there's any audio. >> That's cool. I got the video here. >> Was the Was the other Was the other lady here? >> Yeah, she was standing right outside watching. >> She saw the whole thing? >> Mhm. >> Okay. Then I I will talk to her also. >> All right. Make sure what she plea- please make sure what she says. Okay, well, baby, you should tell him. That's the reason he grabbed my hand and that's what my video will show is the reason he grabbed me cuz he didn't want me to record him. Now, that's inappropriate, if not illegal, okay? >> And be- >> And I think you just You said you know him for a while. I think let's call a deputy to see if he's not good buddies with him. How about that? >> I'm not good buddies with >> Well, you said you've known him for a long time, right? >> Yeah, I've worked here a long time. I'm going to call a supervisor. How's that? >> I would appreciate that. >> We'll see if I'm going to check in my phone. >> I'd appreciate that. >> Look, just stay right here. We'll get this worked out. Good evening. Thanks for coming out. >> What's going on? >> I pulled up to this guard shack here. I That's what I'm calling this building. Okay. I let the guy know I was here to pick someone up. >> Mhm. >> He said, "You may not go in there." And I said, "Okay." Something like I can't park in there. I can't go in there. He said, "You can't go in there." >> Hey, you got to wait down there. >> I said, "Well, does that say public lobby?" And he said, "Yeah, it says public lobby, but it's not a public lobby." And I said, "So, are you just making it up to this knob because I think whoever ordered that sign to be made might have known what they were talking about." Something like that. There was a discussion about and I said, "Just a minute. Let me pull my phone out to record this." My reason for doing that was I I think we have a a public employee here prohibiting access to public property. I mean, it says public lobby very clearly, right? >> Okay. So, I'll just tell you in You can't go in there to pick somebody up. >> Okay. >> You can wait here and they can come out and get you. >> So, >> We We actually have a lot for you guys out there. >> Okay, understood. Let's Let me finish what I'm What happened. >> Okay. >> Then I said, "Well, I'm going to record this." And I know from fair amount of research clearly dictate that I can record him. Well, he said not to record him. I said, "No, sir, I'm I'm going to record you. I believe I'm within my right to do that." He angrily reached in my car window through an open window, grabbed my hand and shook my hand around a little. I pulled away. I said, "Don't do that." He did it again, maybe did it twice again. >> So, and did you record that? >> Uh I have What When he grabbed my hand, he touched the button that made it stop recording cuz he also grabbed my phone. But, I I him approaching and he had his hand reaching in. >> Yeah, I think I have that. Yes, sir. >> me that? >> Um I'd rather you see this video. >> This gentleman said he was kind of news working on that. >> Okay. >> Do you have I don't think that's going to show inside your car though. >> It'll show him reaching in. Okay? And if you ask him, now he's a public employee, if you ask him, "What did your hand do when it was in that vehicle?" He's probably going to tell you the truth. Well, I I pushed or I grabbed or I struck. That's what he did. His His hand as was clearly his intent when he reached in the window, made contact. >> Okay. So, I got your side of it. Let me talk to him. >> Yes, sir. >> I would like it if you would show me the video. >> I would like that video to be seen, too, please. >> I will, but I would also like to see yours. >> All right. >> Can you show that to me, please? >> He admitted that he reached in and pushed my phone. He admitted that, right? >> He told me that he pushed your phone twice, away from you. >> he Was he out of line doing that? >> Um I probably would have done the same thing. If I asked you to leave and you're not leaving and and all of a sudden you pop up with a phone, these phones actually can be more than a phone. All right. I can show you video of a phone that's a weapon. It's a gun. >> So, if someone >> Okay. >> If someone's recording you from inside a vehicle, you're going to push your phone away? >> I've already asked you at this point to leave, okay? You pop up a phone and start recording me. I don't know that that's actually a phone. That could be a a gun. I can show you pictures online of of guns made to look like phones. >> Come on. If that's justification Am I right or wrong, Corporal? That's justi- No, he asked you, do you agree with him that Okay, how about this question, Corporal? Would you have done it, too, if someone told if you told someone to leave and they pulled out this this device that >> If I told you to leave and you didn't leave, I would have removed you. >> Would you Would you reach in and just push your phone? >> I would have had nothing to do with your phone.